What Is the Cindy Rig?

The Cindy rig is a super finesse bass fishing technique that is particularly effective for catching smallmouth bass. It is named after Cindy Palmer, the wife of Bassmaster Elite Series pro Luke Palmer, who popularized the rig.

The Cindy rig is very simple to tie and fish. It consists of a small soft plastic bait, such as a Great Lakes Finesse Drop Minnow, rigged on a lightweight jig head, such as a Great Lakes Finesse Stealth Ball Jig Head. The jig head weight should be chosen based on the depth of the water you are fishing and the current conditions.

To fish the Cindy rig, simply cast it out and reel it back in slowly and steadily. You can also add a slight pause to your retrieve every now and then. The goal is to keep the bait a few feet over the depth that is holding bass.

The Cindy rig is most effective in clear water and when the bass are feeding on small baitfish. It is also a good rig to use when the bass are pressured or when they are in a neutral mood.

Here are a few tips for fishing the Cindy rig:

• Use a spinning rod and reel spooled with light line, such as 6 to 8 pound test fluorocarbon.
• Cast the rig to likely bass-holding areas, such as rocky points, weed beds, and drop-offs.
• Reel the rig back in slowly and steadily, with the occasional pause.

Take a few moments and watch the following video where Luke Palmer discusses his approach when using the Cindy Rig…

The Cindy rig is a great way to catch bass when they are being finicky, highly pressured or when the conditions are challenging. It is a simple rig to tie and fish, and it is very effective at catching bass, especially smallmouth bass.