A Carolina rig separates the weight from the lure with a leader, so the bait moves freely in the strike zone while the weight does the work of staying on bottom.
The build, top to bottom:
- Main line slides through a bullet sinker (1/2 to 1 oz typical).
- A bead, then a small barrel swivel — the swivel stops the weight from sliding down to the hook.
- A fluorocarbon leader 12-36 inches long off the bottom eye of the swivel.
- A hook (typically wide-gap for soft plastics, or a baitholder for live bait).
It's a search rig for warm-water bass: drag it across long flats, points, and humps. When you feel a thump or sudden weight, set the hook. The lift you feel is the weight ticking rocks; the load you feel is the fish.