Rigs - the basics

[Jim_From_Zim]

Hi Walter, 

Here's some basic tips to set up your rigs: 

Drop shot: 
   
Pic 1: small round hook with paloma knot and long tag end
Pic 2: Send the tag end back through the eye
Pic 3: Add the weight. Tag end about 200mm or 150mm
Pic 4: Reverse nose hook the plastic. Note: This rig is a finesse rig, so small junior size plastics work best, like Jnr fluke or a small paddle tail fluke, G30's etc.
I use this for finesse applications, rocky points, off shore rocks etc. I never throw it into tree's or reeds - although some guys do with a lot of success. I just dont like getting an exposed hook set into timber. 

Carolina rig:
   
As can be seen, the swivel prevents the weight from moving down the line. Typically we pop a small glass bead between the swivel and weight to give a knocking sound when you jiggle it over rocks etc down in the deep. Best plastics to use here are stretch 40's, G40's or fat albert grubs.
I use this set up when fishing deep water on off shore structure like rocks or sand humps.
A heavy weight is usually used in this set up, like a 1 oz ball weight. 

Mojo rig:
   
This is a typical mojo rig with the thin weight. You can use a bullet weight (like a texas rig would use) but still use the 2 gummie stoppers to peg the weight. In clean water, move the weight further from the hook, in dirty water, move it closer to the hook. When you want to make it a texas, simply slide the weights and gummies down to the hook. 
I use this rig for open water tree's, jetties, docks, retaining walls, grass lines, shallower rocky points etc (kind of my go to rig for just about any situation). 
I typically use senko's (all sizes), flukes (all sizes), G40's, Stretch 40's, creature baits etc. 
Weights are 1/8 oz or 3/16 oz

Texas rig:
   
Most guys would put a gummie above the weight to peg the weight to the hook. You dont have to but it might be easier in the beginning for you. If you pop 2 gummies on, you now have a texas or mojo set up on the same rod.
I use this for close quarter battles in reeds, timber, lay downs, retaining wall, jetties, under tree's etc. 
Usual plastics for me would be creature baits, stretch 40's, G40's, senko's and paddle tails. 
Weight size 1/8 or 3/16oz depending on the depth of structure against the side of the pond

Whats a G40 you might ask? Its the local equivalent of a Stretch 40 (Yamamoto), its made by Ittsy baits, lasts a lot longer than a stretch 40 and is a fraction of the price. In cape town, a stretch 40 is known as a competition bait - you only use it in comps as its too expensive to use in practice...

[WalterK]

Hi JfZ

Thanks, this is awesome.
Just a follow up question.
What rig would would you use for a spinner bait.

I would imagine weightless for Rapala type baits

[Jim_From_Zim]

Spinner baits you can pop onto any bait casting rod that you have. Obviously less all the weights, gummies etc.

Weightless - Any plastic bait. I typically throw flukes or senko's, not creatures

Rapala type baits are crank baits or some call them hard baits. Again, any decent bait casting rod with a soft action (you dont have to have a glass rod for cranks...)
The soft action allows you to feel the crank wobble and bump the ground. When the wobble stops, its game time.