Alabama rig

[kg2]

Some of the "sporting" questions are legit when you hear about some bass rolling and getting snagged in the other hooks.

[KickNBass]

Some of the "sporting" questions are legit when you hear about some bass rolling and getting snagged in the other hooks.

That happens quite a bit with crankbaits already...not convinced

[mainbutter]

If the rig's sole purpose is catching (at the expense of fun and sportsmanship), why not double it, or triple it when the law allows?

The idea isn't catching vs sportsmanship/fun. It's designed to target fish that prefer to feed on a school rather than a lone baitfish.

And really, it makes for a more natural presentation that way.

While this rig "can" take multiple bass, it's pretty darn rare for that to happen despite what you see on TV, IMO with regards to sportsmanship it isn't the same as running multiple lines.

[BTL]

The idea isn't catching vs sportsmanship/fun. It's designed to target fish that prefer to feed on a school rather than a lone baitfish.

And really, it makes for a more natural presentation that way.

While this rig "can" take multiple bass, it's pretty darn rare for that to happen despite what you see on TV, IMO with regards to sportsmanship it isn't the same as running multiple lines.

But if 5 baits on one rig is no big deal, where do we draw the line? At 10? 20? 100? I guess the rig is just not for me. Throwing half a tackle box on every cast isn't my idea of fun.

Speaking of multiple lines, you should see the guys who troll for rockfish on the Chesapeake, it's ridiculous. Charter boats will run more than a dozen lines, use multiple planers, and have an umbrella rig on almost every line. Ugh. That type of fishing is not for me either.

[Dylan33]

forget the legal, moral, ethical, sporting aspect of it for minute. For me personally, it doesn't seem like there is much skill involved in using th A-rig. I like the "feel" of a single lure. Being able to feel how the lure/bait is acting and tweaking presentations based on how the fish respond is very rewarding.

I'm sure there is some aspect of that with the A-rig, but it just seems too much of a "stupid" way to fish.

I've never used it though, so that is just my uninformed view, for what its worth.

[bASS_BLASTER]

forget the legal, moral, ethical, sporting aspect of it for minute. For me personally, it doesn't seem like there is much skill involved in using th A-rig. I like the "feel" of a single lure. Being able to feel how the lure/bait is acting and tweaking presentations based on how the fish respond is very rewarding.

I'm sure there is some aspect of that with the A-rig, but it just seems too much of a "stupid" way to fish.

I've never used it though, so that is just my uninformed view, for what its worth.

Some people don't care for all that. They just want to be on fish. Some just want to go to work to get paid. They don't care about the little details.

[kg2]

That happens quite a bit with crankbaits already...not convinced

I certainly am not trying to convince you of anything. Just pointing out a fact.

[TonkaBass]

What if a guy uses an A rig with just one hook in it? If they set one bait back about 2" from the rest and let hit fly? Would that be looked down upon? I guarantee you if you're fishing in a shad or smelt based fishery that rig will still outproduce other single baits if they are busting schools at certain times of the year. Would it still be frowned upon? Technically the guy throwing it would still be working it the same and using the same equipment as before but just playing with less odds in hook ups... But rest assure he would still pick those fish off with it

[goblueM]

forget the legal, moral, ethical, sporting aspect of it for minute. For me personally, it doesn't seem like there is much skill involved in using th A-rig. I like the "feel" of a single lure. Being able to feel how the lure/bait is acting and tweaking presentations based on how the fish respond is very rewarding.

I'm sure there is some aspect of that with the A-rig, but it just seems too much of a "stupid" way to fish.

I've never used it though, so that is just my uninformed view, for what its worth.

Speaking as someone who's seen it take over as a craze where it is legal, and someone who has (a limited amount) used these rigs - I think you're off base on most of this.

It is no doubt a dynamite way to fish. But only in certain situations. And most likely at certain times of year, in certain bodies of water. The same as most fishing techniques. It's not really the best for heavy cover or very shallow water, for example.

I was out fishing yesterday, and 90% of guys were throwing A-rigs. Of those guys who weren't, it sounded like several were doing great fishing heavy timber with cranks, which isn't really easy to do with A-rigs. Some guys were hammering fish on A-rig, some got blanked - you know why? Because it isn't a "stupid" or "easy" way to fish if you don't apply knowledge and technique, just like with any other lure. Just because you put one on and have it in the water doesn't guarantee catching fish.

As far as tweaking it based on how fish are responding, its the exact same as any other lure. How much weight you put on it - what size bait you're putting on. The color. The fall rate. How fast you're retrieving. Maybe the fish want something with more thump fished high in the water column, maybe they want something with less vibration, low and slow. Maybe white swimbaits are a poor choice given the water temp and clarity, for example. Getting short strikes? Maybe you oughta change something up. You still have to figure all these things out and get on a pattern. And that's assuming you even know where the fish are in the first place.

My buddy and I used them yesterday after seeing so many people fishing with them the day before. We had to see what the craze was about, so we bought 2 of em. We decided to do a little experiment. I used larger, shad-colored swimbaits on weighted swimbait hooks. He used unweighted hooks and different, smaller swimbaits with more muted colors. He put 8 bass in the boat with them all day, I caught none. Fishing in the same spots, same depths, same techniques, both using A-rigs. I am convinced they aren't always "the easy button"

[Nick Kuhn]

What if a guy uses an A rig with just one hook in it? If they set one bait back about 2" from the rest and let hit fly? Would that be looked down upon? I guarantee you if you're fishing in a shad or smelt based fishery that rig will still outproduce other single baits if they are busting schools at certain times of the year. Would it still be frowned upon? Technically the guy throwing it would still be working it the same and using the same equipment as before but just playing with less odds in hook ups... But rest assure he would still pick those fish off with it

This is perfectly legal, and no different than a double bladed spinner/buzzbait. Knock yourself out if you want only a 20% chance of the fish hitting the bait with the hook.

[bASS_BLASTER]

A-rig, I think its a great alternative way to locate fish fast -vs- single crankbait, swimbait and spinnerbait. Once located, you can finesse fish.

[KickNBass]

I certainly am not trying to convince you of anything. Just pointing out a fact.

[Friar_Tuck]

using a umbrella rig, that was designed for commercial applications which is also designed & meant to catch multiple fish, THAT is the unsportsmen aspect.

I don't believe it would be that uncommon what so ever. how many times have you seen other bass following the one your reeling in? Sure as hell you will catch multiple fish with it. I've seen several shows now with guys throwing the A rig gettin multiple fish on one, white bass & the like.

if your that crappy at catching fish with one lure & can't get a tourny limit, then read, learn & practice more lol I sure don't have that issue

might as well go duck hunting with a long barreled AA-12 auto shotgun lol

[Craigums]

Reading some of the comments in this thread reminds me why I havent been back in a while

[bucketmouth64]

Down here in TX it's the big craze. Bps can't keep the rigs in stock practically. I didn't know what this was until I saw a video. People were telling me you need a broom stick for a rod and 65-80lb. braid. Casting/retrieving it really wears you out. Apparently, fish really smack the rig hard and you don't know if you have a big fish on or if you have more than one fish on until you get it up to the surface. A fisherman was telling me he was on Lake Falcon last weekend and he counted 35 boats throwing the A-rig.

[Bigguyone]

I did quite a bit of reading on the regs and really it is all about interpretation. A single lure can have multiple hooks...an alabama rig is a single lure with multiple hooks. You do not say I am throwing 4 swimbaits - you say I am throwing an alabama rig. Just like on a crawler harness you do not say you are using a blade, three hooks and a bead - it is a crawler harness.

Also I may have missed it but was not sure where it said you can only have one artificial lure/bait per line. I am sure it does but I could not find it as I was looking in reference to the double fluke comment above. I am sure it is there...but I could not find it.

[Friar_Tuck]

Quote:

• Artificial Lure/Bait. A single artificial lure/bait may contain more than one

hook (Example - a crankbait).

- An angler may have one additional single or multiple hook on a line as

part of the artificial lure/bait as long as it is within three inches of the

artificial lure/bait (Example - a stinger hook (often a treble hook) can be

trailed behind a jig).

the A-RIG does not fall into that, either does the double fluke. which are considered multiple lures etc...

[corncob]

Maybe we will see the MINI-Alabama rig soon?

[Bigguyone]

I hear what you are saying but the interpretation has really been to decipher if the Alabama rig is one lure or multiple lures (this is being discussed in many states due to laws similar to MN).

The issue is the A-rig has one tie point - therefore that is where it can very likely be deemed one lure.

If I place a beaver trailer on my jig does that make it two lures? I know it may seem as though that is a far stretch but it is saying one tie point (lure) with multiple trailers is really what you are running and that one lure has multiple hooks.

The next thing to consider if the "hooks" are the sticking point is what if only one of the "trailers" as a hook? Is it then legal? Does an artificial lure have to have a hook to be "counted" - that is what some states are debating as the term artificial lure in some states (I do not know for sure in MN) says that it is anything made of wood, plastic, fur, leather, lead, rubber, etc containing a hook(s). Well, if it does not contain a hook then it is not an artificial lure.

Also is a double bladed spinner bait multiple artificial lures or one artificial lure? Especially one that has a 4" grub trailer on it... How is this different than an A-Rig?

I know...I know...I sound like I am dead set that an A-rig is legal but I am not saying that...I will say I do have some background in Law and when reading the law in many states it makes it hard to outlaw the a-rig in most of them based on the way current laws exist. I personally have not thrown one yet...I may in the coming months somewhere that I know for sure it is legal but we shall see.

[mabr]

Bigguyone made some good point I think. Especially with the spinner bait. If i have 4 blades plus a stinger hook on one is it any different?

Im not for it in tourneys and I think BASS is right in their decision, but for fishing for fun I have no problem using it

Im leaving on thursday for Texas and have the A rig ready to try on Fork. Taking a musky rod to through the darn thing.

[KickNBass]

I sent an email off to the MN DNR and they said that the Alabama rig is definitely not legal in MN, due to it being a lure designed to catch more than one fish. No surprise there.

I sent a couple pictures with A-Rigs with dummy baits without hooks and one lure in the bunch with a hook and they said that would be legal.

i.e., this would be legal:

[Nick Kuhn]

Now pike can chew up your relatively expensive money minnows 5 times as fast!

[RickyBobby]

KickNBass,

Can you tell me the brand name of the umbrella rig that is shown in the picture?

[KickNBass]

123fishingrigs dot com

I ordered a couple with even longer droppers.

[RickyBobby]

Thanks.....