Flw Ban On Umbrella Rigs?

[Jrob78]

There is an article on this site (http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/alabama-rig-ban.html) stating the A-rig will be banned from tournaments starting next season.  

 

I don't care what people fish with but I'm glad the pro's are being held to a higher standard.  I think FLW is making the right decision.

[Brian Needham]

finding fish and catching them aint high enough?

 

the Arig nonsense is just that, nonsense.

 

is long lining next????

 

if the pro circuits want to get all holier than thou, maybe they should worry about how their members handle fish, or how many fish don't survive after all the pictures are taken.............or even maybe work with manufactures to make fishing more affordable for the average Joe. FLW cant do that, of course, since Ranger basically owns the tour....... or even better, don't do stupid shat like hold your "classic" on the red river in august!!!!!! People don't show up to see 8# bags being weighed in.....

 

but what do I know.

 

 drops mic...........

[roadwarrior]

Well, on a positive note...

 

Get your A Rig going if you want to catch some size. Unless you are fishing the circut, who cares?

[ChrisAW]

I have no issue with schooling rigs in general, but I'm ok with this. I'm tired of seeing half of the anglers on FLW Outdoors throwing it. Its very un-interesting to watch. I know it may work, and also won't a majority of the time. Its just another lure. But even watching people throw crankbaits is more interesting.

[Jrob78]

Just about every pro i've heard asked about it says they don't like the A-Rig and don't think it should be used in top level tournaments. All the FLW guys use it because they have to. In some events, if you're not fishing the A-Rig, you're not going to finish in the money. It doesn't mean they like it though.  The A-Rig levels the playing field too much, according to some.

[Felix77]

Thoughts? I for one am a bit shocked. This league helped make it popular. I'm torn if this is a good thing.

[Americanzero]

I am all about it. I just never saw the A-rig as being very sporting. If you use and like it, hey thats fine. Its just not for me. I really do not see it as being that big of a change, either. Much past 3-4 years ago you didnt need it to win a competition, shouldnt need it now.

[robdob]

Hopefully FLW bans it in the everstarts and BASS bans it in the opens next.  how can you say something is "just another lure" when it's clearly not.. its FIVE lures.. if you watched the last FLW tour event you would see it can also be 12 lures.. it's insane to be tossing out 5 or more lures on one rod and think "its just another tool" get real.  maybe ill make some rig that can hold 5 frogs and throw it on the potomac and see if the same clowns who love the Arig think that is also "just another lure"

[Basseditor]

I don't know, call me crazy, but there are too many rules. Sometimes the A-rig is the only thing that produces. Now, in some of those events, no one will catch any fish to speak of. Everyone says the problem with pro bass events is not enough people watch them. See how few watch when 8 lbs a day wins an event. (As was mentioned above.)

 

People watch to see big fish. Lots of big fish. I think we bass guys are killing our favorite sport by making it unappealing to the casual fans.

 

(J/k — but lets go back to the Buck Perry days of trolling spoon plugs! Now there was the way to get big ones.)

 

Watching tournaments is boring — either live or on TV. Pro events are about to get even more boring. There goes the fan base.

 

Are they going to ban long lining next, because it works?

[Glenn]

Here's the story: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/alabama-rig-ban.html

[WRB]

I thought B.A.S.S. was wrong banning the A-rig back in 2012 Elites and haven't changed my mind on this lure presentation. There has been a lot of development on various A-rigs, difinately a step backwards for FLW.

Tom

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Here's the story: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/alabama-rig-ban.html

Read the link, and while unrelated this is what caught my eye. 

"Trolling as a method of fishing is strictly prohibited. Trolling is defined as operating the combustion engine to extend a cast or lengthen a retrieve … ”

This simplified definition of trolling makes it seem as if it is legal to troll in the traditional sense with an electric motor.

 

No opinion really on the a-rig. 

[merc1997]

i just think that if they are going to allow that many baits in the water at the same time, they should allow trolling.  not much different.  the a-rig has proved to be a very effective fishing tool at the right time and conditions.  but, as happened at beaver lake, there were rigs with what looked like to be 20 baits.  it used to be that a tournament was a fisherman using one rod with one lure, not multiple lures.  as with ever type of sporting event, there always has to be some that operate in the gray area.  i do like how flw's other tournaments that can use the a-rig, they defined just exactly the limits of what it could be.

 

bo

[Hooligan]

Not at all surprised.  A lot of tournaments have seen a large increase in mortality when the rig is employed. In many circumstances, large fish were being foul hooked by the outside baits causing further injury and scale loss.  The second aspect of it is that there are improvements that it is legal to use a full rig in one portion, and not legal in others.  It eliminates grey area and opportunity for he said / he said situations, some of which have occurred in the past two seasons of FLW.

I don't see it as being a step back, I see it as confirming that they are primarily concerned with fish care and reducing tournament mortality rates. 

[Americanzero]

Read the link, and while unrelated this is what caught my eye. 

"Trolling as a method of fishing is strictly prohibited. Trolling is defined as operating the combustion engine to extend a cast or lengthen a retrieve … ”

This simplified definition of trolling makes it seem as if it is legal to troll in the traditional sense with an electric motor.

 

No opinion really on the a-rig.

Also unrelated, this would ban "long lining" a jig or crankbait.

[Felix77]

....  but, as happened at beaver lake, there were rigs with what looked like to be 20 baits.  

 

Yeah ... like this one ...

 

[Felix77]

I am NOT one of those fans which will be lost because of this.  I am a big fan of the FLW broadcast.  They do more than most to describe the conditions, lure and if you watch the angler you can get a sense of their presentation.  This just brings them back to pre-bama techniques.  Some will die because their crutch is gone but IMO this is more in tune with "professional" fishing at the highest level.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Off topic, but I can't catch anything on the A-rig.

[JayKumar]

FLW pros are sick of having to throw it or lose, glad FLW is listening to them.  Plenty of fish will be caught, just some limits in some events may not be as heavy.  Ranger does NOT own the FLW Tour.  Used to have shared ownership, not the case anymore.

[WRB]

If FLW's concern was fish mortality that wasn't stated, they stated the 5 wire 3 lure with hooks wasn't working or was too difficult to regulate? Believe me the tournament contestants self regulate or whistle blow.

Your standard multiple treble hook lure injures bass, so that argument doesn't apply.

Trolling; bass anglers have strolled for decades, moving the boat with the electric trolling motor with lures in the water and that is cheating during a tournament. If the lure is in the water and the boat is under any power, other than drifting, that is trolling and under tournament rules isn't allowed.

Weekend bass clubs tend to follow the big tournament rules and this ruling will indirectly affect those anglers.

Tom

[Brian Needham]

FLW pros are sick of having to throw it or lose, glad FLW is listening to them.  Plenty of fish will be caught, just some limits in some events may not be as heavy.  Ranger does NOT own the FLW Tour.  Used to have shared ownership, not the case anymore.

 

 

I understand that......but the same thing CAN be said about Ranger here. ie if you dont throw the rig you are leaving money on the table, same as if you dont drive a Ranger on FLW you are leaving $$$$ on the table because of the bonuses.

 

I hate throwing a jerkbait and waiting 30 seconds between jerks....sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

 

My main point is Fishing has become WAY TOO commercial. Which will hurt fishing(as a "sport") more than any bait ever will.

 

I see both sides, I really do.

I am not being argumentaive, just saying seems like people who are against it are rabidly against it, and people who are for it are "eh, whatever, throw it or not, dont matter."

 

JMO

[Zach Dunham]

I still think the injury to the fish argument does apply. Yes, standard treble hook lures can and do still inflict damage, but from what I've seen with umbrella rigs it is far worse damage when it happens and they get tangled around.

[Deleted account]

We fish a lot of salt water tournaments, and my take is that as long as the rules apply to everyone equally and they are spelled out in advance, the tournament can make the rules whatever they please. That being said, I think banning a particular lure because its different is silly. Now if they said no multiple lures, and banned front runners, donkey rigs and the like as well, I'd be ok with that logic.

[bass Czar]

I don't know, call me crazy, but there are too many rules. Sometimes the A-rig is the only thing that produces. Now, in some of those events, no one will catch any fish to speak of. Everyone says the problem with pro bass events is not enough people watch them. See how few watch when 8 lbs a day wins an event. (As was mentioned above.)

 

People watch to see big fish. Lots of big fish. I think we bass guys are killing our favorite sport by making it unappealing to the casual fans.

 

(J/k — but lets go back to the Buck Perry days of trolling spoon plugs! Now there was the way to get big ones.)

 

Watching tournaments is boring — either live or on TV. Pro events are about to get even more boring. There goes the fan base.

 

Are they going to ban long lining next, because it works?

watching long lining and a-rig fishing is boring

[keith71]

In my opinion it's just not sporting.Five or more separate baits to mimic a school of bait fish just doesn't have an equal "feel" about it. I like the move.