No Luck with Umbrella Rig

[tkunk]

Where I fish, many guys use umbrella rigs almost exclusively, so I know that they catch fish, but I've never had any success with them. I'll catch fish on consecutive casts using a standard smallie bait like a jerkbait, tube, or swimbait. I'll switch to the A-Rig and catch nothing for awhile. Then I'll switch back to the standard smallie bait and start catching fish again.

 

For my setup, I usually use a 5-arm model. I have dummy springs on the top two arms, a 1/16 oz head on the middle arm, and two 1/8 oz heads on the bottom arms. I use Keitech 2.8's on all the heads. For line, I use 65 lb braid with a 7 foot, 15 lb fluorocarbon leader. The water I fish is typically gin-clear. During prespawn, which is now, I typically retrieve the rig just fast enough so that it stays off the bottom. During the retrieve, it always appears to swim true. Am I doing anything wrong?

[Bluebasser86]

It's more of a winter time/cold water bait in my experience, never done well much after the prespawn phase starts.

 

Also, it's a gangly rig with thick wires and snaps all over the place, I don't think a fluoro leader is really needed. Lots of guys on the clear water Ozark lakes fish them on heavy braid and catch fish just fine. 

[roadwarrior]

Try the YUM version, but as Bluebasser86 said, prime time is when the water is cooler.

 

http://www.yumbaits.com/yumbrella-r-flash-mob-jr-willow-blade

 

 

 

[TnRiver46]

I have never got a bite with one either. A little costly for something I never catch fish with

[12poundbass]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. You're catching them on consecutive casts with "normal" techniques. You'll be better off then they will after a day of fishing.

  I've never had luck with the A-rig either.