Guess I Need to get the A-Rig Out

[Big Swimbait]

O.H. Ivie Reservoir in West Texas has kicked out some unreal big girls this week. A-Rig, deep water and Live Scope were the ticket. Biggest so far was 16.4 with multiple teeners ( a 15.4 today) and DD's. TBH I've never had a lot of success with the technique!

[Team9nine]

We had a “big bass” thread a couple weeks back discussing important aspects of finding and catching the biggest bass. I mentioned Livescope as being one of the keys now days to making it happen, and I got several “laughing” emojis because I think people thought I was being sarcastic - but I wasn’t. It’s a huge part of all these giant bass catches. JJ alone has two Sharelunkers in a week, and now well over 50 bass over 8 pounds, and more than 2 dozen over 10 in just the first two months of the year.

[Bluebasser86]

I've thrown it quite a bit and haven't caught a DD bass with it yet ?‍♂️ Of course it would help if there was any DD bass where I've thrown it. It's not a magic bullet at all, but it does catch big fish. You have to be where they are and the new sonars makes that way easier.

[Big Hands]

12 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I've thrown it quite a bit and haven't caught a DD bass with it yet ?‍♂️ Of course it would help if there was any DD bass where I've thrown it. It's not a magic bullet at all, but it does catch big fish. You have to be where they are and the new sonars makes that way easier.

I'd say that LiveScope (or whatever version they are using) deserves at least as much credit for catching those fish as the bait itself. Seeing fish react that way in real time and being able to pinpoint their location is something the fish are not prepared to defend against at this time.

 

I think over time, they will adapt and survive. But right now, people that utilize that technology to it's potential are able to fish very smartly and efficiently. Of course, it doesn't make them magically open and inhale.

[TnRiver46]

I feel so stupid throwing that rig I just quit. Might as well just drag downriggers with the gas motor 

[roadwarrior]

20 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I feel so stupid throwing that rig I just quit. Might as well just drag downriggers with the gas motor 

 

I fish The Rig a lot in the spring, but I like to drift with current/troll. I'm fishing

for both smallmouth and stripers. 

 

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

 

I fish The Rig a lot in the spring, but I like to drift with current/troll. I'm fishing

for both smallmouth and stripers. 

 

I know it’s powers, I just don’t think it’s for me. Bout the heaviest lures I throw are rattle traps. I’ve seen people catch bass with 4-5 oz musky plugs, I just don’t really enjoy fishing with heavy stuff on my line. I’d have to buy a special rod and spool it with plow line just to fish one lure 

[roadwarrior]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

I know it’s powers, I just don’t think it’s for me. Bout the heaviest lures I throw are rattle traps. I’ve seen people catch bass with 4-5 oz musky plugs, I just don’t really enjoy fishing with heavy stuff on my line. I’d have to buy a special rod and spool it with plow line just to fish one lure 

You can fish this on your jig rod: 

 https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Yum_Yumbrella_Flash_Mob_Jr_Umbrella_Rig/descpage-YYBFLJ.html

Rig the outside arms with LFT Live Magic Shad weightless. Inside with a Rage Swimmer

on a 1/4 oz swimbait head.

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

You can fish this on your jig rod: 

 https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Yum_Yumbrella_Flash_Mob_Jr_Umbrella_Rig/descpage-YYBFLJ.html

Rig the outside arms with LFT Live Magic Shad weightless. Inside with a Rage Swimmer

on a 1/4 oz swimbait head.

My jig rod is my jerkbait rod is my shakey head rod hahah!! You’re a couple steps out of my league, all that jazz sounds fun but I ain’t got any of it! I would gear up for it all and lose the silly thing on a log anyhow 

[Big Swimbait]

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

You can fish this on your jig rod: 

 https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Yum_Yumbrella_Flash_Mob_Jr_Umbrella_Rig/descpage-YYBFLJ.html

Rig the outside arms with LFT Live Magic Shad weightless. Inside with a Rage Swimmer

on a 1/4 oz swimbait head.

I've got plenty of swimbait rods. From the videos they are using the heavy artillery and the Shane's Baits HD Domin*8tor rig. The Flash Mob Jr would probably work for a few fish but these big girls might make them disposable. https://shanesbaits.com/The-Domin8tor-Dom8.htm

 

[roadwarrior]

12 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

My jig rod is my jerkbait rod is my shakey head rod hahah!! You’re a couple steps out of my league, all that jazz sounds fun but I ain’t got any of it! I would gear up for it all and lose the silly thing on a log anyhow 

Or maybe something like this:

 

[TnRiver46]

3 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Or maybe something like this:

 

I can handle big live baits with my 12 dollar medium heavy! It’s pulled in a 36 lb striper with a whole skipjack for bait. Don’t have to cast those! 

[Big Swimbait]

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

Or maybe something like this:

 

Wow!

[Big Swimbait]

Same lake today, same guide - 7.60 Smallie

[roadwarrior]

[Quarry Man]

looks like I need to book a guide trip and head to Texas

[Big Swimbait]

Just now, Quarry Man said:

looks like I need to book a guide trip and head to Texas

He just posted a 6+ right after

[PhishLI]

Same lake, last week. They flash some bigs within the 1st few minutes. Double A-Rig shot.

 

[Deleted account]

So when you find big fish you catch big fish? Who knew....

I'm still not casting an umbrella.

[gim]

I don’t even think that is a legal lure here in MN.

[MN Fisher]

8 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I don’t even think that is a legal lure here in MN.

It's legal under two conditions (yes, I looked it up)

1: Only two of the arms can have hooks/lures, the rest have to be 'dummies' without hooks.

2: There's no more than 9" between the hooks/lures, as measured from one hook/lure, up it's arm to the juncture, and back down the other arm to it's hook/lure.

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

It's legal under two conditions (yes, I looked it up)

1: Only two of the arms can have hooks/lures, the rest have to be 'dummies' without hooks.

2: There's no more than 9" between the hooks/lures, as measured from one hook/lure, up it's arm to the juncture, and back down the other arm to it's hook/lure.

That's one tiny umbrella.

[roadwarrior]

You guys need to organize and get some fishermen involved with the DNR regulators.

Your entire regulatory framework needs some changes.

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

You guys need to organize and get some fishermen involved with the DNR regulators.

Your entire regulatory framework needs some changes.

And the legislators - way our systems works here...DNR can submit proposals, but it has to be voted on in the legislature and signed off by the governor.

[gim]

19 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

You guys need to organize and get some fishermen involved with the DNR regulators.

Your entire regulatory framework needs some changes.

Realize here in Minnesota that virtually every fishing law and rule and season caters to the state fish: the walleye. They are on a pedestal here and no other fish is really even close. So changes to things like lures related to bass fishing are so far off their radar it’s not even considered.

 

It’s been like this for as long as I’ve been around. 1) walleye 2) panfish 3) everything else.

 

I used to work for the DNR and the surveys they did were to benefit one species. And that species was not bass. It’s kinda like the salmon in the Pacific Northwest as being more important.