Alabama rig - better quality rigs and other questions

[txchaser]

This year has been really good for alabama rigs for me, but it has left me with a few questions:

 

1) I almost never get bit on the back/trailer bait, whether it is the same, larger, or brighter/dipped/whatever standout I did to it. Is this expected? 

2) I'm in search of higher quality rigs, the big daddy boat dock ones from TW have failed at the snaps in some disappointing ways. I have a non-bladed g-funk and it is great, but I thought I'd ask before I start pulling the trigger on upgrading. 

3) I get far more bites one the shorter wire rigs. What should I be looking for when I should throw the longer wire? 

4) 4 blades seems to be standard. When is 8 a good alternative? 

5) Line twist... wow. Should I be installing a swivel with split rings when it doesn't come with one? Fished for six months without respooling and the line is a train wreck from twist. Some of it is my fault as I'm often casting with sort of a 45 degree split between a roll cast and an overhead, so I'm imparting some spin to it. 

 

And a recent issue, this weekend I had something that I'd never seen before - had quite a few bites where the fish was on then it was gone, or I could never get a hook into them. But.. it's open hooks? And I wasn't getting baits back with missing tails. It felt more like smash and gone. I just done recall anything like that. 

 

[softwateronly]

I've only thrown the a rig for a year and a half or so, but the GFunk cali rig has treated me right.  Fish always hit the 3 hooks and line twist is nonexistent.  I do throw braid to leader, which might have an effect.  Following to see if I can learn about future issues.

 

scott  

[A-Jay]

My initial success with the A-Rig came with the short arm Strike King unit.

Eventually they ALL suffered 'arm failure' while landing a bass.

Tried many since and have settled on a G Funk offering.

Decent arm length, strong but not too stiff wires, has a swivel and most importantly,

none of them have failed.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-GFUNK.html?from=basres

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/243659-my-most-productive-baits-~-2021-edition/

A-Jay

[RDB]

https://shanesbaits.com/main.sc
 

I use these…good quality and the arms are replaceable so you don’t have to buy a new rig.  The arms also have some play so it doesn’t create a weak spot where the arm meets the head.

[txchaser]

21 hours ago, RDB said:

https://shanesbaits.com/main.sc
 

I use these…good quality and the arms are replaceable so you don’t have to buy a new rig.  The arms also have some play so it doesn’t create a weak spot where the arm meets the head.

Thanks. And TW also carrying these now too. 

 

@softwateronly and @A-Jay are you making a distinction between the camo wire and the shiny wire on g-funk , or at this point it is splitting hairs?

 

 

[A-Jay]

2 minutes ago, txchaser said:

Thanks. And TW also carrying these now too. 

 

@softwateronly and @A-Jay are you making a distinction between the camo wire and the shiny wire on g-funk , or at this point it is splitting hairs?

 

 

Not sure if it matters,

but I've only ever used the camo model.

A-Jay

 

[softwateronly]

On 12/14/2021 at 8:30 PM, txchaser said:

Thanks. And TW also carrying these now too. 

 

@softwateronly and @A-Jay are you making a distinction between the camo wire and the shiny wire on g-funk , or at this point it is splitting hairs?

 

 

I have used both, didn't notice a difference.  I usually order the camo, but have gotten shiny when camo isn't available.  I also use the hog farmer flex rig.  My only real observations are my clear water lake does better without blades and for me the bite is best in prespawn and late fall.  I have a local shop that carries hog farmer sometimes, otherwise I'm shipping through TW.

 

scott

[Deleted account]

-If you have an umbrella frame that works well, but the snap/swivel or other hardware is sub standard, you can easily change it out to more appropriate ones. A round nose or bailing pliers are nice, but needle nose will work. (check out spinner making videos)

 

-If you aren't getting bit on the center/trailing bait (and the lower baits), it probably isn't running correctly, it may be getting pushed to the side, or more likely in your case, spinning excessively, (umbrellas shouldn't spin).

 

-Umbrella size should be matched to bait size, within reason, large umbrella/small baits and small umbrellas/big baits tend to create some issues. I know it sounds a like like trolling, but let out some line and watch the rig while running the boat at idle and see how it is running, this will give good guidance on how fast/slow to retrieve as well. 

 

 

[ironbjorn]

I've never used it, but the Tactical Bassin guys talks about the HogFarmer Flex Rig all the time. They helped design it. I believe every word that comes out of their mouths when it comes to bass fishing. 

[gunsinger]

I buy cheap a-rigs off of amazon and add Berkley swim baits.  I've never had a failure and I catch plenty of 3-4 pound bass on them.

[txchaser]

On 12/13/2021 at 3:49 PM, A-Jay said:

My initial success with the A-Rig came with the short arm Strike King unit.

Eventually they ALL suffered 'arm failure' while landing a bass.

Tried many since and have settled on a G Funk offering.

Decent arm length, strong but not too stiff wires, has a swivel and most importantly,

none of them have failed.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/G_Funk_Baits/catpage-GFB.html

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/243659-my-most-productive-baits-~-2021-edition/

A-Jay

Are you direct attaching jigheads via the split ring, or putting a snap on the split ring?

[A-Jay]

10 minutes ago, txchaser said:

Are you direct attaching jigheads via the split ring, or putting a snap on the split ring?

No snaps

Jigheads are secured to the wires via split ring

A-Jay

 

[WRB]

When I was using A-rigs in California where 3 hooks are allowed and before they became popular with several brands a local tackle made the  G-Funk style rig.

If I was fishing rigs today that is my suggestion.

Also my swimmers were Little Clippers Trash Fish Shad, 4 each 4” and 1 ea 6” on the longer wire. Used CPS spring to hold 2 teasers and CPS springs and wired top treble on 3 arms. Killer rig but the Trash Fish get expense fishing lakes with Strip bass. 

I would different bullet weights pegged in front of the rig for a head and weight to keep it running at whatever depth needed.

I used my swimbait rods for A-rigs.

Tom

 

[txchaser]

3 hours ago, WRB said:

I would different bullet weights pegged in front of the rig for a head and weight to keep it running at whatever depth needed.

Thanks for mentioning this, I had been wondering if this was a good idea or just the 'good idea fairy' come to visit.