Is there any functional advantage of a longer center wire in 5 hook A-Rigs?

[Ohioguy25]

6th Sense Umbrella Rigs previously had a longer center wire for the trailer bait. They took it away and made all 5 wires equal lengths, people complained so they reverted to the original design.

 

My question is, is there any advantage or function this serves when you are running 5 hooks? Does a loan bait trailing slightly behind the rest of the bait ball invite more strikes because it looks more vulnerable than 5 all together or was this design implemented simply to keep them off the dummy (hookless) baits?

[rangerjockey]

That's the one they bite the majority of the time.  I personally use a bigger bait on the center wire. 

You can feel them bump the teasers at times. 

[Ohioguy25]

40 minutes ago, rangerjockey said:

That's the one they bite the majority of the time.  I personally use a bigger bait on the center wire. 

You can feel them bump the teasers at times. 

So you don’t use one with longer middle wire, just longer bait?

[Team9nine]

1 hour ago, Ohioguy25 said:

My question is, is there any advantage or function this serves when you are running 5 hooks? Does a loan bait trailing slightly behind the rest of the bait ball invite more strikes because it looks more vulnerable than 5 all together or was this design implemented simply to keep them off the dummy (hookless) baits?

 

Yes, yes, and yes 

[5by3]

Yes, it matters. Teasers go on top. Bass will usually come in from the sides or below and attack. 

[rangerjockey]

37 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

So you don’t use one with longer middle wire, just longer bait?

Longer wire and a bigger bait. Not a huge difference but 2.8 on the 4  and 3.3 or 3.8 on the center.

[RRocket]

I am not an A-Rig fisherman.

 

However, predators (in general) often seek out weak and/or inured prey. In other words an "easy" meal is preferred.

 

And I would say that the longer center arm makes one of the baits appear to be slower and lagging behind....and weaker.

 

And therefore may prompt more bites.

[A-Jay]

I am an A-Rig angler and have been throwing a couple of different versions for smallmouth bass with varying levels of success for a few years now.   On 5 hook baits, the middle and bottom 2 baits are by far the most targeted. 

On a 4 bait spread, where all the baits are seemingly on the same plane, it's still the bottom 2 bait that get bites.  Not even sure I've ever caught a fish on the top two baits on any rig.

So there's that.

A-Jay 

 

[king fisher]

Umbrella rigs used in salt water have had longer middle arms for years.  They must work better for so many anglers to prefer them that way.  The first time I hooked a bass with an A Rig I landed two 5 pound bass and all three of the other baits were ripped off of the hooks.  Bass were still chasing it, when I landed the bass.  Since that day my A rig success has been on a down hill slide.

[RRocket]

For you seasoned A-riggers...has anyone tried Raid Japan Ghost Wire? 

 

It's a new type of A-rig designed for strolling/hover strolling.

 

 

[Ohioguy25]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

I am an A-Rig angler and have been throwing a couple of different versions for smallmouth bass with varying levels of success for a few years now.   On 5 hook baits, the middle and bottom 2 baits are by far the most targeted. 

On a 4 bait spread, where all the baits are seemingly on the same plane, it's still the bottom 2 bait that get bites.  Not even sure I've ever caught a fish on the top two baits on any rig.

So there's that.

A-Jay 

 

Which rigs have you tried, and which did you like best? 

57 minutes ago, king fisher said:

Umbrella rigs used in salt water have had longer middle arms for years.  They must work better for so many anglers to prefer them that way.  The first time I hooked a bass with an A Rig I landed two 5 pound bass and all three of the other baits were ripped off of the hooks.  Bass were still chasing it, when I landed the bass.  Since that day my A rig success has been on a down hill slide.

Wonder why Hog Farmer, who is supposedly the gold standard for A Rigs, does not implement this design in all but one of their rigs?

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Which rigs have you tried, and which did you like best? 

~ Past few seasons I’ve developed a bit of a love / hate relationship with the Strike King Short Arm Titanium rig.  I had so much success with, but it was breaking apart while fighting picture worthy brown bass. Total Bummer. So I have been sort of gone back to the drawing board looking for a rig that would get bites and stay together to actually land the fish. At the time of this posting, I am still looking.   I fished a couple of different Hog Farmer rigs south of the border this past fall.  They are Very Stout and handled green bass up to 8 lbs.  However I have some concerns that they may be over kill for my local needs. 

 

 

Good one ~

 The A-Rig: G Funk Baits Bama Rig with Strike King Rage Tail Swimmer,   Keitech Swing Impact FAT and / or Strike King KVD Swim N Shiner  Mounted on Dobyns Light Hook Swimbait Head or Dirty Jigs Tactical Bassin' Finesse Swimbait Jig Heads or VMC Boxer Jig Head  – usually all 1/8 oz. Baits are usually AYU and less than 4.75 inches.

https://youtu.be/pKLeeC4612o?feature=shared&t=223

A-Jay

[SkippinJimmy]

1 hour ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Which rigs have you tried, and which did you like best? 

You didn’t ask me but I thought I would share my favorite.

 

I like the A-Rigs from Shane’s Baits.  They have a number of configurations and they sell the replacement arms, so if one breaks, you just replace the arm v. the entire rig.

[rangerjockey]

9 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Which rigs have you tried, and which did you like best? 

Wonder why Hog Farmer, who is supposedly the gold standard for A Rigs, does not implement this design in all but one of their rigs?

I remember when the whole deal started we stood in line to pay 50 bucks for some home made contraption because they weren't available from the bigger manufacturers. They all caught fish.

I personally wouldn't pay HF prices anymore. 

The Yum/Scottsboro , Strike king or whatever's on sale will do fine. I have a problem with trying to get just a little bit closer to the brush pile. Although FFS helps save a few.

[Catt]

Two thoughts behind the longer middle wire.

 

First is as mentioned above; slow weaker, wounded baitfish.

 

Second & the reason for a larger lure on the trailing hook. Predator chasing prey.

[Ohioguy25]

9 hours ago, Catt said:

Two thoughts behind the longer middle wire.

 

First is as mentioned above; slow weaker, wounded baitfish.

 

Second & the reason for a larger lure on the trailing hook. Predator chasing prey.

Ahh great points. Never even considered this, is that something they target or that triggers them, a larger baitfish chasing smaller ones (being distracted?)

[Catt]

@Ohioguy25 Didn’t say larger "baitfish" chasing smaller ones.

 

Predator chasing prey!

 

Big ones eat little ones, you know that whole circle of life thing.

[Ohioguy25]

3 minutes ago, Catt said:

@Ohioguy25 Didn’t say larger "baitfish" chasing smaller ones.

 

Predator chasing prey!

 

Big ones eat little ones, you know that whole circle of life thing.

But isn’t a larger swimbait (3-5”) a baitfish imitation?

[WRB]

Bait fish form a tight ball to appear bigger and any straggler is targeted.

Tom

[Ohioguy25]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Bait fish form a tight ball to appear bigger and any straggler is targeted.

Tom

But is a bass more likely to attack a bait ball if there is a straggler?

[WRB]

32 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

But is a bass more likely to attack a bait ball if there is a straggler?

Bass are predators and all predators attack stragglers.

Tom

[Catt]

2 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

But isn’t a larger swimbait (3-5”) a baitfish imitation?

 

Not necessarily

All predators were young once.

13 minutes ago, WRB said:

Bass are predators and all predators attack stragglers.

Tom

 

Often times immature bass will streak though the bait ball wounding some. The mature bass will lay in wait below.