Alabama Rig?

[bigbassctchr101]

Take a deep breath.....maybe if we describe it as a spinnerbait/donkey rig hybrid technique, we can incorporate it into the power fishing spectrum within an open water moving bait pattern. I'll say again: I love how LMB guys think their fishing is different than just fishing.

I still don't get this???

Isn't any kind of specific species fishing different from "just fishing"? I mean, just goin fishing to someone else may mean 12 beers, worms, and a bell to let them know when something is biting? A carp fisherman definition of "just fishing" is going to be completely different with different baits, tools, and techniques than someone fishing for largemouth. So yea, rightfully some of us will think its different from "just fishing".

[NoBassPro]

I still don't get this???

Isn't any kind of specific species fishing different from "just fishing"? I mean, just goin fishing to someone else may mean 12 beers, worms, and a bell to let them know when something is biting? A carp fisherman definition of "just fishing" is going to be completely different with different baits, tools, and techniques than someone fishing for largemouth. So yea, rightfully some of us will think its different from "just fishing".

I think what he's saying is he doesn't understand why tournament fishermen would put different restrictions on themselves than those the general public are subject to. I.e. one rod, no trolling or live bait...

He really needs to visit a musky or fly fishing board to get some perspective imo.

[SirSnookalot]

Without reading his explanation, I wouldn't speculate on what Reason means. What I will say is that any good fisherman can catch any kind fish, with a little time invested. I have a neighbor( snowbird), he's a charter captain for stripers in Cape May N.J. He never fished for bass in his life, I showed him a few tips in our pond and canal, he catches bass like he's been doing it his entire life.

[bigbassctchr101]

Thanks for clarifying.

My stance on the rig is that I think there is nothing wrong with it if you are within the legal boundaries of your state. If you are casting and not trolling and pretty much just using it like any other bait.

I have heard one very legit explanation of why you should not be allowed to use this rig. And that is the number of fish in your boat. If an angler is only allowed 5 fish to his limit, plus 1 fish as he is culling. Never no more than 6 fish in the boat at one time. But, i think the legitimate and very fair rule to this would be that the angler wouldn't be allowed to bring them in the boat. If he has 5 fish and catches a double. He should not be able to bring both fish IN THE BOAT. He could either pick the one he thinks will cull and return the other before landing it inside of the boat, or he could free line, or some how keep the fish out of the boat while a fish from the livewell is released before the two fish are netter or swung into the boat. If you bring 7 fish aboard, you should be DQ'd. I think this would be a fair way of justifying and keeping a fair playing field to those that are using and those that are not using the alabama rig. (I also think that the same should hold true for doubles on any other lure...I can't remember, but I know that Tim Horton caught several doubles on crankbaits a couple years ago. I don't know if he had a limit or not when he did this though...but that wasn't really an issue then. It would be now and I think the same restraints should be put in place no matter the bait or reason)

The posts about foul hooking fish... I am torn between. I am a catch and release angler, and I do want the fish returned in the best state possible. But, on the other hand, I have caught MANY fish that have foul hooked themselves on a trap bait, or spook when they whip around and grab a tail. AGAIN, some states do not allow you to keep foul hooked fish. If thats the case, and one fish is foul hooked in anyway, (even if it is hooked in the mouth) I think you should have to return the fish. I can't say what impact a foul hooked fish has on its health...it would have to be much more harm than good, but that doesn't really mean that it hinders them in any other way once they are released.

I think a honest fisherman, like MOST fisherman are, can effectively fish an Alabama rig in tournaments, practice, and in good sport while still being a conservationist and practice healthy catch and release habits.

This lure may help others that wouldn't follow the rules possibly catch more than they need to keep. But, the lure and idea is out. They are going to do that with whatever lure and whatever way they can find anyway. That is no reason to ban it from the people that care most about the habitats and well being of the fish that they pursue.

[NoBassPro]

Next thing you know, guys will be rigging up 6 worms on a drop shot to see what happens. To me catching two fish on one bait is an entirely different game than casting multiple baits with the intention of catching multiple fish.

[bigbassctchr101]

I don't think people are so much targeting multiple fish catches any more than they are with a double fluke rig, or front runner/spook, double take lure. I'm sure everyone hopes and will now probably be expecting a multiple fish catch. But I believe, at least for me, that it is the presentation that this rig offers. I would personally fish this rig with only one bait if thats all I was allowed, and use the other leaders for spinnerbait blade attachments so I could still get the effect of the schooling fish presentation. I think thats the unique thing about the rig. Not that it can and probably has caught more doubles than most other lures have in the past.

["BRB"]

Well think its a neat ideal. And I really would like to try it. I think I well try to make my own. I'm not going to pay $25+ for it. Give it a little time strike king and every other lure company will have there on Alabama rig out which could bring the price down. Mybe!!! But I don't know guess just have to wait and see.

[Fishing Rhino]

Next thing you know, guys will be rigging up 6 worms on a drop shot to see what happens. To me catching two fish on one bait is an entirely different game than casting multiple baits with the intention of catching multiple fish.

Ask, and ye shall receive.

They already do that for mackerel in salt water.

[NoBassPro]

They use them ice fishing for smelt here. Now combine that with a perch spreader and you've got something Effective or not, you've got to draw the line somewhere imo.

[J Francho]

You could throw FOUR A-rigs on one of these:

[Fishing Rhino]

And at night, he plays it like a banjo at a local watering hole.

[BassThumb]

Is anybody else surprised that this gimmicky looking thing actually works?

[Wayne P.]

Is anybody else surprised that this gimmicky looking thing actually works?

No, its been used in various forms for years.

[J Francho]

No, its been used in various forms for years.

I think BT is referring to the rake-rod, LOL.

[Wayne P.]

Thanks for the tip.. I only wish I could go out and fish one of those places. Heck, I wish I could go out and fish even my local lake right now. I managed to go out only twice in the last seven weeks

Let us know how you do with the A-rig.

I used the A-rig knock-off today and only caught two with it. I didn't find any situation where it would be a standout presentation. I only used it for about an hour.

[jeb2]

The striper guys here on Beaver Lake use those umbrella rigs a lot. I've found a few over the years, when the water level was dropping, snagged in tree tops. I guess I should throw one in the boat and see if they work. Lots of schooling spotted bass on this lake.

[rboat]

I think this A rig looks ridiculous. Do you really think 5 lures at once will help? How many fish do you need to catch on each cast? Reminds me of the die hard spec fishermen with rods out all around their boat. It looks more like harvesting than fishing. Just as well troll a net behind the boat. Where is the sport? Others already stated if you get a double or better there is no real fight. To me it looks like a snag factory. If you like it, go for it. I will stick with one rod and one lure at a time. It simply seems more sporting to me. JMHO.

[bigbassctchr101]

Had a tournament this past weekend and we threw the A-rig a lot. Started off by fishing a single swimbait and my partner was throwing TAR. We boated two fish before I decided to switch. We ended up with 15lbs on day one. We only caught 7 fish. Only 6 of them were keepers. On day two we went out and done the same thing. We caught 3 fish. One keeper.

We fished the Virginia and Tennesee side and one had 3 lures on the rig with the other wires hidden and the other had 5 baits rigged up with only one hook in the middle bait (TENNESSEE). Virginia you can use 5 rigged lures. We caught fish both ways.

This bait does absolutely no good if you can't find the fish. We did not foul hook one fish. We also did not double or triple not once.

The presenatation is to invoke an instinctive feeding response by fish. Its not a reaction bite, its just instinct that these fish are suppossed to attack schools of shad. Thats what this bait does.

[J Francho]

Yesterday I drove 235 miles (round trip) for some north St Lawrence River Smallies and today I stayed closer to home and fished Oneida Lake with CUS

Nov 6th Oneida Lake

We fished from 7:20 to around 2 pm and today's trip was test # 2 for the Haney Rig. Water Temps showing were 43.9 -45.2 degrees and the fish seemed very scattered in depths of 7 - 14 ft. I had my first limit by 9:42 and just I kept experimenting with different baits and rigging to see what would work.

I used the rig with several different baits in varying sizes and colors to see what the fish's reaction would be. And while I had slow, periods the bite was steady most of the day and I really enjoy this kind of fishing when you get around active fish that allow you to refine and learn more about a new technique. I landed every one of my 16 fish on the rig and I dropped three that were short strikes. I had double Pickerel chase it to the boat once and then a very big Smallie chase it in.

I thought for sure that I’d get a double hook up today but I never did. I find it fun that you can fish different sizes and types of baits on this rig. That's one thing I've always enjoyed about new baits and techniques is you get to experiment to see if they fit into your style and type of fishing and if they do you now have another tool in your kit bag to use when the conditions are right. And likewise, if it doesn't feel right to you or you just don't like it… then you don't have to use it.

CUS put on his usual cold water clinic and he opened the day with a solid walleye that I ate for dinner tonight, (nothing tastier than a cold water walleye). Dropshot, tube, jerkbait and more… the guy simply enjoys cold water smallies more than the average man, there's no doubt about it. I estimate we had at least a 40-45 fish day

Thanks CUS for another great day on Oneida Lake.

Here's a few from today

Fun little knock off that's getting the JOB done

Remember there are no secrets in fishing.

If the bait balls are near... this rascal works ...and if not you can wash several lures for a while until the bait re- appears

[Scorcher214]

Nice fish J!

Looks like I got something to make over the winter!

[J Francho]

Just to be clear, I haven't tried the rig. That is my friends Burnie and Mike.

[1234567]

I just got mine in the mail today. My only concern is the bend at the end of each arm straightening on a large fish?? It is also alot smaller than I expected, 6 and 7 inch paddletails may not be a suitable option. I'll find out this weekend though! I am excited to give it a try.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Talk about line visibility...

I guess it MUST be thrown with flouro, cause the coat hanger becomes magically invisible in the water

These were close to my first thought: Any person that is a diehard fluoro user and feels fish worry about line visability surely wont use this; or will they?

Any water with more than 3' clarity and the fish will never bite due to the rig being so easy to see connected directly to the lure.

[J Francho]

Guess you guys worried about the wire on a moving bait don't like buzz baits and spinner baits.

[bigbassctchr101]

These were close to my first thought: Any person that is a diehard fluoro user and feels fish worry about line visability surely wont use this; or will they?

Any water with more than 3' clarity and the fish will never bite due to the rig being so easy to see connected directly to the lure.

We were using this in South Holston, which you can see your jig hoping around in 16ft of water. Everyone always preaches, light line, clear line, little baits. Doesn't make sense 65lb braid and a bunch of wires get bit. But they did...anywhere from less than a foot beside docks, down to thirty foot beside structure.