Alabama Rig

[Sam]

On December 19, 2011, SIMP posted in the Fishing Reports section about his first use of the Alabama Rig.

Excellent report and photos and I suggest you view his post and the various repies.

It seems this new rig is going to be used in 2012 where it is legal. You may have to use only three (3) baits as opposed to five (5) depending on your state's fishing laws.

I have a number of questions about this rig and I am asking for your input:

1. Anyone has tried this rig and what are the results?

2. Is a 7 foot or longer heavy cating rod necessary?

3. What ratio reel are you using?

4. What line test are you using?

5. If you have used the rig does it make you tired after using it and if so, how long did it take to get you tired?

6. Have you used the original Alabama Rig or another version, and if another version, where did you get it?

7. I know you can use the rig on lakes. Has anyone used it on rivers?

Thanks in advance for your input.

I think a lot of us will be reading about this new rig and we have to decide if we want to invest in it now or wait to see if it is a fad.

[catchnm]

My thoughts on this rig are this. (I don't own and haven't thrown one) Probably too heavy. Yes it does seem that it would tire you quickly since the originals run in the neighborhood of two to three ounces rigged.

In that case a 7'6" to 8' foot rod with a heavy action would probably be required. What if you wound up with a double or triple of 3-5 lb. fish on anything lighter? Paul Elias was using a 7'11" Perfecta heavy action or maybe XH action rod on Guntersville.

I'm thinking of purchasing one of the knock-offs that weigh 3/8 oz. or so unrigged. I'll try adding five 5" swimbaits or 4- 6" Sassy Shad rigged on 1/8 oz. long shank 2/0 hook round lead-head jigs. That will go a total of 1 oz. or so rigged and should work on a 7' heavy action rod. A 5:1 or 6.3:1 ratio reel should work fine too. I prefer to go as small diameter line as I can get by with so maybe 17-20 lb. mono? Any thoughts?

[JIGFISHERMAN.]

It might make you tired after a LONG day of tossing it for hours, and fishing nothing else.....Those guys on the FLW tour show, were playing it up for the TV.

There are 60+year old guys that will toss 6oz musky lures for hours on end.

[NoBassPro]

Outside of my thoughts on the rig in general, this is one spot where'd I go with 80 lb braid. With heavier/harder pulling baits, a larger diameter braid seems to help keep it from digging into your spool. I can't really come up with a reason I'd go with mono or flouro here.

["BRB"]

I did see that TW had a yum "yumbrella rig" for $14.99.

[catchnm]

another site has one made by Venom Tackle that starts at 3/16 oz. unrigged. Interesting thoughts on the 80 lb. braid too, thanks.

[KevO]

I fished the rig on Guntersville the week of thanksgiving. I was throwing it on 7'11 H Glx flippin stick, a curado e7 with 50# sufix braid. The long rod isn't necessary i don't believe but you definitely need a heavy action rod. I have dobyns champion 705 that would probably do just as well. I borrowed the rig from my buddy who got them off Ebay. We absolutely killed them we caught at least 30 keepers between 2-4# and 3 over 5. Yes, it will wear you out fishing it all day, I took smoke breaks and threw a fluke every hr or so to give myself a break.

[catchnm]

Yes, it will wear you out fishing it all day

I figured as such. Might try having a double fluke rig as a back-up/break rig.

[dink]

I've thrown it for about a month. I had my reservations about it due to the weight and sheer size of it but soon found out that it is just another bait/technique to adapt to. I threw it on a MH 7'6" mod/fast pitchin stick and a 6.3:1 reel with 20 lb. mono. No break offs and I even swung a couple decent ones in. Just another tool.

[JIGFISHERMAN.]

Personally I think the wearing out thing is likely overrated. I haven't fished the A rig but I've tossed 4-6oz musky lures, and I'm a fat turd that is out of shape.

And IMO, there is no reason to have a ton of weight....I'm going to work the weight down to a total of 3/4-1oz

[rubba bubba]

There was a video posted by a pro on how to make it but it's been virtually wiped off the internet (sponsors must have got to him...). Someone posted a link to it that was from a Japenese site but now that link/thread seems to be gone from BR. Anyone know how to find that video again?

[soopd]

I have thrown the Alabama rig in a tournament for 8 hours solid. It is more difficult than fishing a 1/2 oz jig but it is not that hard. I fished it on a old Allstar Caroline rigging rod with no problem. I fished the original for the entire tournament. I made my own version with the instructions from the tackle making section. It is about 1/2 oz heavier than the original. I used a bullet weight as the head. I have fished it only 1 outing and managed a 4 lb small mouth.

[gobig]

A friend and I have been throwing our own versions for a month or so. Out here we can only have three baits on ours. Depending on what baits you put on the rig the weight can vary considerably. I have been throwing mine on a Lamiglass Swimbait rod 7' 6'' MH, paired with a Curado 300 that is spooled up with 65lb braid and a 25lb co-poly leader. This rod is designed for throwing 6in swimbaits and works beautifully. We have managed a few 7lber's half a dozen 5's and I broke off on a fish that was quite possibly a double D. This rig has so much big fish potential its not even funny. Its also got the potential to break the bank if ya loose one. If mine would have been store bought that would have been over 50 bucks gone in one shot.

With that being said I could not imagine trying to throw one of these on anything less than a swimbait rod with a 300 series reel and heavy line. If all that wire don't bother them I don't see why braid or heavy line would? Think about it, if you had two 7's were hooked at the same time that's over 14lbs! And for those of you where you can have 5 baits what if you had five 3lbers hook up at once? That's alot of stress on a rod and reel. Why chance it?

As far as getting tired goes.. this is no different than throwing something like 6in BBZ 1 all day. On the right rod with proper casting technique its no problem for me.

[Sam]

Gobig, thanks a million.

I was thinking of using an Ugly Stick and an old Ambassador reel but will now look to your setup in addition to using the information shared by the other guys.

Is this site great or what?????

Happy New Year!

[Primus]

I won't have a chance to throw this until next year so I will be relying on all you guys that live down South to fill me in by next spring That said I started throwing the 8" Hudd this summer which weighs about 5 oz and with the right rod it's not too taxing. A good swimbait rod should be able to handle the Alabama rig without wearing you out.

[J Francho]

I don't know what you guys are worried about having 10 lbs. or more fish on your line... Up here, we run into some big fish that actually put up a fight while bass fishing. My little Pinnacle Perfecta "fairy wand" had no issue handling a couple kings that went 25-30 lbs. From what I've been told by my friend that has won a couple of events throwing an A-rig, there isn't much fight when there is a double or triple. Most everyone I've talked to uses a swimbait or heavy jig rod. A few have said, like Fluke, that a moderate taper works better with the open hook jigs.

[SkilletSizeBass.]

_{Is this the one getting all the hoopla? I havent tried one.}

_{http://www.thealabamarig.com/about.htm}

[Fishing4SquidDuck]

sam i got one for xmas im thinking its about 2 oz maybe 3 fully rigged and im throwing it with my frog rod 7ft with 80 lb braid

[CJ]

I'm using the 5 wire made by D&L Tackle. I think they are local. 4.5 Shadalicious with an 1/8 oz. 3/0 jighead. 20 lb. test Flourocarbon on a Revo S with a 7' heavy fast tip Abu Veritas. I don't like braid but if I start having any problems, I may try it.

The first day I fished this rig which was only a little over a week ago, I was sold. It definantly catches the fish! My arms were a little soar.

I weighed my entire rig out at 3 3/4 oz.

[NorcalBassin]

Just broke down and picked one up...

[Senkoman12]

I don't know what you guys are worried about having 10 lbs. or more fish on your line... Up here, we run into some big fish that actually put up a fight while bass fishing. My little Pinnacle Perfecta "fairy wand" had no issue handling a couple kings that went 25-30 lbs. From what I've been told by my friend that has won a couple of events throwing an A-rig, there isn't much fight when there is a double or triple. Most everyone I've talked to uses a swimbait or heavy jig rod. A few have said, like Fluke, that a moderate taper works better with the open hook jigs.

most people know nothing of what a fight is until they have a 30lb king on the end of the line

[grimlin]

I cannot seem to even want one of these........I have no desire to even fish it even if i did have one.

[Bass Junkie]

I cannot seem to even want one of these........I have no desire to even fish it even if i did have one.

Right there with you. This is just a fad, and will pass. Just like T-Tops and Bell-Bottoms.... Lets just hope they don't come back around

[SirSnookalot]

most people know nothing of what a fight is until they have a 30lb king on the end of the line

Oh really?

I don't sway off topic but I can think of and caught many species that pound for pound will give anyone an education how some fish can put up a battle. I'm not including or excluding a king( I'm sure the reference is not an ocean kingfish), we catch 30# fish that have to be run down to land them and that's on heavier conventional gear, not light light tackle.

[gobig]

I don't know what you guys are worried about having 10 lbs. or more fish on your line... Up here, we run into some big fish that actually put up a fight while bass fishing. My little Pinnacle Perfecta "fairy wand" had no issue handling a couple kings that went 25-30 lbs. From what I've been told by my friend that has won a couple of events throwing an A-rig, there isn't much fight when there is a double or triple. Most everyone I've talked to uses a swimbait or heavy jig rod. A few have said, like Fluke, that a moderate taper works better with the open hook jigs.

I have several reasons for my suggestions, here is my take on it... Most of my suggestions come from what I have learned throwing bigger baits and fish I have caught on the rig so far.

- I don't play the fish, I have the drag locked down and I wench them in. I want a rod/reel that can over power the fish and line that can handle that stress. If you have the power to move a big fish and fill there mouth with water they are less inclined to throw a bait. I have caught many of fish that weigh way more than the line and rod rating when I play them.

- When you start talking about baits/rigs that weigh ounces there is a lot of stress on the line and knots when casting. I would use no less than 20lb test.

- I have to agree with the use of a rod that has a more parabolic bend. Which is one of the reasons for using a swimbait rod. It has length, parabolic bend and lots of backbone. Not only does this help getting more fish to the boat but you can make more than a dozen casts with out it feeling like your arms are going to fall off.