Alabama Rig

[SirSnookalot]

Good points made both pro and con. Being strictly a recreational fisherman I'm out there to have fun, many techniques I don't employ because it isn't fun for me, the A-rig would be one of them. Have I used one, no, but I've used umbrella rigs for ocean stripers and without doubt would prefer using 1 lure for them. I speak only for myself, when it comes to catching bass I'm not about to use heavy rods for fish that on average are not going to be more than 5#. If I happen to hook a bigger one, don't worry I'll get it in and if I don't, so what !,I'm releasing it anyway, I had the fight and that's what I'm there for. What others choose to use is entirely up to them.

[J Francho]

The haves and have nots deal is just insulting.

What is insulting about it? Guys still whine about senkos in tournaments. Don't like to beaten by blind squirrels? Set up your game! There is an old timer somewhere complaining that bass fishing was great until the invention of the plastic worm. Side imaging and GPS are WAYYYYY bigger tools in the scheme of tournament fishing than any terminal rig. Remember the guys taking chain saws and come alongs to get their boats into really remote water? Was that fair?

When ever there is a, "why didn't I think of that?" moment, there are ten others that whine about it not being fair. That's what I mean by haves and have nots.

[Blue Streak]

I have said before that I am surprised that a rig with that many hooks is permitted by any state game and fish dept. In Ohio there is a regulation about fishing lines that states that

Anglers may not use more than two lines, whether fastened to a pole, a rod and reel, or hand held. Anglers may use up to three hooks on each line, except as provided in the Ohio Administrative Code.

Now I know that may be an exact comparison, but my point is many states do have restrictions.

That rig is very limited in it's application anyhow. It could only be fished in very open water and most likely for suspended fish. Can't imagine trying to get that through a weed bed or brush pile.

The fact is I am neither for or against it's use and I would need to know more to form a definite opinion, but I wonder if it is already illegal in some states because of existing laws. One thing for certain, I won't be wearing my arm out with it.

[Bass XL]

When ever there is a, "why didn't I think of that?" moment, there are ten others that whine about it not being fair. That's what I mean by haves and have nots.

[bigbassctchr101]

So, apparently some people like it and some don't lol.

I agree that it is a specific tool, with a lot of other potential that many people haven't yet found. And, I have no problem with them banning it in the Elites and Classic (1. because it doesn't effect me like J. Francho said 2. who should really care enough to argue it all day long if they aren't actually fishing the classic or elites?)

It would have been awesome to see what them guys could have caught on the rigs because it has the ability to catch fish that do not relate to much cover or many other things people key on when fishing. On the other hand I think it may eventually hurt impact the fisheries in some way. Not because of fish kills, or fish being hooked, etc... but really because more people will see it, buy it, and use it. The striper fishermen have been using, and catching BASS on it for years and years and I haven't seen an uproar of that yet? Guys were fishing this thing for an entire summer before the publicity hit it. Noone complained about seeing massive amounts of dead fish, or fish with hook scars all over them at weigh in.

The media made this thing the bad guy. And everyone thinking they had to have one and use it.

I do not think there was one thing wrong with it if it followed states laws. I do NOT think it would be right for a state to amend laws because of this lure, but thats not my call.

For the people thats bashing it--- Why? Have even half of you tried it? If you have, I would bet that over 85% did not slay fish on it and did not catch ANY doubles. So what is your bases for not liking it if it follows laws, and why weren't you complaining about it the last 10 or more years that striper fisherman have used it? And, are you afraid that someone is going to go pitch this in your favorite flipping bush, or finese it along your designated piece of rip rap bank?

Of the people that have tried it, how many have caught doubles, triples. etc?? I've used it probably 18 or so outings, and had 1 good day. 12 keepers. No doubles. Only one time were there multiple hooks involved on one fish...and that was a 14" smallmouth that killed two baits in one bite and had 2 hooks in the mouth...not his sides! The other times, I caught a couple fish on it...big fish ;but not a lot of fish. And I would consider myself to be an average or above average fisherman.

I would be let down to think that the Elite guys are being so dramatic over this (because I really don't think they mind it nearly as much as most of you people do). The Elite guys didn't use it before, and half of them wouldn't have used it anyway. So, nothing has really changed for them.

But why are so many people against change and new innovations? There are many more things out there that could be worse than the A-rig. (I can drive by a point or a brushpile and watch my bait go down to the fish and watch the fish eat it LIKE A VIDEO GAME, and people have more of a problem with a stupid fishing lure than a $2500 sonar) Whats wrong with this picture lol

I have heard some good cons and reasons why this bait should not be used for tournament and recreational fishermen. But most of them just sound like they're afraid to spend time and learn how to fish it. I'd have much more respect for someone that just flat out don't like and don't wanna use it just cause.... There's no need to make up silly excuses and reasons that could hold true about other baits that you're already using ==> Double/triple flukes? (are you afraid the shiny 200lb wire will get more bites?), Double/triple fish catches? (while this happens more often on the a-rig, it doesn't happen that much, we are just hearing about it all the time now, and its happened with other lures, Tim Horton actually had this happen multiple times in a tournament on a bomber), over fishing? (if you don't like it, don't use it, that solves 30% of fishermen, people that bought it but can't/won't figure out how to fish it effectively is another 50%, the other 20% have been smokin your tails before the rig came out anyway)

Here's an experiment--Someone use only this rig the whole year and compare it with someone using other methods and see who catches more fish at the end of that year!

[BasskingKeith]

Just looks like a cheating contraption to me

[SirSnookalot]

A governing body makes rules that are going to benefit their sport or competitive activity, imo especially from a sponsors standpoint as the future of any company lies with the recreational user.

A state on the other hand makes regulations in hopes of benefiting the entire picture, the fishery,wildlife dependent on lakes and rivers and to the environment as a whole.

Question is, should any governing body be allowed to supercede state regulations.

As far as the A-rig goes, if it's legal use if you like, if not don't.

I don't think it's cheating.

[Caver]

What about taking the sporting issue out of it? Do you really want these umbrellas with hooks attached to them piling up at the bottoms of our lakes or the shoreline when they get broken off? People talk about the damage plastics can do. This has to be much worse. You have 5x the opportunity to catch fish, but also 5x the opportunity to get hung up on structure. Also, this whole have, have not's conspiracy is retarded. I would get it if we were taking about $50,000 bass boats, but we're talking about spending an extra 15-20 on a lure. Give me a break.

[ctf58]

Lets go back to the way it should be.

[J Francho]

Lets go back to the way it should be.

LOL, live baiting with a Zebco. No thanks, I was over that before I turned 10.

[BasskingKeith]

Wonder why my post keep getting deleted.... That's low.

[Blue Streak]

I picked this up on an Ohio fishing site. I wonder if other states have laws like this and if perhaps that was part of the consideration for the decision to ban it by B.A.S.S. . I can't remember the state where it was used to win the tournament. But was it legal there?

Reply to an e mail inquiry: An Alabama Rig or Umbrella Rig, using 5 leaders, is not legal in Ohio, unless

you follow the rule of three hooks per fishing line. Anglers may only use up to

three hooks on each line. The Alabama Rig allows for 5 items to be attached.

If a fisherman were to use only 3 of the leaders on the rig, using only 3 hooks

total, then, they could use the rig, but, wouldn't be using the entire rig, only

part of it. Also, if someone were to attach a lure with 3 hooks to one of the

leaders, then, that is all that you can have, the 1 lure. Once again, anglers

are allowed up to 3 hooks on each fishing line.

To further clarify, the rule of three applies here. You can only use three hooks

per line. Either three lures with one set (treble hook included) of hooks each

or one lure with three trebles, such as a Reef Runner or muskie lure.

Regardless, no more than three hooks no matter the combination of lures. Again

to clarify, a treble counts as one hook

[J Francho]

Wonder why my post keep getting deleted.... That's low.

Nothing's been deleted.