Super User slonezp Posted January 11, 2012 Super User Posted January 11, 2012 All this talk about the Alabama rig but no ones talking about what to throw it with. I'm thinking I'll set up a 7'6" MH/F rated up to 2oz lures with either a Revo Toro or a 5500 C3. Line, I'm hearing 80lb braid. What are your thoughts?Those of you already using it, What rod, reel and line do you have set up? What baits are you finding that compliment the rig? Meaning ease of casting, ease of retrieve, length of bait, weight of bait? Quote
nwibass Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 All this talk about the Alabama rig but no ones talking about what to throw it with. I'm thinking I'll set up a 7'6" MH/F rated up to 2oz lures with either a Revo Toro or a 5500 C3. Line, I'm hearing 80lb braid. What are your thoughts?Those of you already using it, What rod, reel and line do you have set up? What baits are you finding that compliment the rig? Meaning ease of casting, ease of retrieve, length of bait, weight of bait? I have my setup for it. 8' Extra-Extra heavy carrot stix gold (rated for 2-5oz.) , shimano curado 200e7 or 300e(don't know which one im going to use yet) and 80lb powerpro spectra. I will be using 3.5-4.5 shadalicious swimbaits from strike king and other companys. Also for shallow water 1/8 oz jig heads(1.5-3.5ft.). medium depth 3/16 oz jigheads (4ft-6ft), deep 1/4-3/8oz jig heads ( 7 ft.-11ft), deep-deep (12ft+) 1/2 oz jigheads. Of course thats a rough scale of what to throw it with, and as far as braided line goes, I don't see a flouro/co poly line being out of the picture. The reason braid is because of the simple fact that it comes with higher strength at i lower diameter. Swimbaits and grubs work well. I wouldnt use much anything else. Hope this helped!! [i would also get a heavier rod if i were you 7'6"+ and HEAVY action swinging the a-rig with your rod you mention will do a number on it.] Let me know if this helped. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted January 11, 2012 Author Super User Posted January 11, 2012 (5) 1/4 oz baits plus the rig itself, I ordered the Yumbrella and I'm not sure of the weight but I'm sure it's less than 1/2oz. Total is less than 2ozs. That's going to get limited use a couple times a year on Lake Michigan and 1 or 2 out of state trips. Here is a pic of the one I ordered that is legal in IL, and my success rate will determine how much I throw it. It will be used primarily in 10fow or less stained with maybe 2ft visabiltiy. Way under 2ozs with baits attached A glorified spinnerbait Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted January 11, 2012 Super User Posted January 11, 2012 Hmm... Mine is TOP SECRET! Actually I have two experiments going on. After I fish the rigs I will share my results with everyone on this forum. 1 Quote
bigbassctchr101 Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 I'm using an APR 8ft swimbait rod (Striper Series), 200E7 with 65lb power pro. Its doing well right now with one 1/2ounce head in the middle and 1/8ounce heads all around on the 5 rig. I'll probably be using a 3/8 head and 2 1/4 heads on the 3 rig. Once I need to start throwing it in deeper water, i'll probably add a little more weight to the heads to keep it down and increase the braid to 80lb. I've been throwing a longer swimbait on the middle wire, and thats usually where my hookups are. Still have a lot of experimenting myself though. Quote
Delaware Valley Tackle Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 Just choose a rod that will handle the total weight of the rig you'll be throwing. The MH is probably a little light for most of the rigs I've seen. Any baitfish colored soft plastic with a swimming tail on a ball head jig should get the job done. Quote
j.bruno Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 Dont want to hijack this thread but, anyone know if theese are legal in New York state? I been eying them on *** just waiting to pull the trigger on one. Quote
Super User .ghoti. Posted January 12, 2012 Super User Posted January 12, 2012 I ordered a Picasso version from Tackle warehouse recently. I know it's not legal in Illinois, so I'll only use it when I go out of state. I plan to throw it on my muskie rig; a 7'6" XH Duckett Micro Magic rod, Zillion and 65lb braid. Yeah, braid. I hate the stuff, but big muskie lures are expensive and I need to be able to get them back when they get hung in the rocks. I fish for muskie at Shelbyville, below the dam, and it's all rock. Slonezp gave me the tip about where to buy the Illinois legal version, so I will have some of those soon. I don't think I will need the big muskie rig for that version. I'll try that smaller, lighter version on two rods; a Dobyns Champion 7'6" H-F and a Daiwa L&T 7' H-F. Both rods have Zillions spooled with 14lb XT. Should be stout enough. I'll find out. Quote
JIGFISHERMAN. Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 Hmm... Mine is TOP SECRET! Actually I have two experiments going on. After I fish the rigs I will share my results with everyone on this forum. You aren't the only one it's so new, why give away all your ideas. fwiw I think some people (not the O.P.) want to be spoon fed the exact A-rig, lures/baits, heads, rod/reel, line etc. I'm looking at as simply:A way to present "schooling bait". And that opens up about 1,000 or more different ways to rig this setup. Quote
Super User Hooligan Posted January 12, 2012 Super User Posted January 12, 2012 I've been throwing the A-rig on a couple different rods. The first I've been throwing it on is a Crucial Swimbait H. It's almost TOO heavy to fish the rig effectively, particularly with 1/4oz heads. The second I've been fishing is a Dobyns 795 Mike Long, and it's perfect for it. The MH is just right with the perfect tip and plenty of guts in the butt of the rod. I'm just throwing it with a ChronarchD or a Calcutta TE200GT, so far I like the Calcutta of the two, but I'm biased towards that reel anyhow. There's no real need to upsize reels, IMO, a 200 size reel has enough capacity and ability to handle it just fine. I fish it with 20lb Tatsu or 25lb Abrazx, I don't like braid and don't see the need for it here. In terms of heads and depths, all you need is 1/4 ounce heads, they count down quick, and they don't rise through the column unless you're burning it. It's very, very easy to maintain depths with it, regardless of shallow or in 15+. The only time you'd need to go up is in current or when you're fishing in 15+ feet of water and trying to get all the way down. IMO for the 3-rig, you'll be fine with the rod you've listed. AND, contrary to what many indicate, if you lob cast the rig, it is quite easy to throw all day long with no issues whatsoever. Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted January 12, 2012 Super User Posted January 12, 2012 Thanks! Great post. Quote
dude loves to fish Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 I am using a Kistler 7'-11" heavy rod for my Alabama rig and a REVO STX reel with 50lb braid. This rod is designed just for the bama rig and you can tell it is. I found it on their web site. With this rod and reel set up you can cast the bama rig way way out there. The rod is very light and that is a plus if you are planning on throwing the bama rig all day. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted January 12, 2012 Author Super User Posted January 12, 2012 Thanks for the replies so far. Quote
zip pow Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 I'm fishing it on a 7'6"7' heavy carrotstick with a 5.3-1 kvd quantum reel spooled with 65# powerpro I like berkeley swim baits the molded ones with jig head made in the bait I've been using four 3.5" on the top and bottom and a 4.5" in the middle or four 4.5" and a 6.5 in the middle all my fish have came on the bigger bait cast and count just like Crappie fishing Quote
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