Alabama Rig In Minnesota Idea.....

[MN_SONNEN_ANGLER]

what would you guys think about having an alabama rig, minus 4 lures and put willow blades on them, and just one larger swimbait in the center?

also in mn you can only have one lure, thats why i was thinking this vs just throwing it as it is intended for.

any input or if anyone has tried this let me know, thanks!

matt.

[Vinny Chase]

I don't see you wouldn't have some type of sucess with this bait when bass are schooling, but more than other techniques? That I don't know about...Let us know how you on it, because God knows I would have NO confidence in throwing that bait.

[MN_SONNEN_ANGLER]

schooling fish would be the number one reason for throwing it, and yes you make a good point in why would it be any different than throwing what im used to at schools that has always done the trick, but at the same time why not?

you have to try all sorts of different things to make it happen, not saying this "contraption" would work well but why not try it? but ill let you guys know when i try it, probably this weekend on the mississippi.

[roadwarrior]

Well, if you pay any attention to what's going on in the tournment circles, professional or club, the "effectiveness" is not subject to debate. My personal experience has been AWESOME! Regarding "decoys" and one lure in the middle: Have not tried that presentation yet, but neither me nor anyone I fish with has EVER caught a single fish on the outside lures. The outside baits create the illusion of a school of fish, but the target is the middle lure. Of particular note, Andy Posse (the inventor of The Rig) told me that "flash" is critical. I have used a blade on the middle arm with a swimbait trailer and no blade, but a Johnson Silver Minnow as the main bait. Both presentations are killer!

[MN_SONNEN_ANGLER]

thanks for the input roadwarrior! sounds like the idea will be more preductive than i thought. ive never thrown one but im really excited to throw one now!

[eyedabassman]

The bad thing about this rig up in the Midwest is them darn Pike that may tare it up!

[Vinny Chase]

The bad thing about this rig up in the Midwest is them darn Pike that may tare it up!

Spot on as usual!

[MN_SONNEN_ANGLER]

Darn pike always ruining the fun! haha

[roadwarrior]

I don't know...

The Rig is all metal so the only thing to tear up is a bait and the fish will still be hooked.

[Gone_Phishin]

I don't know...

The Rig is all metal so the only thing to tear up is a bait and the fish will still be hooked.

They could bend the heck out of the metal frame. I've had spinnerbaits where I've said, if I catch a pike, this thing should survive, only to end up with a demolished frame.

[roadwarrior]

I don't know much about pike, but giant stripers have not been an issue,

[MN_SONNEN_ANGLER]

Pike seem to thrash around like gators do haha they are pretty fierce creatures.

[Crankenstein Crony]

The rig i have is quite a bit more heavy duty than the wiring of a spinner bait. Pike may tear the snot out of swim baits and other soft plastics you have on the rig, but as far as the rig itself, it should be fine. Should be able to bend the arms of the rig back into place and have it back in the water in no time.

[River Rat316]

If you are on the river south of pool 3 you could use 2 arms, border waters rules. I also think you can use a dummy bait instead of a blade all over the state. I don't see it as being as effective in our natural lakes up here, our lake make up is different and our fish generall don't "school" chasing pelagic bait fish, smallies up north on lakes like Rainy, and some other areas are the only areas I could think of using the thing.

[Hooligan]

Kent, it's odd that you say you've not caught fish on the outside baits. 99% of the fish I catch are on the bottom two wires, with the remaining 1% coming on the middle. I'd guarantee you it's dead on to that percentage, too. I have have multiple three fish hits, but never more than that. The way I'm running them, too, is that I have #5 Willow blades on the arms of the rig on the bottom three wires. above the baits. On the two upper arms, I sometimes have gone just to willow blades instead of baits. I haven't noticed a difference in how effective they are.

In terms of in MN, the real benefit I see of the rig is the ability to incite a school of fish, regardless of if they're chasing bait or not. Take the Ottertail area. When you fire up a bunch of fish, they remain fired up and you can catch 40+ fish out of that area. Use a rig to generate that excitement and follow up with a spinnerbait, or swimbait and pick off singles. I think it will work fine, it does in other areas that bass aren't really baitfish oriented. It will work on lakes like Vermillion, too, for wolfpack smallies.

[roadwarrior]

Well, this might be the result of a poor sample pool. I have only fished

The Rig 10 hours or so, with partner, ~20 hours total sample set. Of that

time, less that half has been strictly dedicated to bass fishing. The stripers

have been schooled up busting shad on the surface and we just can't walk away

from that!

Note too, I have not had a double, nor have my buddies.

[MN_SONNEN_ANGLER]

And theres nothing wrong with catching some big stripers! i got into them last year on the st.croix, the spot was literally two miles from my house! nothing over five pounds, but, what a riot!

just like what you said too they were feeding on shad on the surface, every cast for about 20 minutes was good for a fun striper!

[Al Wolbach]

Kent, it's odd that you say you've not caught fish on the outside baits. 99% of the fish I catch are on the bottom two wires, with the remaining 1% coming on the middle. I'd guarantee you it's dead on to that percentage, too. I have have multiple three fish hits, but never more than that. The way I'm running them, too, is that I have #5 Willow blades on the arms of the rig on the bottom three wires. above the baits. On the two upper arms, I sometimes have gone just to willow blades instead of baits. I haven't noticed a difference in how effective they are.

In terms of in MN, the real benefit I see of the rig is the ability to incite a school of fish, regardless of if they're chasing bait or not. Take the Ottertail area. When you fire up a bunch of fish, they remain fired up and you can catch 40+ fish out of that area. Use a rig to generate that excitement and follow up with a spinnerbait, or swimbait and pick off singles. I think it will work fine, it does in other areas that bass aren't really baitfish oriented. It will work on lakes like Vermillion, too, for wolfpack smallies.

I would bet the fish hitting your rig are coming up from deeper water and the fish hitting Kents' rig are following the rig. Just a theory, but makes sense to me..........................Al

[MN_SONNEN_ANGLER]

The fact that the middle one is an inch or so longer makes for a better instinct strike since its closer to the fish (in most cases), not by much but it seems like it would get hit more than any others.

Espescially since i just have big willow blades on the other four and a 5''-6'' shad-a-licious in the middle, so its going to be more appealing when they get up to it. just my $0.02