Alabama Rig Legal?

[gitnby]

According to the latest announcement from MO. Conservation, the A-rig is legal as long as there are no more than 3 hooks in aggregate.

Here's a solution:

The rigs I got were from pigsticker.

I snipped off one of the 5 wires right below the leadhead.

Arranged 3 of the wires with baits on 1/4 jig heads(with hooks) in a circle around the middle wire.

Been using either white grubs, albino shad swimming fluke jrs or twin tail chompers in a variety of colors.

On the middle wire, I attached an old 3/8 oz dbl willow leaf spinnerbait and snapped the hook off of it.

Perfectly legal, and the spinnerbait gives the rig a nice lift and is easier to keep moving at a constant pace.

I would deadstick it around pole timber or other structure and the spinnerbait flutters and gives off a good flash.

I'm throwing it on an old flippin stick with an even older Garcia reel and 80 lb braid.

This bait is for real men! It's like casting a bowling ball!

After a while, I got the hang of it, and was using arms and shoulders instead of wrists, and it was much easier.

Now for some results.

I decided to commit to this crazy rig and fished it exclusively yesterday and today.

Late afternoon Friday, I caught 12 in 2 1/2 hours, 4 keeps, with one around 4 lbs. Had several hits that jarred the rod, but no hook-up, so I assume they were trying to eat the spinnerbait.

Today, I didn't get out until 10 AM, and had to head back in at 2 to watch the Mizzou game.

17 bass, 6 keepers (5 Kentucks), and again, several strikes on the spinnerbait.

Had doubles twice, but no keepers on either double?

Caught them on windy banks halfway back in creeks/coves with chunk rock, and several on both sides of sloping bluff ends.

Only got hung up once that caused me any stress, but I finally straightened the hooks. Gotta have a glove handy to grab that braid. If you try pulling it with the rod, you'll either break the rod or bury the line in the spool, which is no fun.

Will be back out on Wednesday. Can't wait!

[gitnby]

I was thinking about somehow shortening the middle wire with the spinnerbait on it.

The way I have it rigged, the spinnerbait lags behind the other baits because it is slightly longer, and maybe that's why they keep hitting it instead of the ones with hooks?

Also, make sure you use a spinnerbait with the closed eye, or clothespin-type line attachment.

If not, you could try tying the spinner bait to the snap swivel with braid, so it won't slide down the arm.

[Gone Fishing]

Very nice and detailed report. Please keep us posted on how this crazy rig works!

[gitnby]

Very nice and detailed report. Please keep us posted on how this crazy rig works!

Maybe I would have done as well or better with just a spinnerbait?

Maybe it was just a good bite today?

Certainly wouldn't have won much with my best 5.

But, like the float n fly last year, I love trying new stuff!

And any way that you catch fish, it's a good time!

[Dutch]

When did they change the rule? Last I heard you could have up to 33 hooks no matter how many rods you were using.

[Bigmo]

I'm throwing mine on 50lb green braid and pausing for 5 to 10 seconds before i reeled in. Are you using the green or white braid? Did you pause any on the bluffs? Just wondered, now i know why my shoulders were a little sore the next day. Throwing the rig made fishing kinda fun again when the bite is so difficult at times. You definitely have to use a med/heavy rod.

According to the latest announcement from MO. Conservation, the A-rig is legal as long as there are no more than 3 hooks in aggregate.

Here's a solution:

The rigs I got were from pigsticker.

I snipped off one of the 5 wires right below the leadhead.

Arranged 3 of the wires with baits on 1/4 jig heads(with hooks) in a circle around the middle wire.

Been using either white grubs, albino shad swimming fluke jrs or twin tail chompers in a variety of colors.

On the middle wire, I attached an old 3/8 oz dbl willow leaf spinnerbait and snapped the hook off of it.

Perfectly legal, and the spinnerbait gives the rig a nice lift and is easier to keep moving at a constant pace.

I would deadstick it around pole timber or other structure and the spinnerbait flutters and gives off a good flash.

I'm throwing it on an old flippin stick with an even older Garcia reel and 80 lb braid.

This bait is for real men! It's like casting a bowling ball!

After a while, I got the hang of it, and was using arms and shoulders instead of wrists, and it was much easier.

Now for some results.

I decided to commit to this crazy rig and fished it exclusively yesterday and today.

Late afternoon Friday, I caught 12 in 2 1/2 hours, 4 keeps, with one around 4 lbs. Had several hits that jarred the rod, but no hook-up, so I assume they were trying to eat the spinnerbait.

Today, I didn't get out until 10 AM, and had to head back in at 2 to watch the Mizzou game.

17 bass, 6 keepers (5 Kentucks), and again, several strikes on the spinnerbait.

Had doubles twice, but no keepers on either double?

Caught them on windy banks halfway back in creeks/coves with chunk rock, and several on both sides of sloping bluff ends.

Only got hung up once that caused me any stress, but I finally straightened the hooks. Gotta have a glove handy to grab that braid. If you try pulling it with the rod, you'll either break the rod or bury the line in the spool, which is no fun.

Will be back out on Wednesday. Can't wait!

[steveearle]

When did they change the rule? Last I heard you could have up to 33 hooks no matter how many rods you were using.

It took 45 pages of reading to get past the 33 hooks/50 hooks(Miss. River)regarding trotlines, etc....but for "pole and line"...

Pole and Line: Fishing methods using tackle normally held in the hand,

such as a cane pole, casting rod, spinning rod or fly rod, or ice fishing tackle

commonly known as a tip-up, to which not more than 3 hooks with bait or

lures are attached. Does not include snagging, snaring, grabbing, trotlines,

juglines or other tackle normally attached in a fixed position.

[gitnby]

I'm throwing mine on 50lb green braid and pausing for 5 to 10 seconds before i reeled in. Are you using the green or white braid? Did you pause any on the bluffs? Just wondered, now i know why my shoulders were a little sore the next day. Throwing the rig made fishing kinda fun again when the bite is so difficult at times. You definitely have to use a med/heavy rod.

I'm using green. Not sure it matters? I would throw it out and let it sink for about 3-5 seconds and then jerk it slightly to get the blades turning.

When I threw it without the spinnerbait in the middle, it seemed harder to control the speed and depth?

Will keep experimenting. Thinking of trying a single Colorado blade short-arm. I love the thump-thump of that blade on the retrieve and the way it helicopters on the pause.

The possibilities with this thing are endless.

You could put all spinnerbaits, or all crankbaits, lizards, whatever?

I never got close to any thing busting on top, but I'm thinking this thing would be awesome for whites or blacks that were doing so.

What's weird to me is that the bass will even get close to this thing?

Fished this lake for 40+ years and always had the mindset of light line, subtle presentations, etc. because of the clear water.

The water is really clear right now, but they still nail this thing?

[Gone Fishing]

I would think you could just put a single willow leaf in the middle matching the size of the baits attached. This would give it alittle flash but keep it pretty simple also.

[Iclass]

Please clarify the 3 hooks rule. One could interpret that as not being able to use a pointer jerk bait with 9 hooks?

Really needs to be defined better.