Alabama Rig Legal?

[gitnby]

Good info snakem. Had a hard time making myself flip spoons in docks, and throw big swimbaits in that clear water too, but I got over it .

Been playin with this thing the last month or so.

The best combo has been:

a small gold and/or silver willow-leaf blade attached to the 2 outside arms (no hook)

swimmin fluke jr (white) to the longer middle arm and grub or swim fluke to the other 2

Last month, I was getting bit runnin it out from chunk rock and transition banks, and on the ends of bluffs and just inside of them

Have had success lately just with a slow retrieve over submerged timber and in front of large docks. (cables are a problem, but ya just deal with it)

You really need to learn the fall rate of your particular rig. I know it's exactly 18 feet on the corner of our dock, so I throw it there and count it down til I get slack.

Then, when I get out over submerged timber in the creek channels, I can gauge my running depth and pull it across the top. You let this thing get in the timber and you can sometimes straighten hook, but if the wires or line get tangled, you'll have a heck of a time!

Also, have been hopping it or pumping it through schools of shad or down in the fish if I see them.

They hit it on the fall.

Have had a few doubles and 1 triple, but 90% of the time they're biting the swimbait on the long arm.

Using an old 8' telescoping flippin stick with an equally old Ambassador on 80 lb braid.

I usually spray my evelets with reel magic and keep them wet so I don't groove the guides.

Even if you don't catch any, after a day of chunkin this rig, you feel like you just did a Bow-Flex commercial!

Hope this helps!

[Guest csfishinfool]

Is there anyone out there that thinks this will take some of the sport out of catching bass. I mean this is getting kinda ridiculous. I'm beginning to think that all of our tournaments around here are going to be hard to compete in unless you are throwing the Alabama rig. I've seen posts about this thing all over the net, and so many different options are catching fish. It really is funny to think that you can put a spinner bait blade on one hook a twin tail grub, a regular grub, a swim bait, And just heave this thing out there and catch multiple fish on it. I'm not against it in fun fishing, great, catch away. But in a tournament I think you should only be allowed to throw one lure at a time. Just my two thoughts let me know what you think.

The next evolution of this bait in states that have no hook limits is a Alabama rig rigged with an Alabama rig, rigged with an Alabama rig. A ocean style crank reel, a stout rod. Drop it down troll off and slowly crank it on in. maybe attach some sort of winch to the side of the boat to haul in your twenty pound bag in one cast. And why not throw five jigs on it and fish it on the bottom. or five spoons, jig that sucker up and down. Reel in your foul hooked fish, and be sure to tell yourself that he was obviously slapping at the bait before he was hooked. There was once something called sportsmanship. You against the fish. That is quickly fading.

[dtrs5kprs]

Is there anyone out there that thinks this will take some of the sport out of catching bass. I mean this is getting kinda ridiculous. I'm beginning to think that all of our tournaments around here are going to be hard to compete in unless you are throwing the Alabama rig. I've seen posts about this thing all over the net, and so many different options are catching fish. It really is funny to think that you can put a spinner bait blade on one hook a twin tail grub, a regular grub, a swim bait, And just heave this thing out there and catch multiple fish on it. I'm not against it in fun fishing, great, catch away. But in a tournament I think you should only be allowed to throw one lure at a time. Just my two thoughts let me know what you think.

The next evolution of this bait in states that have no hook limits is a Alabama rig rigged with an Alabama rig, rigged with an Alabama rig. A ocean style crank reel, a stout rod. Drop it down troll off and slowly crank it on in. maybe attach some sort of winch to the side of the boat to haul in your twenty pound bag in one cast. And why not throw five jigs on it and fish it on the bottom. or five spoons, jig that sucker up and down. Reel in your foul hooked fish, and be sure to tell yourself that he was obviously slapping at the bait before he was hooked. There was once something called sportsmanship. You against the fish. That is quickly fading.

You are definitely not entirely wrong. On our lake at least, there are still going to be days when they won't even eat a 3" smoke grub on 6# line, so in the end I think it will be somewhat of a situational rig for us. Not much different than a Norman Front Runner sort of bait (except in presentation) and versions of those have been popular and seen as ok in the sportsmanship sense for years.

Have to think the price point will limit its use a bit, and the ordeal of throwing it as well. Would not be surprised to see tmt rules address it in the future. But then again, tmt organizers want to report big weights on the fish report web sites, so...

[gitnby]

Is there anyone out there that thinks this will take some of the sport out of catching bass. I mean this is getting kinda ridiculous. I'm beginning to think that all of our tournaments around here are going to be hard to compete in unless you are throwing the Alabama rig. I've seen posts about this thing all over the net, and so many different options are catching fish. It really is funny to think that you can put a spinner bait blade on one hook a twin tail grub, a regular grub, a swim bait, And just heave this thing out there and catch multiple fish on it. I'm not against it in fun fishing, great, catch away. But in a tournament I think you should only be allowed to throw one lure at a time. Just my two thoughts let me know what you think.

The next evolution of this bait in states that have no hook limits is a Alabama rig rigged with an Alabama rig, rigged with an Alabama rig. A ocean style crank reel, a stout rod. Drop it down troll off and slowly crank it on in. maybe attach some sort of winch to the side of the boat to haul in your twenty pound bag in one cast. And why not throw five jigs on it and fish it on the bottom. or five spoons, jig that sucker up and down. Reel in your foul hooked fish, and be sure to tell yourself that he was obviously slapping at the bait before he was hooked. There was once something called sportsmanship. You against the fish. That is quickly fading.

I would reserve judgement until you have actually fished this rig. It's not like you just heave it out and the fish jump on the line. Trust me, it is work!

I've had fun with it, and caught some fish, but honestly, I caught more and better fish early this Summer on a baby brush hog and a tube.

Tournaments will have to address this rig, I'm sure, but meanwhile, let's see how how this whole thing plays out?

[Feathers and Fins]

Is there anyone out there that thinks this will take some of the sport out of catching bass. I mean this is getting kinda ridiculous. I'm beginning to think that all of our tournaments around here are going to be hard to compete in unless you are throwing the Alabama rig. I've seen posts about this thing all over the net, and so many different options are catching fish. It really is funny to think that you can put a spinner bait blade on one hook a twin tail grub, a regular grub, a swim bait, And just heave this thing out there and catch multiple fish on it. I'm not against it in fun fishing, great, catch away. But in a tournament I think you should only be allowed to throw one lure at a time. Just my two thoughts let me know what you think.

The next evolution of this bait in states that have no hook limits is a Alabama rig rigged with an Alabama rig, rigged with an Alabama rig. A ocean style crank reel, a stout rod. Drop it down troll off and slowly crank it on in. maybe attach some sort of winch to the side of the boat to haul in your twenty pound bag in one cast. And why not throw five jigs on it and fish it on the bottom. or five spoons, jig that sucker up and down. Reel in your foul hooked fish, and be sure to tell yourself that he was obviously slapping at the bait before he was hooked. There was once something called sportsmanship. You against the fish. That is quickly fading.

Sport of catching bass???? Interesting choice of words... Ive got close to $4,000.00 wourth of fish finding gear on my boat and know how to use it, how sporting is that? Seriously within a few hours I can have numerous schools of fish found and even with side scan find some areas with Large fish in them. I know many who would say that has taken the "sport" out of fishing.

I as well as many Striper in lakes and Offshore anglers have been using Umbrella rigs for years which is really all this Alabama rig is. Is it affective? Certainly given the right conditions and right presentation. I remember when the rattle trap came out and people were calling in the unfair bait or when large swim baits and baits with scent in them came out, the comments were all the same.

One of these days freshwater bass fisherment will learn what a Daisey Chain is and it will be the next BIG THING. If you want sporting try dropping the braided lines and take on bass with 4lb line only with a single lure on it. I would suggest a crappie jig! The idea is to catch fish, they dont always bite though. But sporting goes out the window anytime you fish bass with heavy braid line or just heavy line if you want to look for unfair start there and move on up. Fishing is suppose to be fun and catching fish, as long as the bait is legal who is anyone to pass judgement.

[Guest csfishinfool]

Sport of catching bass???? Interesting choice of words... Ive got close to $4,000.00 wourth of fish finding gear on my boat and know how to use it, how sporting is that? Seriously within a few hours I can have numerous schools of fish found and even with side scan find some areas with Large fish in them. I know many who would say that has taken the "sport" out of fishing.

I as well as many Striper in lakes and Offshore anglers have been using Umbrella rigs for years which is really all this Alabama rig is. Is it affective? Certainly given the right conditions and right presentation. I remember when the rattle trap came out and people were calling in the unfair bait or when large swim baits and baits with scent in them came out, the comments were all the same.

One of these days freshwater bass fisherment will learn what a Daisey Chain is and it will be the next BIG THING. If you want sporting try dropping the braided lines and take on bass with 4lb line only with a single lure on it. I would suggest a crappie jig! The idea is to catch fish, they dont always bite though. But sporting goes out the window anytime you fish bass with heavy braid line or just heavy line if you want to look for unfair start there and move on up. Fishing is suppose to be fun and catching fish, as long as the bait is legal who is anyone to pass judgement.

It is legal to troll in the state of Missouri. So your saying since it is legal there shouldn't be a question of legality in a tournament? They surely passed judgement there. B.A.S.S. rules and other tournament rules, states "we’re going to catch fish in live, sporting and conventional manner." This is as far from conventional as it can get in my opinion. I have no problem with heavy line, sonar, bio sonics. You find the fish you still have to make them bite. I just have a problem with mimicking a school of bait as opposed to just one bait.

[Feathers and Fins]

I never mentioned tournaments I stated "sporting" Tournaments do not allow for the use of live bait either Apples to Oranges. Question was is A Alabama rig legal. Answer is Yes within the hook per bait laws.

Is sonar sporting the arguement can be made it is not.

Is biosonics sp0rting again the arguement could be made its not.

Is yanking in a 3 pound fish with 50lbs braided line sporting, again the arguement could be made its not.

There are arguments to any use of anything. Tournaments make rules for their tournament the angler must abide by. Some may allow it some may not. But for the general angler if it is legal then so be it. Each tournament will have to decide at the time.

Is 5 baits more affective then 1. NOT ALWAYS! A single baitfish swimming outside a bait ball or alone presents a target that gets attacked. A school has numbers and is may not get the same attack.

[Guest csfishinfool]

You are definitely not entirely wrong. On our lake at least, there are still going to be days when they won't even eat a 3" smoke grub on 6# line, so in the end I think it will be somewhat of a situational rig for us. Not much different than a Norman Front Runner sort of bait (except in presentation) and versions of those have been popular and seen as ok in the sportsmanship sense for years.

Have to think the price point will limit its use a bit, and the ordeal of throwing it as well. Would not be surprised to see tmt rules address it in the future. But then again, tmt organizers want to report big weights on the fish report web sites, so...

I called FLW outdoors today and there stance is basically this, They have never seen in the history bass fishing such a craze over one lure. And if it helps sell fishing permits, flw memberships, and get more people fishing, then why in the world would the do away with it. If it does play out that this is just another tool in the old tackle box then so be it. But with the way the Lake Guntersville tournament and the Kentucky lake tournament went i have my doubts. In the G-Ville tournament, 10 of the top 10 pros were throwing the rig. and 18 of the top twenty threw it.

[Guest csfishinfool]

I never mentioned tournaments I stated "sporting" Tournaments do not allow for the use of live bait either Apples to Oranges. Question was is A Alabama rig legal. Answer is Yes within the hook per bait laws.

Is sonar sporting the arguement can be made it is not.

Is biosonics sp0rting again the arguement could be made its not.

Is yanking in a 3 pound fish with 50lbs braided line sporting, again the arguement could be made its not.

There are arguments to any use of anything. Tournaments make rules for their tournament the angler must abide by. Some may allow it some may not. But for the general angler if it is legal then so be it. Each tournament will have to decide at the time.

Is 5 baits more affective then 1. NOT ALWAYS! A single baitfish swimming outside a bait ball or alone presents a target that gets attacked. A school has numbers and is may not get the same attack.

Good points made

[dtrs5kprs]

Good points made

Sporting-wise the only real issue I see coming on the old forum is..."What happens when guys start catching and releasing deep fish on it?"

Not that doing so is worse than with a grub or spoon, just potentially more of them.

Legally...makes me think of trying some way to rig up a spreader for a C-rig, since it would be legal.