Ban The Alabama Rig Petition

[Mitch f]

This is for tournament fishing READ THE PETITION!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take it easy, I read the petition...tournament or not, I don't see the big deal, if you feel it gives you an unfair advantage in a tourney, then use one too!

Like feathers says it opens the door for other things you may not want. PETA wants to get rid of evil bass tourneys anyway.

Besides your LeFebre quote wasnt about tourney fishing

[emjay]

Just saw some guy throwing the alabama rig for the first time haha. Needless to say, he was throwing all 5 lures out.

[Mitch f]

Just saw some guy throwing the alabama rig for the first time haha. Needless to say, he was throwing all 5 lures out.

Keep in mind, he might only have 3 hooks on the baits

[Guest csfishinfool]

Whatever guys, the petition is there. Talk to lilley about getting rid of it cause im not deleting it ...PEACE!!!

[drew03cmc]

CS, chill, seriously. If you think it is unsporting, don't use it. How about eliminating a shotgun for duck hunting? Require a .22LR round for ducks as it gives the ducks a more sporting chance. How about only deer hunting with a 5" blade or shorter, no firearms? Wow, this is a case of you wanting to impose your moral judgment upon sportsmen who choose to compete. Should a multi-rod spider rig be illegal for crappie? I guess so if we use your logic. Get over yourself, and accept the criticism that comes with proposing something like this.

[Feathers and Fins]

Background (Preamble):

Umbrella rigs, such as the Alabama Rig, are considered illegal in many states. They are not considered a single lure tied to a line, but multiple lures and/or hooks.

An umbrella rig is defined as an array of more than three artificial lures or baits (with or without hooks) used by a single rod and reel combination. The use of this rig compromises the integrity of professional bass fishing and creates many other possible negative issues for the sport down the road.

Maybe Cs you don’t understand how horrible the wording is. Let me try and break it down for you and you might see why I feel the way I do about this petition.

#1 Umbrella rigs, such as the Alabama Rig, are considered illegal in many states.

So why would a tournament then allow the use of an “ILLEGAL” rig in the first place? This sounds in principle as if the signers are more requesting a ban on an already illegal fishing set-up!

#2 They are not considered a single lure tied to a line, but multiple lures and/or hooks.

This line is very disturbing as there are in fact multiple rigs used in both bait and lure fishing that uses “multiple lures and/or hooks”. This section IMO could allow for politics to come into play and potential bans by State’s and or even Pressure from those who would like to see sport fishing curtailed or eliminated to the States.

People may not like the A-RIG! However by requesting a ban on multi- hook rigs is a open invitation to people already thinking of how to show and give lawmakers a reason to ban hunting and fishing or at minimum make the pursuit of fish and game more difficult. This says Hey Mr. Lawmaker ( the Pros aren’t behind it and it should be banned form fishing)

#3 An umbrella rig is defined as an array of more than three artificial lures or baits (with or without hooks) used by a single rod and reel combination.

This is a definition of many types of rigs used in fishing, as sportsmen, specifically fishermen we know what it is, but remove the word ( Umbrella ) and your left with “an array of more than three artificial lures or baits”. Not a far stretch for someone to go after all multi-rigs.

#4 The use of this rig compromises the integrity of professional bass fishing and creates many other possible negative issues for the sport down the road.

And this section is potentially the most damming of all with one simple word SPORT! The negative issues for the SPORT! The sport my friend is fishing and as such this petition is actually calling this rig and potentially other rigs, bad for the fishing.

As I said earlier this needs to be decided by each tournament and or club.

[Al Agnew]

In my opinion, the only reason for a ban on any lure or technique is if it has the real potential to negatively affect the resource more than other techniques do. Do umbrella rigs negatively affect the bass population? Are bass likely to be foul-hooked by the other lures in the rig? Is this rig so effective that it means so many more bass are being caught (even if released) that there is more mortality than the resource can sustain?

I've never fished this rig, and I really don't care to fish it. It looks like somewhat of a pain to cast, and a pain to rig, and a pain to have on the end of your rod when you set it down to pick up another rod. It kinda looks stupid, and I've been known to avoid using lures that look stupid to me, even if others are catching fish on them. But that's just me. Just because I think it's stupid doesn't mean it should be banned.

[Mitch f]

I was contracted to laser scan and model a knock off version a few months back. To be honest, I didn't think much of it either when I first saw it. I've only casted it a few times and never caught anything with it. However, when you get it in the water you will immediately see why it is so effective. There's something about the baits moving in perfect rhythm that is extremely appealing to the eye, just like a real school of fish. You would think that 5, .045" wires would make the bait look fake, I assure you it does not. Not that I will ever use one again though. Like you it's just a personal choice.

[jamesedward]

I don't care if you like it or not. I fish all 5 hooks and I also fish tournaments nor will I put it down. The guys who fish jigs and brush piles are the cry babies cause they are about to get there asses handed to them. This is a fact. The hibdons had almost 28 lbs a cpl weeks ago on it at lake Ozarks. There will be many stringers over 30lbs using it. You don't like it, go fish somewhere where you know others will not be throwing it. I myself will throw it every time and 3 hooks or 5 hooks I don't care. Period

[moguy1973]

I myself will throw it every time and 3 hooks or 5 hooks I don't care. Period

Hope a game warden isn't around when you are fishing with 5...Care or not, you're getting a citation...I bet you care then...Period...