"a-In't Gonna Pay That-Rig"

[dtrs5kprs]

What is your time worth if you are making those? I would rather just go buy one and get it over with. Unless it is something you enjoy doing which in that case I coul see the attraction. Nice looking rig by the way.

First one takes a little bit. Once you have built a few it is no problem to build 5 or more of them an hour, depends on how fast you want to go and how much basketball you watch at the same time. That is with me taking my time, showing my kids how to make them, etc. That pays off pretty well. If you sit down to watch a game or movie, and have your parts organized you could knock a bunch out.

Measure and cut the two wires, bending them at the same time. Assemble the swivel and slide on the weight and sleeve. Crimp. Form your attachments on the back ends, add swivels and double twist to secure the loop. Done. There is no pouring, drilling, trimming, painting. It is like building a spinnerbait or a carolina quick rig, just a couple of more loops.

[dtrs5kprs]

I'm not really understanding why you need the heavy weight up on the nose of the A-Rig. Most of the ones being sold are made out of a polyester resin and have very little weight on the nose at all. I'm going to make a harness like you see in the link below and then take and cut the head off of a swim bait and push it through the harness. I also thought about pushing it up through a white gitzit or tube type bait.

http://fishingskirts.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=1127

http://fishingskirts..._image&pID=1125

In the pictured rig the weight is 1/4oz. Also have some 1/8oz. They look massive because they are steel. My plans are to keep weights light on some to be used with heads, heavier on others to be used with TX rigged bodies.

In Bill's pics, it looks like he has at least a 1oz lead weight up front, and perhaps larger arms. But he mentioned in one post that he is fishing it deeper than most.

As for the gitzit, it sounds cool. I keep hearing it is bettter to try and keep their eyes on the back of the rig, not the front. If time allows I plan to play with some next week to test that.

[drs7558]

dtrs5kprs, thanks for the great post. For weeks if been thinking about making up some A-rigs. After reading your post I think I can do it. Thanks.

Denny

[dtrs5kprs]

dtrs5kprs, thanks for the great post. For weeks if been thinking about making up some A-rigs. After reading your post I think I can do it. Thanks.

Denny

100% possible. Easy to modify using this method. Made some last night with the longer "trailing" wire by simply bending my wire while still on the coil, then cutting the second leg longer for that piece. Unfortunately my rigs are still in KS, friends cancelled their run due to the cold temps.

[edyer]

Borrowing info from various places, including roy_eros on here, this is what I have dialed in on for a no frills umbrella set-up.

Easiest way to build is with 4 wires, but you can add the fifth by wrapping it around the swivel eye up front, and running it through the hole along with the 4 wires. Size 7 single leader sleeve (ID at least 0.130) snuggd up and crimped against the base of the weight, size 3-6 snap swivel on the back ends. Simple enough you could even carry a few parts in the boat and build them at need. Wire is 195# stainless coiled (about 0.031, like light spinnerbait wire, but you can easily go up or down a size and make it work). As roy_eros described, the 4 wires are formed by cutting lengths appx 20"-24" and bending them in half using a round bend pliers.

Cheapest weights I have found are the Ultra Steel bullets. Also the hole is big enough to use straight from the pack without drilling it out, price was $5 or so for 50 at Cabela's, have seen smaller packs at Wal-Mart. Weight in the pic is 1/4oz, but the holes look to be the same size all the way down to 1/16oz, so building a smaller rig for kids or crappie use is completely possible. Brass carolina weights also work, but bumps the price way up.

Figure:

Weight= $0.10

Wire= $1.00 (high estimate)

Swivels= $0.15 appx

Snaps= $0.20 x 4, appx

Sleeve= $0.10 appx

Total for frame without baits= $2.15 appx/ per each.

Not paying $25...well, you know what the commercial says. You can still afford to buy a pack of swimbaits to fish on it when you are done.

Makes it cheap enough that everyone who wants to should be able to experiment with it this year. as for the weights, I am hearing the less you add to detract from the rigged baits (as in no painted heads) the better. Lots of the saltwater rigs are running plain lead up front.

I built a couple using the steel bullet weight with 0.041 wire. WHat are you using for the clasp to keep the bullet weight from sliding down? Thanks.

[dtrs5kprs]

I built a couple using the steel bullet weight with 0.041 wire. WHat are you using for the clasp to keep the bullet weight from sliding down? Thanks.

That is the "sleeve". A leader sleeve, saltwater or big game terminal tackle component. Run the wires thru and crimp in place.

[Bigmo]

Hey guys i found 203 ft. of .043 spring tempered music wire at grainger industrial supply here in Wichita KS for $ 15.00 and change. You can go online and find different sizes. It works great and i've made several. The first i made was ok then as you go you start to make improvements on the rig. Can't wait to throw them next week.

[Dutch]

Are any of you guys making an unweighted setup for shallow water or weighted baits?

[dtrs5kprs]

Are any of you guys making an unweighted setup for shallow water or weighted baits?

Have built a couple that way, and perhaps I will be surprised, but I think it is going to be more of a tool for running over deep trees, off long gravel points (post spawn grub places), that type of thing. Also using some 1/8oz weights.

[Dutch]

I've been making them with and without weights. I'm thinking I can add weight to baits if I need to in order to put it where I want it in the water column or add weight to the front if necessary. All this is supposition as I haven't been on the water with them yet and it looks like it will be a few days before I will be.