Is There A B-Rig? Weekend Report.

[gitnby]

'Cause the A-rig didn't do much.

Went out for a few hours on Saturday. Fished from Mill Creek to just past Pt 7.

Air temp in the high teens to mid to upper 20's. Steady breeze, bright sunshine .

Only saw one other idiot out there.

Caught 3 on the A-rig, all right about 16-17", all LM. Couldn't find the schools of shad in the creeks where I had been having good success. Caught all 3 just inside bluff ends over trees.

I've never liked braid, but have been using it on the A-rig. In the freezing temps, the braid was getting stiff, and back lashes were a problem until I tightened the reel down. Very difficult to heave that thing with so much resistance!

Switched to a reel with 20lb mono and it was much easier. Even was able to pull free from 2 or snags with no trouble and no lost lures.

Nothin on jerkbait or jig.

Sunday was much nicer day. No wind, sunny and in the low to mid 30's. Saw maybe 2 or 3 other boats.

Didn't look for shad, just hit bluff ends and points with A-rig, jerkbait and jig.

Had one blast the jerkbait as I was reeling it back, but no hook-up. Was going to pull out on some points with a spoon or grub, but my cable snapped on trolling motor, so I went back to dock and replaced cable with one from a motor a guy gave me several years ago.

Water temps were still in the high 40's, but I guess the cold front turned the fish off?

Which makes me wonder if the A-rig craze this year has been helped out by the fact that we've had more active fish in the warmer water temps this Fall and Winter?

Here it is in mid February, and I'm pulling moss off of my jig?

[Stump bumper]

I saw you tightened the reel down, was that with the tension knob? I also had a nasty backlash first time I threw one, so I opened the reel and turned on ALL the brakes and set the tension knob where the rig fell with ease. Now I can throw with two hands and have had no backlashes (that two handed lob casting like throwing a surf rod sure helps the back). First backlash cost me $15 in a spool of power pro that took a pocket knife to clear. I am using a Citica 200D 5:1 reel that was a bigger reel that I was not using for anything else since I didn't like the size but glad I had one now, knew it would come in handy someday.

I also read on another web site that the repair guys say your reels will last longer if you use the brakes more then the tension knob so now I am opening the side of the reel more than turning the knob.

[dtrs5kprs]

Not sure about the B-rig, but I am sure in April we can stow the eggbeaters and start running the C-rig and catch a few.

Good report on the mono. Can't see why if using light wire hooks or TX rigging the bodies you can't make 20#/25# mono or fluoro work fine, and still get the rig back.

[jeb]

I have definitely found that the A-rig is NOT a cold front bait. It's a better bait for when the fish are at least somewhat actively feeding, in my experience so far.

[Feathers and Fins]

If your going to cast rigs that weigh 2 to 4 ounces here is some hints. First this is for reals with a tension knobs such as on Cardiff's, calcuttas. jigmasters etc. First thing I always did and do is take the reel apart and remove oall the grease. I then replace it with vaseline < Personal Prefferance > You want to loosen the tension knob so the rig can be dropped from full extension over your head and the spool will stop when the rig hits the ground. Practice doing this awhile using your thumb to control the play out of line. After you get the feel for it you can loosen the tension knob as far as possible. I two hand cast all the big baits and use my thumb for tension needed, it takes time to learn how but you can increase casting distance and accuracy and not have backlashes or reel going BOOM.

If you are by yourself in a boat you could do a modified English pendulum cast. I warn you though dont do it with others in the boat. Its known to be the most powerful cast on earth. I have used it for many years and the distance you get is ungodly.

[Stump bumper]

If your going to cast rigs that weigh 2 to 4 ounces here is some hints. First this is for reals with a tension knobs such as on Cardiff's, calcuttas. jigmasters etc. First thing I always did and do is take the reel apart and remove oall the grease. I then replace it with vaseline < Personal Prefferance > You want to loosen the tension knob so the rig can be dropped from full extension over your head and the spool will stop when the rig hits the ground. Practice doing this awhile using your thumb to control the play out of line.

I can tell you ARE NOT using braid. I have become a braid believer on spinning and baitcasters lately and I have always thumbed a reel, but not a good idea with braid. When that reel gets to spinning your thumb any where around that spool will get hot fast, made me a true believer in setting the brakes and retraining myself to keep both hands on the rod handle until I hear the splash.

Do the reels you mentioned only have tension knobs and not brakes and tension knobs?

[Feathers and Fins]

Stump I actually do it with braid and with mono, done it for so long either i cant feel it or ive just got so sensitive i know how much thumb presure i can apply.

The reels I use only have a tension knob, years and years of saltwater fishing those reels i found hold up and less things to go wrong.

[gitnby]

I haven't had any problem casting the A-rig on the braid until Saturday. The braid holds water a bit, and the line was freezing and getting stiff and tacky on the reel. After tightening down the tension knob, it was better, but I felt like I was casting dock cable from a winch!

I was dipping my rod about every 2-3 casts just to melt the ice on the rod guides.

[riverfish]

i been using the power pro super 8 slick it has a real smooth castability and doesnt burry up inside itself on the spool backlash backlash is minimal it also seems to be very round and smooth compared too the regular power pro it is a little bit pricy i think i gave 28 dollars for 150 yards at the hook but it has worked very well i also went out and bought a cheap 60 dollar abu garcia black max reel seems to work real good i like them because the gears are all metal no plastic like a lot of the others and if it wears out fast its not that expensive to replace their a 6 4 1 ratio reel for better control i fished it sunday and yes their was some ice build up but i was also throwing a stickbait on 8lb mono still had ice so when its that cold its just part of the game

[abkeenan]

I haven't had any problem casting the A-rig on the braid until Saturday. The braid holds water a bit, and the line was freezing and getting stiff and tacky on the reel. After tightening down the tension knob, it was better, but I felt like I was casting dock cable from a winch! I was dipping my rod about every 2-3 casts just to melt the ice on the rod guides.

When there is ice on your rod guides that is natures way of telling you that you should be sitting on the couch watching MIZZOU basketball instead of fishing.