Help With An A Rig

[waterpossum]

I must be going through an old age crisis, but I would like to get back into bass fishing after kind of abandoning it the last 10 years. At one time years ago I was consumed into bass fishing and like a lot of people still have a garage full of bass tackle. Recently I have been exploring the possibility of fishing bass tournaments and have been told by several of the regular tournament fisherman that I better be throwing or at least have the A Rig as part of the arsenal. . I have become well aware of the bait over the last couple of years, but have yet to throw it. Crappie and walleye have been my passion instead. I have been gathering what I think I need to throw the A RIG, but could use some input regarding the rod and line I should use and any other helpful hints.

[zarraspook]

I was in the same mind set as you, last year.. I bought all the stuff my son said I needed-

1) med/hvy of heavy action bait casting rod...

2) high speed bait casting reel with a good drag..

3) spooled the reel with 200yds of 50lb braid..

4) got 3 different sizes of soft minnow baits..

Headed up to Stockton and was going to "kill-em"..

After an hour my shoulder was killing me and I was tired of untangling the "A" rig, every other cast !!!

I said "self- this is a TROLLING rig not a casting rig"...

After another hour and half of hanging up; breaking off (which is not easy with 50lb braid).

I had lost all 4 of my rigs and went crappie / walleye fishing !!!!

I am not saying yes or nay on the "A" rig .. I just telling you what an ex-bass tournament guy in his 20-30s experienced at age 69 ......

[wtr dogs]

DITTO ZARA!!!! Same result different day.

[paintnfurdoe]

Aqua Possum.. I don't like your tone... I don't want to have to find another crappie/Wally partner.. Leave the bass fishing to them other guys!

[Jerry Rapp]

when I first threw an a-rig 2 years ago, I caught one about 2lbs the 3rd cast. I threw it about 30 more times that day, and sort of said to myself WTF? I have thrown it maybe 30 times since, and don't have one in my arsenal anymore. Heaving an a-rig is not fishing for me.

[Old plug]

i have never used one but it would tear up my shoulders real fast. It would not match my style of fishing anyway.

[Dutch]

I use a MH rod with 50# braid. I also use an interlocking snap for easy changes. I've got about a dozen of them and have only lost 1. I don't like to fool with the baits when I am on the water so I just change the rig to the one I want to try.

You just have to tie it on and throw it. It is a bottom snagging sucker so I try to keep it just above the bottom. It can be a pain when fishing cedars on a bluff.

Put the other stuff away and throw only it until you get used to it. Be sure to have some icy hot for the elbow when the day is done if you hook a bunch of fish.

After I use it for about 3 weeks it takes a couple of month for my left elbow to get back to normal.

[Lvn2Fish]

honestly, if you were fishing tablerock this time of year, then those guys are right. The A-rig is what wins down there in the winter time. But with fishing stockton I have had much more luck on a jerkbait. Not to say you can't catch fish on one up there cause I know those who have. As far as setup. I'm throwing mine on 50 pound braid, a 7'8 heavy action rod. Two years ago at the rock I would let it sink close to the bottom and slow roll it back. Caught a really huge sack of fish that went 22-25 pounds, that was by far the best I did on it. Last year, I caught them reeling it fast above ceder trees. But at stockton you can win with out it. Table Rock is a different story. Also this lure ( or lures) is at its best when the water is cold. I forget about it after March

[waterpossum]

honestly, if you were fishing tablerock this time of year, then those guys are right. The A-rig is what wins down there in the winter time. But with fishing stockton I have had much more luck on a jerkbait. Not to say you can't catch fish on one up there cause I know those who have. As far as setup. I'm throwing mine on 50 pound braid, a 7'8 heavy action rod. Two years ago at the rock I would let it sink close to the bottom and slow roll it back. Caught a really huge sack of fish that went 22-25 pounds, that was by far the best I did on it. Last year, I caught them reeling it fast above ceder trees. But at stockton you can win with out it. Table Rock is a different story. Also this lure ( or lures) is at its best when the water is cold. I forget about it after March

would you recommend a wire hook? seems like it would be easier to straighten if you using 50 lb braid

[blue79]

I bought one and used it a couple of times and only had one bite.I saw a fish floating at the marina and it was a catfish that the turtles had ate on and there was an a-rig hooked in its mouth.went back to the boat and got a pole and hooked a rotten cat and got a free rig.It must have got snagged under the dock and they cut the line.If i had a decent fishfinder i would throw it more.I might buy the mini a-rig for crappie.