A-Rigs On The Rock

[GNSfishing]

Troutgnat,

Are you pouring lead for the head on your A-Rigs?? One more question and how do you keep the wires from pulping out??

[Old plug]

I really can't express how ready I am for 60-degree water.

Champ I would be happy with 50,s around here. I was down on the dock 2 days ago and dropped a themometer in the water about a foot and it came up 35 degrees. T.hat night as far as In know the whole Gravois arm almost froze over again. In spite of it all I think the days are getting longer enough that the bass are getting on the move some. I am going to hit the chunk bank in the sunny afternoons in a day or so. About fit to be tied with this weather. I think we got to go baby sit St Louis this weekend as well. So it will be Monday or Sunday afternoon before I can take a shot.

[Bodeknocker]

What about line and reel for this? I have heard 80 lb braid is used by most as lighter braid tend to bind up in the reel more. Obviously, one needs a "winch" for this setup - heavy gears and a stout drag. I recall one of the guides recommending the extra-heavy duty Lews reel last year, but I don't want to fork out $250-$300 for that.

Are there any reels in the $100-125 range that might work? THANKS.

[dtrs5kprs]

Balsa,

I believe I found it at Wally World of all places. It's made by Plano and is designed for A-Rigs. However, it is not big enough to hold rigs with baits on. As you see, I just use it for storage of extra rigs. I haven't started doing this but I've noticed a couple of rigs now have a large split ring right behind the head that fits around all the wires. When your done fishing you squeeze all the arms together and slide the split ring down over the middle of the rig and walla it stays put. My buddy started doing this and claims he can fit quite a few with baits on in a 370 box. I should of thought of that along time ago before I made all these. However, some open weld rings and a pair of round nose pliers and it's a quick fix.

Yes, Wal Mart has the box. Flambeau, about $4 each. Also good for bigger straight tail worms when you just need to carry a few.

The split ring deal works well, or you can use something like a skirt collar or a little ring of tubing. Just make sure you put it on before spreading the arms, or before twisting the wire if using the collars.

Bill's point about the hooks is a good one. Heavy wire flip hooks lke the hooks used in Storm swimmers and some of the "rig" heads will not open up when you need them to do so. I put some pics up of heads a couple of weeks ago with heavy hooks, but they had guards and were primarily meant for actual swimbait use vs. rigs. With either heavy mono or braid you can set a sickle, 570, or reg/med wire mustad just fine, and might get your rig back.

Think the idea of it as a big fish bait is what drove the use of the heavy hooks initially. Your basic grub/dart/shakey hook is fine most of the time.

Split rings sze 5 and up work on most rigs.

[balsabee]

_{Welcome to the TR forum Bodeknocker! I use 50lb Power Pro braid with an old school Abu Garcia 5500 C3 5.3:1 ratio.}

[dtrs5kprs]

What about line and reel for this? I have heard 80 lb braid is used by most as lighter braid tend to bind up in the reel more. Obviously, one needs a "winch" for this setup - heavy gears and a stout drag. I recall one of the guides recommending the extra-heavy duty Lews reel last year, but I don't want to fork out $250-$300 for that.

Are there any reels in the $100-125 range that might work? THANKS.

If it is not something you plan to fish a lot you can definitely get by with something like a 5500C. Shimano has a round reel around $120 that also would do. Helps to have a wide spool reel and a big "power" handle.

[Bitethis]

What about line and reel for this? I have heard 80 lb braid is used by most as lighter braid tend to bind up in the reel more. Obviously, one needs a "winch" for this setup - heavy gears and a stout drag. I recall one of the guides recommending the extra-heavy duty Lews reel last year, but I don't want to fork out $250-$300 for that.

Are there any reels in the $100-125 range that might work? THANKS.

Basspro ProQualifier is what I use, they are on sale for $80 right now, $100 normally. Has magnetic and centrifigul brake system. Very good reel for the money, in my opinion.

[roy_eros]

I think Abu has a "winch" reel in their ORRA line which is right in your price range.

Something I use as a bait keeper is about a 1/4 inch long or so piece of 1" or 1.5" PVC pipe. Costs nothing and works great.

[troutgnat]

GNS, yes I am pouring the heads on those and they are lead. The wire thing took me a long time to figure out. I toyed with this for some time, making all kinds of bends, twisties, putting loops in, etc. and never came up with anything I liked until I finally found it. I do sell some of these so I don't want to give away the farm but I did let out a hint in my former post up the page a ways. I'm sure other guys have their ways too and I'm sure they work. But yes, my wires are locked in the head however where the wires come out of the back of the head allows them some flex.

[Bill Babler]

Basspro ProQualifier is what I use, they are on sale for $80 right now, $100 normally. Has magnetic and centrifigul brake system. Very good reel for the money, in my opinion.

About the second time you engage the handle of that reel while the A-Rig is still flying thru the air, you will change your thoughts on that reel in a big hurry. Why pay 80 bucks for it. A couple of days ago at the outlet store you could have picked up 250 of them for 40 bucks, in the reworked/returned bins? I'm sure there is still plenty there. Just sayin.

Lew's Super Duty Speed Spool is the only reel I will use with a A-Rig. Go to their site and read about this fantastic light weight reel. It is absolutely built for the Alabama Rig. It is priced very reasonably at $179.00. You can use it double duty as a very good big Jig reel. I'm using 80 pound Power-Pro and it is a fantastic system for the rig. You can run the heavy line back on the spool or a old reel and put carbon on it to fish your big jig or swimbait. Your braid will be good the next time you want to put it back on to fish the Rig. This A-Rig bite will leave us so you want something that you can use multi-system, and that Super Duty is fantastic. I sold all my Curado 300 series, which was claimed to be the best reel for the A-Rig. It is good, no doubt, but this Lew's Super Duty is light weight and a smaller frame. The Curado was just abit big for me.

Good Luck