Best Alabama Rig Setup

[Guest]

I've decided to break down & buy an A-rig combo.

What length, action, power rod is ideal? I don't want something too cumbersome, but just right.

Price is always a consideration, but this being my only rod purchase of 2014 I'm willing to pay extra for the perfect rod. Although it would be cool to catch a discount right about now.

The umbrella rigs fitted with willow leaf blades are my favorite. Less is more in terms of swimbaits, IMO

I also prefer 3.5" swimbaits better than the 5" models.

Im interested to hear what line size, real model, & umbrella rig brand you like & why.

Thanks

[Ham]

I throw mine on Power Pro. It's either 50 lb or 65 lb. I don't remember it has equivalent diameter to 15 lb mono. I want to have a shot at pulling free when it finds wood.

I want a 7 foot rod to keep all those hook points and hardware away from me. I'm throwing mine on a frog rod, but that's not ideal. It could be moderately fast and be just fine. I haven't seen anybody say "it's a joy to throw the a rig on X brand rod" throwing the d*** thing is a pain at best.

I throw fairly light JIgheads trying to sleep the overall weight down. You can bet rigs with a plastic head or just wire to cut down on weight. Even doing that the things sinks like a brick.

[Feathers and Fins]

Troph, I use a 7'9'' Clarus Medium heavy with a Cardiff baitcaster and 10lb fluorocarbon. I use it for open water applications not near any structure and it works perfectly for me. The rod is 99.00 and the reel if you shop around you can get for about 110.00.

I love the set-up as it allows me to also go to live bait or jerk-baits all my gear must be multifunctional and the 10lb line will easily handle anything in our lakes.

[Quillback]

I've got a Powell Endurance 795 that is rated up to 3 oz and works well for tossing the rig. I also use 65 lb braid. Hook, Line and Sinker used to carry and still may carry jigheads that use a relatively light wire, might have been Bass-X brand. If you got them hung up in wood, you could pull it out as the hook would straighten before the braid would break. Some people that throw the rig are now Texas rigging their baits with EWG hooks, less snaggy and you can slow roll it near the bottom.

All that being said, I have not thrown the rig this year at all.

[Dutch]

I use 3 rods; Fenwick HMG 6.6' and Gloomis IMX 844c and 843c. The line is 50# Power Pro. The reels are Shimano Curados.

[james]

I throw the rig on spinning gear, seems unconventional but its a lot easier on my wrists and arms, I use it with bait casters to, but I really start to feel it after bout an hour {hate getting older} I can throw it all day with a spinning rig, 7ft MH with the smaller a-rigs and 7.6 Heavy with the big ones, I also use 50lb power pro. With a good quality set up you can throw it a long way.

[Guest]

I throw the rig on spinning gear, seems unconventional but its a lot easier on my wrists and arms, I use it with bait casters to, but I really start to feel it after bout an hour {hate getting older} I can throw it all day with a spinning rig, 7ft MH with the smaller a-rigs and 7.6 Heavy with the big ones, I also use 50lb power pro. With a good quality set up you can throw it a long way.

I never thought about a big striper spinning rod outfit. Im going to give that a look. thanks

[Guest]

This is the smaller A-rig that I plan on using with 3.5" swimbaits.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Ea-KC-Schoolem-9-H-5CR-Prem-Wire-Alabama-Umbrella-Style-Rig-3-Arms-3-Blades-/390674378399?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5af601ee9f

[james]

Yea those are cool rigs, good price, I'm gona look into those, not to far from me, thanks for the info

[Guest]

James,

Can you give the details on your spinning rod combo?

I'm looking to buy a setup before New Years