Riggin the A-Rig

[gitnby]

I guess plastic tubing will work, but I found that the straw is just the right length, and has enough stiffness to keep that first 6-8" of line straight and away from the arms or baits.

On the rig I use (forget brand?), the straw just snugs right down on the line tie and I'll put a drop of Loctite Gel on it to keep it in place.

I also think it keeps you off of some hang-ups where your line is coming over a branch.

I guess you could use one of those candy-stripe color straws or even go crazy with whatever color you want?

[Champ188]

I wondered what kept the straw from sliding up the line during the cast. Now I know!

[gitnby]

I say be careful with the Loctite Gel, though.  My experience is that most fishing line doesn't like any kind of glue.

I guess you could put a barrel swivel in front of the straw and accomplish the same thing? what's another 1/64 oz on a rig that weighs 6 pounds?

I think I might experiment with these colorful straws? Might take some patience to run the line through them, though? 

 

[abkeenan]

Good point Gitnby. That Locktite gel will cause some weird reactions with some materials. I've used it to glue stuff together and it will melt some plastics. It should be fine though as people use it to enhance their knots all the time. Another idea would to use a Carolina Keeper before you thread on the straw. Should keep it in place as long at the straw diameter is smaller than the stopper and you wouldn't have to deal with glue, barrel swivels or tie any extra knots. Come in red or clear too.

http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_659603_-1?cm_mmc=pla-_-Fishing+Terminal+Tackle+Leader+Material+Accessories-_-Google-_-Presco+Carolina+Keeper&kwid=productads-plaid%5E78041065278-sku%5E004039236-adType%5EPLA-device%5Ec-adid%5E70247939958

[gitnby]

Good Call!

I'll make some custom A-Rig straws and you can make the stoppers,

We can call it the A.S.S (Alabama Straw Stopper) and we'll sell it as a kit for $6.99!

 

[gitnby]

Went down to the dock this morning and found a couple of those stoppers in the tackle box.

Put it on ahead of the straw and gave it a few heaves.

Seemed to work?

You were right! It is just about the right size.

I tried putting another stopper right in front of the line tie in addition to the one behind it, which I put about 1/2 " up from the front of the straw to give it a little play.

Water is pretty murky still, but it looks like the straw kinda 'rolls' or spins a bit with that set-up.

Can't see why that would be a bad thing? Maybe that candy-stripe straw I mentioned would look like a friggin barber pole coming through the water?

I'll play around with it some more, but I only had one tangle in all of the casts I made and I think that was because the trajectory was bad and the bait rolled over.

 

[edyer]

I have been using the BPS Cranking Stick in the 7-6 length Medium heavy and up here in Michigan have used it to catch six pound smallmouths, Largemouths, and have also caught a 48 and 49 inch Muskies on it.Works great for the smaller A-Rigs like the Flash Mob JR. I have been using couple of different revos to throw it with no problem, but I would like to try the Lews Super that Bill says he uses . The same rig works on Table Rock as well.

[Bill Babler]

Here is a picture of one of the main A-rigs that I am throwing.  I'm using an Eagle Claw SS leader in 8 inches to extend it behind the mob.  Yes it will get tangled some especially when you are trying to throw it into or across the wind.  Not often however, I'm guessing 1 out of 10 throws.  I also try and stop the forward progress of the bait and allow it to turn over like a fly cast by simply clamping my thumb on the spool before it hits the water.  On most any of them if you just chunk it out and allow it to splash down, you have a very good chance of a lure tangling, straw or not. 

Notice how far back that trailing bait is.  This will increase your positive hookups by double.  I was telling a friend yesterday, I did not miss a strike on Sunday, every fish was on the back hook and hooked up very solid.  I did have a fish snagged on one of the hooks In the gang, but every thing else on the trailer.

[gitnby]

Agree on the casting method! When I can, I try to throw it side-arm and then thumb it right before the splash.

Actually, I think your added leader helps keep it straight because the additional weight on the back end allows the rig to swing around tail first.

The original A-rigs I had where so heavy on the head that unless you threw it on a perfectly tight line it was tangle city!

[Bill Babler]

Git, you may be right.  Another deal is the arms just never wrap.  Like I said about one out of 10 that long trailer will slide thru a hook on one of the baits, but unlike when the short arms wrap, the long tailing bait is still fishing.

The best benefit however is you don't miss strikes.  The fish hit that back bait.  I have not felt a jolt or missed one in quite sometime.  The fish will always concentrate on that back bait that is trailing the school.  I can remember when we first started this deal, so often they would hit one of the non-hooked baits.  You would just feel them hammer it.  Does not happen anymore.  They hit it, and its on.

Good Luck