There has been a lot of controversy over the use of this rig!!!!!

There is talk about banning the use of the Alabama Rig in Bass Fishing Tournaments. What are your thoughts?

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Much has been made about the Alabama rig since Bassmaster Elite Series pro Paul Elias used it to win the FLW Tour Open on Lake Guntersville last week. Apart from the expected demand to get one (or 10) of the things, there's been a lot of commentary and controversy about the technique, one of the most interesting to hit the bass fishing world in a long time.

So before you decide whether or not the Alabama rig is for you, let's talk about the issues.

If you're new to this discourse, we'll start with a description. The Alabama rig is not a lure, but a device that allows an angler to deliver multiple lures on a single cast. The "Alabama rig" devised by Andy Poss and sold at TheAlabamaRig.com is simply a castable "umbrella" rig.

A Little History

The umbrella rig is an old standby among saltwater trollers targeting striped bass and bluefish off the New England coast. In more recent decades, it's become popular with trollers chasing landlocked striped bass on waters like Georgia's Lake Lanier. For the freshwater trollers, the occasional largemouth, smallmouth or spotted bass has been bycatch when after the larger species.

Lore has it that a Montauk, N.Y., skipper got the idea for the umbrella rig after visiting Nova Scotia and seeing anglers troll with strips of beer cans suspended from a metal bar to simulate a school of baitfish. Modern umbrella rigs — including the Alabama rig — have advanced somewhat in terms of the materials used, but the concept and basic presentation is the same.

Whereas traditional umbrella rigs are heavy and somewhat cumbersome things designed to be trolled on wire line, the Alabama rig is lighter and allows for awkward but effective casting. Poss' version weighs about 3/8-ounce before the first lure is attached. Add some ordinary jig heads and soft plastic baits, though, and the rig could easily top out at better than four full ounces.




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i dont think they should ban the alabama rig ,,,,but i do think that they should probably not allow it in tournaments,,i cant explain why i feel that way ,,its just everysince ive watch tournaments it always beeen one lure on a line & this rig actually has 5 on a line,,just my opinion is all ,,

This rig should definitely be banned from all tournament fishing. If it is illeagal to fish with more than one rod at a time, why should it be legal to fish with 5 baits at a time?

I think the pole is "should the Alabama Rig be banned from tournaments"... it is in the post, but the title does not reflect it. Should be clarified...

Guys have been fishing double rigs like a "front runner" or a double fluke rig for many years... I guess when you take something that is typically used for trolling in saltwater, downsize it and make it cast-able, with 5 lures/hooks, I can see where the controversy lies…

I agree that it takes away from the essence of bass fishing.
You can look at it the same way as trolling… it gives you an advantage over normal casting and retrieving and allows you to cover a tremendous amount of water. Trolling is not allowed in bass fishing tournaments… but many anglers use this as a tool during practice to locate schools of bass, then cast to them.
The Alabama rig was designed to capitalize on multiple fish while bass are schooling. Very cool idea… but again, I think it crosses that line between sport fishing and commercial fishing… next people will just start long lining! lol

The issue really is over the number of hooks and we as bass anglers have to remember that the freshwater rules sometimes apply across the board when it comes to fishing. Every state has different rules… in NY you cannot use five hooks at one time. I think 2 per rod per person is the max... anyone know for sure?

Some guys are throwing these things with teasers so they really only have 2 hooks but five plastics... it still seems a bit over the top.

As a tournament angler, I'd be fine with seeing these banned from tournaments. If they don't get banned and they become the next rage, we may have to convert over to the dark-side to stay competitive!

Would you shoot a bunch of ducks sitting on the water? A located school of bass is akin to sitting ducks. Dragging one of those monstrosities through them is just as unsportsmanlike as shooting "sitting ducks".

God Bless,
Don

I hear you Don...

Listen to what some of the pros are saying about it:

And then whats next??????? I might as well go in my saltwater tackle box and tie a bunch bunker snags and see if I could snag me up a couple of bass. (as long as it is not spawning season) I feel there is no skill in dragging a rig with 5 baits on it. I never was one that liked trolling umbrella rigs in the salt. I would rather throw a swimbait and use skill. I do a lot of tournament fishing and I would be very upset if I saw a competitor dragging an umbrella rig behind them. Are we that much out of touch with the sport that we need ways of slaying fish?

Concensus of the pros seems to be "if it catches fish it's got to be added to the arsenal." Bottom line there is tournament money.

God Bless,
Don

I know in Ohio the DNR regulations state that no more than three hooks can be used on one rod. So it's already banned here. I'd check your local regulations before I spent alot of money on a lure that may be illegal.

this topic is blown out of proportion ,come on guys,its still fishing with a lure,i know plenty of people that fish triple fluke rigs and drop shots,whats next,they are going 2 ban berkly gulp because its 2 much like live bait,

Why ban the Alabama rig? It's five pieces of wire configured to catch fish. If we ban the Alabama rig because it's too effective or not sporting, maybe we should look into the boats that cover too much water for the fish to have a chance and the down imaging that not only shows the fish, but also your lure and even your line. It almost seems that those who are whining are trying to make sure that only those with the money for a 50,000 dollar boat with a 5,000 dollar fish finder can compete. Seems silly to me.

How much fishing skill does it take to buy a boat that you can cover all the water with or a fish finder that shows your lure drop right in front of the fish?

Nice... we've got a good debate going here. Some valid points.

Hello Mav, Tracker90hp, bass_angler15 and smallmouth... forgot to say "welcome to the site". Glad to see you've joined the community and thanks for sharing your thoughts.





You know, sometimes having a fast boat can be a negative... you spend too much time running around and not enough time fishing.

I think we could safely say that some level of "skill" is required in any of these techniques. For example, I know lots of guys who have all the fancy electronics, but don't know how to put them to practical use. Basically they use it to tell them the depth and water temp and that's all.

I guess if you think about it, the Alabama rig is nothing more than another tool that anglers have at their disposal. If you don't know how to use your electronics to locate schools of bass, you can throw that thing all day and you may never connect.

Perhaps most of the issues surrounding this tool are regarding the legality of it's use from state to state.

Anyway, it's nice to hear erveryone's opinions... thanks for sharing.

BC

Yes but fluke fishing is not fishing a bass tournament. Good luck anyway to anyone that thinks they can huck that giant rig all day. It would be a workout. There are rules against trolling so you would have to be working the rig manually. My thoughts is it takes away from expertise and sportsmanship of fishing a tournament. I am sure all states and or bass clubs will come up with thier own regulations. Just my thoughts...

I will agree that if the Alabama rig is not legal in a state, then it should not be used there. Just like certain states, or particular lakes, have a 12 inch minimum length on certain species and others have a 14 inch minimum. I just say that those opposed to the Alabama rig or those that think it's use is unsporting should question the sporting aspect of other tools that are used that give the angler as much, if not more of an edge, than the Alabama rig.

I would also like to say that the purpose of a fast boat is to shorten the amount of time you spend running, not increase it. On my home lake, sometimes the fish are biting best on the north end where the rivers run in, and other times the south end, closer to the dam. A faster machine helps a lot when your tournament is out of a ramp up north and the fishing is better down south due to water clarity. I am talking about Lake Lanier, no small body of water to cover in this situation.

I hear you Mav... A faster machine helps... especially when you've gotta make a long run.

Big water, long runs and bad weather can also get you into some trouble. How many times have you made a long run and then had the weather turn on you? That never makes for a good time! lol

When it all comes down to it, its not as easy as it looks. This is the video of ken trying to duplicate when he caught five smallies at once over 19 pounds. Look how packed the screen is and he couldn't duplicate the catch. One of us throwing a swim bait through that pod would score also. The first one is what he was dragging the rig through.







If you do not put some kind of guidelines down I see bass tournament fisherman start long lining. What would stop you from throwing out a line with 50 swimbaits tied to it? Just my thoughts.

Nunz,

I know you, so I know that you're being sarcastic... lol "long lining with 50 swimbaits"...

I will say that you made a comment in an early post about how hard it would be to fish an Alabama rig all day... I'd agree with that, that's a lot of weight to be chucking around.

Thanks for sharing those videos...

Just a little bit
Interesting that this was just posted in Missouri:

Official Information on the Alabama Rig



November 17, 2011 by admin
Filed under Featured News


There has been alot of discussion on the use of the new Alabama Rig, the following is the full email from Michael S. Smith with the Missouri Department of Conservation:

——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Alabama Rig – MO Regulations
From: Mike Smith <Mike.Smith@mdc.mo.gov>
Date: Tue, November 15, 2011 10:03 am
To: “jim@centralpro-am.com” <jim@centralpro-am.com>

Jim, sorry I missed your call last Friday. However, I did need some additional time to follow up on your most recent inquiry regarding the use of the Alabama (umbrella) rig. As previously discussed, pole and line anglers in Missouri are restricted to three hooks. See highlight below.

Missouri Wildlife Code
3 CSR 10-20.805 Definitions

(1) For the purpose of this Code the following definitions shall govern unless a different meaning is stated or clearly evident from the context.

(44) Pole and line: Fishing methods using tackle normally held in the hand, such as a cane pole, casting rod, spinning rod, fly rod, or ice fishing tackle commonly known as a tip-up, to which not more than three (3) hooks with bait or lures are attached. This fishing method does not include snagging, snaring, grabbing, or trotlines or other tackle normally attached in a fixed position.

I discussed the addition of hook-less attractors on the remaining two attachment points with our enforcement staff this morning. Focus remains on the number of hooks associated with the rig. Therefore, the addition of hook-less items on the remaining attachment points would be permissible as the Wildlife Code is currently written.

You noted a problem accessing our Wildlife Code on-line. It is maintained by the MO Secretary of State Office. The link is: http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/3csr/3csr.asp If you have any additional fishing regulation questions, you are always welcome to contact me.

MS

Michael S. Smith

Fisheries Administrative Manager

Missouri Department of Conservation

573-522-4115 ext. 3152
source

I fish from a kayak and have a Humminbird PiranahMax so I won't be going in any tournaments any time soon. I think you can guess why I feel the way I do about this rig. Almost 20 pounds of my favourite gamefish on one cast is really ridiculous! Turns the sport into "catching" not "fishing".

God Bless,
Don

I don't like it one bit, but as a tourny fisherman if you don't keep up with the Jone's you become a donator. I don't have one YET but that may change. I hope they ban it.

Great thoughts and words guys!!! Stump you are right though. If they don't ban it as tourny fishermen we all may have to look into it. Like you guys said we don't have to like it. Love the point smallmouth wrote "Turns the sport into "catching" not "fishing"."

last time i checked, the reason why we spend so much money on new lures and baits,is 2 do what? more catching instead of casting or fishing.it is still a lure,and you still have 2 fool the fish with it,and if they do ban it here in s.c.,witch i dont see happening,ill still be throwing one,just because i can ps; i have yet 2 catch a fish on the a;rig,but i hopefully will lol

Out of curiousity how much time have you put in throwing it?

not a whole lot yet? but i plan on it asap!

Crappie guys have their multiple trolling rigs so they can catch as many crappie as possible because of the fine eating qualities of the fish. As much as I enjoy a feed of crappie or jumbo perch, I'd much sooner catch them on a float and fly setup on my flyrod or casting tiny jigs for them with my ultra-lite spinning rod. I would not enjoy catching multiple fish at the same time. Only the guys who need to catch 40 crappie each time out enjoy fishing like that.

I know what tournament guys do with their fish but some guys think nothing of eating 20" smallmouth and largemouth. The "Alabama Rig" in the hands of someone like that would be a definite threat to the health of our fisheries.

I can hear the grandpa talking to his grandson, "yeah, son, the fish sure are scarce these days. Don't know what happened. Back in the day, we used to catch 'em 5 at a time on the good ol' Alabama Rig!"

God Bless,
Don

You are right about that! Have had smooth water on the way out and was darn right scared coming back on a few occasions! Can be a little un nerving, especially when you seem to be the only one on the water.

I see your point, but I feel that the point is to catch fish and not to just go fishing. I don't believe that the rig is as effective as the hype makes it out to be anyway. There is no "magic" lure. If you don't know how deep the fish are, and get your bait there, how big and what type of forage, then almost any lure is deemed ineffective. There are other factors that help besides just these as well. I would also say that this is probably not the first time such a rig has been used to catch bass. This is just a high publicity situation where it worked. Besides, what business is it of ours how another catches his fish? In a tournament, the rig is fair as long as everybody is allowed to use it.

Well said Mav... I fished in a tournament his past weekend. While getting my boat ready at the ramp I spoke with a guy who had an Alabama Rig tied on. I struck up a conversation with him and his partner and asked them if they knew what the "official" ruling was from the Connecticut DEP. They said the DEP told them there is no limit to the number of hooks you can have on 1 fishing pole. They went on to explain how a large jerkbait might have 3 sets of treble hooks... each treble hook could be counted as a hook so technically you are fishing a big husky jerk for example and you have 9 hooks. Anyway, it was another perspective.

On a side note, they did not win the tournament or place in the money using that rig, so your point is very valid... it's mostly media hype. You don't just go out and buy one and suddenly you’re loading the boat with fish. Same goes for fish finders, gps units, fast boats, etc. In the end, we all have to find and catch them... you can find them sometimes and never be able to get them to hit anything... excluding maybe live bait. I don't fish with live bait, so I wouldn't know if that's a guarantee either...

In Connecticut you can use 3 baited hooks. Baited as in any form of live bait dead or alive. Artificials are not considered bait, thats why 5 hooks with artificials are allowed.

Hey Stump,

Thanks for adding that detail about live bait... I totally forgot to mention that detail... this is what happens when you don't fish with live bait! Perhaps as I get more into ice fishing that will change.

You busy hunting now? Haven't seen you guys at any of the opens this fall.

Hey guys, I have had the opportunity to fish with this contraption and all I can say is, you can wack em on this stupid looking thing. My buddy, Dan Morehead won the Stren Championship here on Kentucky Lake with this thing and it was amazing to watch. Do I think it should be banned? I dont know, I feel like it will be, but like alot of other posts, its really no different than alot of other things we fish. I think that if everyone can fish it, I dont have a problem with it. But by the time you have it rigged, you have about $60 tied on the end of your braided line. I think it will just be like the spoon, you will hear alot about it and then when everyone starts throwing it, the fish will get used to seeing it and it will just be another tool in the box that we can use. But as far as fall fishing, it ROCKS!!!! for now.......

Hey Kevin... thanks for adding your two sense. I was wondering when you were going to chime in! :)Good Stuff

I hope so, I hate that chit! lol

All that talking and look what I got for Christmas as one of my gifts:



I'll have to try them out now...

Now they will outlawed for sure!!!!!

No doubt about it... Murphy's Law, right?

Don't forget to take them out of the bag before you us them...

Really?

Well its official, today B.A.S.S. made a rule change that does not allow the use of Alabama Rigs and other techniques that use more than one lure such as double fluke rigs, drop shots that use jigs as weight and frontrunner/topwater combos. Right now it only applies to Elites and the Classic. I bet this is only the first of many more rules changes.....

I moved this over to a new topic called Alabama Rig Gets Banned