Alabama Rig

Everybody fishing against Paul Elias this week at Guntersville probably doesnt think this rig is to funny.....Go Paul........The next new thing. I wish I invented it.

[QUOTE=Swift1;470288]Everybody fishing against Paul Elias this week at Guntersville probably doesnt think this rig is to funny.....Go Paul........The next new thing. I wish I invented it.[/QUOTE]

Actually there are many of the top guys using it at G-ville. Most thought it was a secret, BUT Paul was the one that got caught using it and kind of let the cat out of the bag. At least everybody is blaming Paul for that one.
I wish I invented it too----guess it will be the next Chatterbait. Remember when it came out. Curious to see how many other tackle companies are going to make the Alabama rig?

Image throwing this thing into the jumps at Nolin in the summer.

Saw this some time ago. However, I thought that professional tournament rules prohibit the use of more than two baits in the water by a single participating fisherman (i.e. the double fluke rig is legal). I'm not totally for sure on that, but if Paul Elias used it then it is obviously been deemed legal. Great......now I'm confused.

I have seen the rig used to catch hybrids and such, but not largemouth, smallmouth, or spots. However, I could see where it would excel at catching schooling fish and when the shad are on the move.

I have too have seen an umbrella rig used but the wires are are alot stiffer, I held one of these in my hands and the wires are like spinnerbait wires. it has a single line tie which may be why it is legal (for now), I know the guy at the tackle store in Florence Alabama told me a pro had developed it so I guess he found a loop-hole/gray area in which makes it legal. Either way I think I'll go ahead and order one to try seeing that KY Lake is abundant this year in shad and I could stand to catch a mess of white bass seeing that my tournament fishing is done for the year.....

Heck yeah that thing will work. My concern is if I load it up with lures and lose that thing how much money am I gonna be out?? I would love to see some Zoom Horny Toads loaded up and pulled across some sweet green shallow grass in the Spring!

[QUOTE=offdtop;470696]I have too have seen an umbrella rig used but the wires are are alot stiffer, I held one of these in my hands and the wires are like spinnerbait wires. it has a single line tie which may be why it is legal (for now), I know the guy at the tackle store in Florence Alabama told me a pro had developed it so I guess he found a loop-hole/gray area in which makes it legal. Either way I think I'll go ahead and order one to try seeing that KY Lake is abundant this year in shad and I could stand to catch a mess of white bass seeing that my tournament fishing is done for the year.....[/QUOTE]

I'd definately try it on KY. From what Ive read so far it seems to really shine on TN river lakes. Dont know if it was mentioned or not but the guy who won the BFL regional on wheeler the previous week won on the a-rig with swimbaits.

Being from Gadsden and fishing the area lakes and rivers including G-ville for a good part of my life I just can't imagine anything being better at catching tournament size fish (5# or better) than a noisy topwater bait or a 10 inch worm. I can guess what happens when one of those umbrella rigs gets close to the grass mats or if two of those 7#'s were to bite at the same time. Just one of them feels like a souped up wildcat. A real Alabama rig consist of a stiff rod, fast reel, 50# or heavier braided line and the biggest, loudest buzzbait that you can find. Needless to say, everyone that fishes G-ville very much has a "the one that got away" story.

Heres the thing, and I have been thinking about this rig for a couple of days, what happens if the only way you can compete in a tournament from now on is if you throw one of these things? I mean, sure, I am curious and would like to try one, but it almost seems like cheating. You can't troll, which involves multiple hooks/baits, why is it ok to throw this rig? Part of me wishes I had thought of it first, another hopes it is made illegal. I have mixed feelings about it right now.

I have some of the same feelings 09Z.

[QUOTE=09Z7SC;470758]Heres the thing, and I have been thinking about this rig for a couple of days, what happens if the only way you can compete in a tournament from now on is if you throw one of these things? I mean, sure, I am curious and would like to try one, but it almost seems like cheating. You can't troll, which involves multiple hooks/baits, why is it ok to throw this rig? Part of me wishes I had thought of it first, another hopes it is made illegal. I have mixed feelings about it right now.[/QUOTE]

Could you imagine throwing a bait that weigh's 4-3/16 oz all day? I agree trolling is bad but boy that would be a chore and a half to cast that monster all day!!! And I had to laugh because I too kinda felt like it was cheating but.......... it isn't - so I guess that's why I'm on the fence.

Tennessee ammended the "umbrella rig" to having no more than 3 hooks:

[url]http://www.wired2fish.com/Tennessee-Amends-Umbrella-Rig-Rule-for-Alabama-Rig-WhatsUp5991[/url]