Alabama Rig And Tournaments

[Carter1]

Seems like some folks NEED to get out and fish right now. Too much down time without fishing makes us cranky. I know I can't stand it after a week or more.
I have never fished an Alabama Rig. Would I try it? I'm thinking about it. I will be down at KY/Barkley in a couple of weeks and I hope to find one of those baits at a local store. Any suggestions? If you feel so passionately against the use of this lure contact Fish and Wildlife and voice your concern over it. Right now this bait is hot and is getting a lot of press. Is it the do all to end all bait? Nope. After a while the hoopla will die down. People will find out it is not a "magic" bait and its popularity will diminish. Of course it will still be used quite a bit by some but another bait or technique will come along and then that will be all the talk at the dock and on sites like this.
So, lets all just go fishing, have fun and enjoy life.

[roughscott]

Not trying to ruffle any feathers, I only ask this because you run tournaments.
What is the difference between a guy in the back of the boat throwing a multi bait rig and the guy in the front of the boat fishing a drop-shot in one hand a jigging spoon in the other? Most tournaments don't allow you to fish with more than one rod at a time.[/QUOTE]
THE GUY IN THE FRONT IS BREAKING THE RULES OF 1 POLE AND THE GUY IN THE BACK DEPENDING ON WHAT TOURNEY DIRECTOR RULES ARE .

[bill28wagner]

In full disclosure I have 2 rigs and never thrown them. So I dont care either way. My question about the legallity creeps up. Say you have a limit of 5 and catch 4 keepers on 1 cast. what is the maximum number of keepers allowed on the boat at one time. Somebody told me 6 while culling. Well all of a sudden you have 9 on the boat. Are you illegal and if you are the ols saying is an 1/8" is the same as a mile. If it is ilegal to have 9 keepers on the boat you have harvest those fish illegally and by all means your catch will be dq'd.
Iam not advocating either way, god knows if it will help catch more fish ill sink the boat with them

Just a question I have. Cause ive never had a situation of having more than one keeper over my limit.

Oh and by the way. If I ever catch 5 keepers on one cast in a tournament it has been a pleasure reading this board because I will most undoubtedly have a heart attack

[Carter1]

Your last sentence Bill, cracked me up. You are not in violation just because you caught them as long as you release the excess fish right away. And you are allowed to cull fish in this state. You could already have a limit and catch two on a crankbait at one time. So I wouldn't worry about the too many fish dilemna. That is a nice problem I have not really had.

[roughscott]

if we allow this is down riggers and trolling next ? Single lure per pole rule .

had a nice call today wanting to know what size throw net i was going to allow for nesting bass ?????????

[C-Marshall]

Ok RTF,Don't know if you have fished a circuit that all the sudden changed the rules on you or are you just assuming that a circuit will change just because some one catches a big bag on it.If a circuit or just a regular tourney changes the rules after one tournament has been fished then No that would not be right,I agree with you on that!Getting on here and saying that the locals or tournament directors are going to ban it for there benefit now that is outrageous!It will be a main stay bait but it's not money in th bank.The fishermen that never cashed a check will probably never cash one with the A-Rig either.Can't catch them if you can't find them no matter what bait you got.

[RTF247365]

Good to see you have a sense of humor.

Not to stir the pot more than already has, but I am curious about something. You keep emphasizing this "One lure, one pole" rule in your posts. I fish multiple circuits, and haven't seen such rule. Every circuit I fish does limit an angler to one rod at a time, but makes no reference to the number of lures. If there was such a rule, or you have such a rule for your tourneys, does that mean you can't throw the Donkey rig, or the chaser rig for topwater schoolies. How about the guys that throw a Carolina-rig with a three-way swivel, two leaders, and a 3/4 oz. football head jig as a weight? By nature, fishermen are tinkerers, innovators, always trying to find new ways to coax a bass into biting a lure. Some guy comes up with a way to put a bunch of swimbaits, or grubs, or whatever you want to put on the thing, in the water that revolutionizes the industry. He could have kept it a secret...he chose to share it with the world (and become a wealthy man). And now we have guys wanting to ban it, and it hasn't even been out on the market a full year yet.

It is obvious you do not want the A-rig allowed in your tournaments. That's simple, just don't allow them. As the tournament director, you have every right to do that. You don't need to come to a discussion forum and use it as a springboard to rally support for your decision. Just do it. But don't be surprised when, as free-thinkers in a free society, someone questions your motivation.

had a nice call today wanting to know what size throw net i was going to allow for nesting bass ?????????

[roughscott]

good to see you have a sense of humor.

Not to stir the pot more than already has, but i am curious about something. You keep emphasizing this "one lure, one pole" rule in your posts. I fish multiple circuits, and haven't seen such rule. Every circuit i fish does limit an angler to one rod at a time, but makes no reference to the number of lures. If there was such a rule, or you have such a rule for your tourneys, does that mean you can't throw the donkey rig, or the chaser rig for topwater schoolies. How about the guys that throw a carolina-rig with a three-way swivel, two leaders, and a 3/4 oz. Football head jig as a weight? By nature, fishermen are tinkerers, innovators, always trying to find new ways to coax a bass into biting a lure. Some guy comes up with a way to put a bunch of swimbaits, or grubs, or whatever you want to put on the thing, in the water that revolutionizes the industry. He could have kept it a secret...he chose to share it with the world (and become a wealthy man). And now we have guys wanting to ban it, and it hasn't even been out on the market a full year yet.

It is obvious you do not want the a-rig allowed in your tournaments. That's simple, just don't allow them. As the tournament director, you have every right to do that. You don't need to come to a discussion forum and use it as a springboard to rally support for your decision. Just do it. But don't be surprised when, as free-thinkers in a free society, someone questions your motivation.

ralling support for my decision ??? Assumed decision ? Theres no quotes saying i have bannned it yet .