No Alabama Rig in B.A.S.S.

[Fntsyfbgod]

I still havent heard anything about using teaser baits with an Alabama Rig. I have heard most fish strike the center bait and some pros at the KY lake tournament in Tennessee have been using hooks on only 3 of the swimbaits and teaser swimbaits that did not have hooks. So can pros use the rig with only "One" hook? I think the big issue is catching multiple fish at a time but this would solve that.

If your going to say you cant use the Alabama Rig even if has one hook then its getting really into a grey area.

Because in that case why couldnt you use an alabama rig with blades on the other wires?
And if thats not legal then why is a spinnerbait legal?
And if that is legal to use a alabama rig with blades on the 5 arms then why isnt teaser swimbaits legal? the blades are just like spoons which are legal, is there a rule that says the definition of a lure is something that doesn't spin?
What about a spinerbait or buzzbait with two arms.

[numbuts]

i just remove blade & swivel and add a worm hook and what ever trailer seems appropriate for presentation. some think it is not a spinnerbait anymore but when you look in bps catologe i see all kinds of styles from ones with plastic blades to some with propellers and they are still called spinner baits

[blue superpro210]

If i was an elite pro (never going to happen), and I buy a jig and buy a bag of trailers could someone assume I was fishing two lures? What about putting a grub tail on a swimming jig? Their wording of the rule is very subjective.

[bassmaster]

I just want pipe in as there are Elite Pros watching and reading the boards.

Just remember that only 100 anglers are affected by this ruling. It also will rule during the Bassmaster Classic. This is the most important event in competitive angling!

The A-rig is a fish catching devise. Its record is impressive! I feel the playing field in the Elite Events will be higher with the "One Rod ...One Lure Standard" in place. It is still in use for BASS Opens, Weekend Series, and Ferderation Nation events.

Thanks to all of those that feel the Elite Series must be held to a higher standred. It will be good for all of us to be viewed in this regard.

Good Fishing to all!

Mark

Hey Mark,
Wow. Great to see an Elite guy on here. Always pulling for a KY guy. I wonder how you feel on the Boat Usage Rule change? Great to see your take on all these new rules. As far as the A-rig, I think some people including myself feel as if this rule change WILL trickle down to eventually the other BASS events and then on down to local clubs and tourneys (Maybe even influence some state DFW folks to look at state rule changes). Like you said it is a fish catching device NOT a miracle lure. Also on the subject of electronics, keeping into consideration that people eventually learn to use them correctly, is it fair that some Elite guys with sponsors have 2 side imaging GPS units and/ or Hydrowaves where some newcomers into the Elite field might not have the funding or sponsorship for such devices that obviously help in catching more fish?
Thanks again and good luck in the upcoming season,
Tim

[Mark Menendez]

I will miss the "Donkey Rig" for sure! It is a fun way to fish. I feel that I will be fishing on a very fair playing field this season. As far as multiple depth finders, My Lowrance HDS 10 is capable of 4 screens and tasks at once! I use this mode quite a bit. I won't feel at any disadvantage

[bassmaster]

I will miss the "Donkey Rig" for sure! It is a fun way to fish. I feel that I will be fishing on a very fair playing field this season. As far as multiple depth finders, My Lowrance HDS 10 is capable of 4 screens and tasks at once! I use this mode quite a bit. I won't feel at any disadvantage

Glad you feel that way. I though it was a great idea of yours to try something different (especially the boat deal). I know you have all the electronics (HDS 10 Side imaging) you need but some of those other rookie (newbies) guys don't have those same opportunities (truly total level playing field). Gonna miss the Elites using good old fashion ingenuity to find and catch those fish for fear of creating more rules. The FLW has not banned it so maybe you can fish it there or in BASS opens. Good luck to you in the upcoming season.

Tim

[Jbyrd]

Wow. This might be the "shot heard around the world" among the big circuits...

Guys I know he is the best in the world but as KVD goes so goes the B.A.S.S
He has gotten more rules changed than all the presidents who have served..... And KVD don't throw an ala rig. He got the co-anglers out of the boat . He wanted the ky lake event moved to paris after everyone followed him to his spots. so he runs back to kdv KY **** village. HE IS THE BEST but if he says no they usually listen

[Tim_T]

Guys I know he is the best in the world but as KVD goes so goes the B.A.S.S
He has gotten more rules changed than all the presidents who have served..... And KVD don't throw an ala rig. He got the co-anglers out of the boat . He wanted the ky lake event moved to paris after everyone followed him to his spots. so he runs back to kdv KY **** village. HE IS THE BEST but if he says no they usually listen

He had nothing to do with the tournament moving to Paris. The city bid a bunc of money to host the tournament. B.A.S.S. takes bids from these towns to hold their events there. Paris had a bid they were happy with. It was all about money and had nothing to do with KVD. Plus he wasn't running up to Ky Dam Village, he went to Kenlake each morning.

[sweetwater]

No need to fear rule changes. As in all competitive sports, new ideas is part of the fishing just as talent is. If a fisherman has a new idea that works, either everyone else will eventually start doing the same thing or the santioning body will issue rules addressing that idea. Either way the playing field will once again be level. The key for the competitor is take advantage of the idea for as long as possible. The real dangers are; (1) not enough rules and someone will have an unfair competitive advantage and "stink up the game" (2) to many rules and B.A.S.S. could wind up in the same boat with NASCAR, downright boring most of the time.

[Fntsyfbgod]

I would be really interested to see if you could make the rig legal and effective in tournaments that only allow a certain number of baits. The tournament trail I fish was leaning towards a maximum of 3 baits and may go to one bait now.

I noticed some pics on another site from the FLW on KY lake and guys had large willowleaf blades replacing the baits on some of the wires. And I already mentioned the teaser baits with no hooks. I would love to know if a variation like these would be legal to still make it so your only catching one fish at a time but getting schooling effect from the bait.

[Fntsyfbgod]

They need to define the definition of a lure. To me the most logical answer would be anything with a hook in it. By that definition you could use an alabama rig if you put blades or teasers on the other wires which I think is fair.

[09Z7SC]

I will miss the "Donkey Rig" for sure! It is a fun way to fish. I feel that I will be fishing on a very fair playing field this season. As far as multiple depth finders, My Lowrance HDS 10 is capable of 4 screens and tasks at once! I use this mode quite a bit. I won't feel at any disadvantage

It's nice to have an insider voice on the subject matter, thanks for the input Mark. I feel like this lure will seriously change some aspects of this sport. The fact it has been deemed illegal in Elite series competition makes me feel as if BASS holds that level of competition to a higher standard, which I do agree with. If I wanted to watch tournaments where everyone throws the a-rig all day long I will tune in to FLW outdoors. It will be interesting to see after this year how this rig affects fishing, both to the competition angler and the fun fisherman.