Flw on the a-rig vs. Bassmasters Elite Series

[VMAXX]

Since I fish neither the tour level of FLW or the elites I could care less if they ban them doesnt effect me and since most of their tournaments are centered around the spawn I think it may not be so much of a player in those circuits,maybe at the end of their season.

[DJ_Callahan_27]

The a-rig in my opinion is one of those things that gets it orgins from striper fishing (ie the umbrella rig, the lead minnow, and such). The lead minnow has been around for decades and is basicly an over grown a-rig. It's a minnow shaped peice of lead ranging from 1/2 oz to 6 ozs. While it only has four wire leaders as oposed to five the a-rig is just a rip off of that lure.

That being said, anyone throwing an a-rig, umbrella rig, lead minnow, or any other multi lure presentation had better check not only State Law but County and Lake laws aswell. It's illegal in the State of TN and alot of lakes in Ky. Not sure about the law in Ky I haven't checked, but I know some lakes in Ky have forbid it.

I can't see myself using these rigs but that doesn't mean I'm going to speak badly of anyone else using it where it is legal.

DJ

[09Z7SC]

It's illegal in the State of TN and alot of lakes in Ky. Not sure about the law in Ky I haven't checked, but I know some lakes in Ky have forbid it.

Where did you find this information? I just looked through the KDFWR brochure and there is no mention of a limit on lures except for snagging or fishing for trout.

[know1]

The part about the A-rig that I wonder about is how you keep a single fish from having 4 hooks stuck in it's body along with the 1 in its mouth. If that's not an issue, then I have no problem with it.

I also think having more than 1 fish on at a time makes fighting the fish less fun.

[Tim_T]

The a-rig in my opinion is one of those things that gets it orgins from striper fishing (ie the umbrella rig, the lead minnow, and such). The lead minnow has been around for decades and is basicly an over grown a-rig. It's a minnow shaped peice of lead ranging from 1/2 oz to 6 ozs. While it only has four wire leaders as oposed to five the a-rig is just a rip off of that lure.

That being said, anyone throwing an a-rig, umbrella rig, lead minnow, or any other multi lure presentation had better check not only State Law but County and Lake laws aswell. It's illegal in the State of TN and alot of lakes in Ky. Not sure about the law in Ky I haven't checked, but I know some lakes in Ky have forbid it.

I can't see myself using these rigs but that doesn't mean I'm going to speak badly of anyone else using it where it is legal.

DJ

Where did you come up with the idea that is illegal anywhere in Kentucky? First you say it is illegal on a lot lf lakes in Ky and follow that with "Not sure about the law in Ky. I haven't checked." To the best of my knowledge it is not illegal at any lake In Kentucky.

[papawbass]

I follow the BASS elite tourneys as well as the FLW (heck Im watching any bass fishing show). Always trying to pickup a new technique or a tip. I have no problem with BASS anglers deciding not to allow certain bait/lures, and as most know they didn't just eliminate the A-rig. I haven't thrown a A-rig yet but I sure plan on trying when I have the opportunity, but I don't expect it to become the only weapon I will ever need.
As far as the new rule changes passed in BASS I actually found the one that stops an anglers from using a different boat (fiberglass/alum) for different tournaments. I wonder what role the main sponsors had in that one?

[Tim_T]

I follow the BASS elite tourneys as well as the FLW (heck Im watching any bass fishing show). Always trying to pickup a new technique or a tip. I have no problem with BASS anglers deciding not to allow certain bait/lures, and as most know they didn't just eliminate the A-rig. I haven't thrown a A-rig yet but I sure plan on trying when I have the opportunity, but I don't expect it to become the only weapon I will ever need.
As far as the new rule changes passed in BASS I actually found the one that stops an anglers from using a different boat (fiberglass/alum) for different tournaments. I wonder what role the main sponsors had in that one?

Sponsors had nothing to do with the boat rule, it was the anglers. Not everyone has the opportunity to grab an aluminum boat and hit the lake, particularly if you live far away from the tournament site.

[bassmaster]

Sponsors had nothing to do with the boat rule, it was the anglers. Not everyone has the opportunity to grab an aluminum boat and hit the lake, particularly if you live far away from the tournament site.

Let me see....one can pull a fully rigged 20 footer with a 250 but not an aluminum with a 70 on it? Unless you are on the Eite Series Rules committee (Not all 100 anglers) then I doubt that you or I or anyone else know the reason why. And for that matter, it doesn't matter, we don't fish 'em. I would suggest that if anyone feels that strongly against the rules (that it adversly affects the integrity of the sport) then let those sponsors of the rules committee fishermen and BASS know. I AM NOT SAYING THAT THE SPONSORS HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS NOR AM I SAYING THAT THEY DIDN'T.

Tim

[Tim_T]

Let me see....one can pull a fully rigged 20 footer with a 250 but not an aluminum with a 70 on it? Unless you are on the Eite Series Rules committee (Not all 100 anglers) then I doubt that you or I or anyone else know the reason why. And for that matter, it doesn't matter, we don't fish 'em. I would suggest that if anyone feels that strongly against the rules (that it adversly affects the integrity of the sport) then let those sponsors of the rules committee fishermen and BASS know. I AM NOT SAYING THAT THE SPONSORS HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS NOR AM I SAYING THAT THEY DIDN'T.

Tim

You are right, I am not on the rules committee, but I DO know the reasoning because I DISCUSSED IT WITH SOME WHO IS! Did you?

I was also able to find this rather easily, which explains the thoughts behind the rule change.

http://bassfan.com/news_article.asp?ID=4146

[bassmaster]

You are right, I am not on the rules committee, but I DO know the reasoning because I DISCUSSED IT WITH SOME WHO IS! Did you?

I was also able to find this rather easily, which explains the thoughts behind the rule change.

http://bassfan.com/news_article.asp?ID=4146

OK you win You have reiterated my point, the rules committee made the rules which doesn't mean that all 100 anglers had a say in it. You said they couldn't get a different boat, I was just wondering why they couldn't just pull it there like they do any other rig. I'm sure SOME them can't get the high dollar electronics (Side imaging and Biosonix) BUT they didn't change any ruling on them. All I'm saying is that is seems that it's a double standard. If it's gonna be truly a TOTAL LEVEL playing field then give 'em all the same boats, same motors, same lures, same rods and reels, and the same electronics. I really don't care about their rules, I just think it's funny that the opinion of the rules committee seems to be portrayed as the opinion of ALL of them. It is good that Mark M feels the way he does about it. Let's see...fish out of the aluminum all year...or fish out of my 20 foot Skeeter....I would be like him and the others...fish out of my sponsors boat.

[Tim_T]

You have to have a rules committee, there is no way you can get all 100 anglers together and come to some consensus. Rules committees exist in all sports, the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball etc. Not all teams are represented. It may not be completely fair, but it is probably the fairest way they have.

[GrassRat]

This cold front probably hurt that bite.....A friend of a friend caught over 60
bass in a day on the A-Rig there just last week....and yes I saw pics.

A buddy and I went Sunday. It was my second time throwing the A-Rig. We actually tried a couple of other versions he brought with him. I can tell you that you still have to throw it where the fish are to catch them but when you do it is ridiculously easy. Too easy. Way too easy for the top anglers in the world. It's been years since I caught an 8lb bass. And even longer since I caught more than a few fish in the winter on any given trip. In 7 hours of fishing over two different days, both with east winds, I've watched the a-rig boat over 60 fish. And two of those were 8lbs. 15 or so were over 5lbs and half were over 4lbs. It must trigger some predator instinct or something. It is to bass' eyes what scent is to the nose or vibration is to the lateral line. But on a different level. Bass just can't help themselves.

Oh yes, and several were hooked by multiple baits, especially one five pounder that had all five hooks in it, one in the mouth and the rest in various places in it's body. It bled everywhere. That is a problem.

Nobody can know what this rig will do over the course of a full year. All we have is a best guess. My guess is, outside of flipping conditions in Florida and dirty water, all other techniques will become obsolete in the tournament game. There might not be another tournament north of Florida won on anything else, other than the BASS Elite Series. That might be a bit of a stretch but the point is, at any given time most of the fish are supended. That has been the hardest group of fish to target but usually the largest population of fish in a given body of water at any given time. The a-rig makes those fish bite. So much so, all traditional modern patterns and techniques could quickly become history. I share that opinion with many people.

Dave Lefebre and Randal Tharp's blogs on the FLW website say what I feel about the rig to a "t". There are guys who are pro-a-rig. That is their opinion and they are entitled. But every pro I've spoken to, some at the top of the game and some up-and-comers, feel it doesn't fit in the tournament scene. I agree with them. Some pros are pro-a-rig, sure, but they are in the minority.

Comparing the rig to nets, or long rods, or horsepower, or electronics (although they are getting close to being too much) or other non-presentations is apples to oranges. Those things don't catch fish. But the a-rig does. Better than anything ever cast. Too good for the tournament scene. One angler, one rod, one cast, one lure, one fish at a time. That is the spirt of the game.

For guys just out fun fishing, it's fine and if it's legal I have no problem with it for that purpose. But they won't do it much because when you lose one you lose $30 to $50 bucks a pop. And those suckers hang everything.