Umbrella Rig: Question for Experts such as Dave Stewart

[outdoorsman_33]

Ok Guys I need help. The last few years I hear tons about the A-Rig. I have bought a handful of 3 and 5 wire rigs but have yet to have any success. I have done a lot of research and basically found that they are good for suspending bass but that they are pretty simple to fish. Yet I have not been able to catch a single fish on them. i have thrown them right next to other boats that are fishing them and they catch fish and I dont. Needless to say I have very little confidence. I have some basic questions:

Does it seem like more baits are better?

What size of swim bait do you typically use for this time of year?

What size of jig head?

If I was fishing Kentucky lake this time of year should I be swimming it along the bottom or in the middle of the water column? etc

A little about my setup. I have been fishing them with braid on a 7.5 ft heavy action rod. I have been using the storm wildeye 3" swim shad baits in pearl on a Yum flash umbrella rig.

What am I missing? Thanks for your help in making me a more versatile angler.

[Basshunter82]

Use a larger different colored swim bait in the middle. Assuming your using a 5 bait rig. This gives them something to focus on. Most times them will swipe at it going for the middle one but get the outside baits.

[outdoorsman_33]

Use a larger different colored swim bait in the middle. Assuming your using a 5 bait rig. This gives them something to focus on. Most times them will swipe at it going for the middle one but get the outside baits.

What size of jig heads do you use?

[Basshunter82]

1/4 once on the outside and 1/2 once in the middle

[MagikSmallie]

1/4 once on the outside and 1/2 once in the middle

Might be a touch too heavy. One thing I have noticed is that the slower I retrieve the rig the more bites I get....Sometimes I get more bites when I'm making a little contact with the bottom. Sometimes I will even let the rig go to the bottom and slow....SLOW. roll it back bumping the bottom every now and then.

[dabassking]

1/4 once on the outside and 1/2 once in the middle

That could possibly be some of the problem. That seems a bit heavy for me. If I'm fishing deep water (20'+), I like two 1/4 oz heads on the bottom and then 1/8 on the other 3 heads. If I'm fishing shallower than that, I play around with either all 1/8 or a combo of 1/8 and no weights.

Fishing with lighter weights lets me slow the rig down and that's how I like to fish it. Some people may have other ideas that work for them, though.

As far as swimbait sizes, I like 3-4" on the outsides and a 5" in the middle that is a slightly different color than the other 4. They fish really seem to key in on that middle bait. For this reason, I use belly weighted swimbait hooks on the outside baits and an open hook jig head on the middle one. That keeps it a little more snag resistance around brush and timber.

[outdoorsman_33]

That could possibly be some of the problem. That seems a bit heavy for me. If I'm fishing deep water (20'+), I like two 1/4 oz heads on the bottom and then 1/8 on the other 3 heads. If I'm fishing shallower than that, I play around with either all 1/8 or a combo of 1/8 and no weights.

Fishing with lighter weights lets me slow the rig down and that's how I like to fish it. Some people may have other ideas that work for them, though.

As far as swimbait sizes, I like 3-4" on the outsides and a 5" in the middle that is a slightly different color than the other 4. They fish really seem to key in on that middle bait. For this reason, I use belly weighted swimbait hooks on the outside baits and an open hook jig head on the middle one. That keeps it a little more snag resistance around brush and timber.

Awesome! Thanks this was the type of information that I was looking for.

[Dave Stewart]

I prefer 1/8 ounce heads but also will put 1/4 ounce on bottom leads if going deep. I prefer a slow roll near cover. 4" baits work for me....will many times dye tail of center baits chartreuse to make it a little different. Works for me.

Dave

[chadmack282]

I prefer 1/8 ounce heads but also will put 1/4 ounce on bottom leads if going deep. I prefer a slow roll near cover. 4" baits work for me....will many times dye tail of center baits chartreuse to make it a little different. Works for me.

Dave

the Man has spoken!