The A-Rig for Smallies

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Phil Mehrtens on December 18, 2011 at 6:49pm

You will probably smoke em!

Permalink Reply by Phil Mehrtens on December 18, 2011 at 6:52pm

Did ya see the utube vid breakin it down with the structure scan?

Permalink Reply by Tag Watson on December 18, 2011 at 8:39pm

A few weeks ago I had a chance to spend a little time from shore experimenting with a prototype 3-wire version rigged with three Swimmers.  I wanted to check out the action and dial in the wire configuration/spacing.  It looks phenomenal in the water and will inevitably get hammered with the right presentation and timing.   

Tip:  Anyone planning on giving this rig a serious go next season should spend plenty of time in the gym between now and Spring.  At least stretching and strengthening your rotator cuffs.

 

To hook smallmouth and keep them buttoned up well, you're going to want to use a rod that isn't too stiff and loads pretty well a ways down the blank.  Consequently, this rig takes some major effort to cast a long ways.  Trust me, a long cast is one of the most important factors in swimbait success for smallmouth.  If you are forced to throw this rig into a headwind, you're going to have to put some mustard behind it to get it out there a ways. 

The Lamiglas 7'11" 6-Power Excel feels like it will be a perfect rod for this rig.  It has a ton of backbone, plenty of length and an ideal action in the tip section.       

Permalink Reply by David Parnicky on December 19, 2011 at 12:01am

  Since ours is different (3 arms instead of 5) than the actual Alabama rig can we rename it the W-rig?  Tag's comment made me wonder about how epic of a backlash someone could get trying to launch one of these into a strong headwind!  I bet there will be some good ones!

  Schooling smallmouth that are feeding heavily on open water baitfish will go crazy for whatever version of this rig you are throwing I am sure.  They seem to grab any baitfish they can find under these situations so the more baits you have out at once, the better your odds are in my opinion.  As good as mimicking a school of fish seems to be, I do think there is something to be said about mimicking one individual baitfish that is injured and/or has something wrong with it and that presents an easy meal to a smallmouth (or largemouth, spotted bass or any other kind of bass or predator for that matter).  I think the injured/easy meal can appeal to less active and sometimes larger fish at times too and my guess is that the Alabama rig probably doesn't do a great job of presenting that injured/easy meal.  I have never used it though so I could be way off base.  Just a thought.

Permalink Reply by Tag Watson on December 19, 2011 at 6:00am

Hey David,

 

I was in Southern California last week and they have nicknamed their legal 3-wire version the Calibama Rig. 

 

As far as the potential backlash goes, you are right that there will be some doozies for those who don't have their magnetics and/or brakes adjusted properly.  I also predict a handful of folks will try to use too light of line and cast this rig off.  SNAP..................................Splooooosh!  Bye-bye $30 worth of tackle.    
 
David Parnicky said:

  Since ours is different (3 arms instead of 5) than the actual Alabama rig can we rename it the W-rig?  Tag's comment made me wonder about how epic of a backlash someone could get trying to launch one of these into a strong headwind!  I bet there will be some good ones!

  Schooling smallmouth that are feeding heavily on open water baitfish will go crazy for whatever version of this rig you are throwing I am sure.  They seem to grab any baitfish they can find under these situations so the more baits you have out at once, the better your odds are in my opinion.  As good as mimicking a school of fish seems to be, I do think there is something to be said about mimicking one individual baitfish that is injured and/or has something wrong with it and that presents an easy meal to a smallmouth (or largemouth, spotted bass or any other kind of bass or predator for that matter).  I think the injured/easy meal can appeal to less active and sometimes larger fish at times too and my guess is that the Alabama rig probably doesn't do a great job of presenting that injured/easy meal.  I have never used it though so I could be way off base.  Just a thought.

Permalink Reply by Marc Marcantonio on December 19, 2011 at 10:09am

Snags may be a bigger problem than backlashes; knowing how Washington anglers like to drag instead of cast...just sayin'.

Permalink Reply by Tag Watson on December 19, 2011 at 10:27am

Amen...

Marc Marcantonio said:

Snags may be a bigger problem than backlashes; knowing how Washington anglers like to drag instead of cast...just sayin'.

Permalink Reply by BigBass Dez on December 20, 2011 at 3:00pm

I really dont get why this rig is gaining sooo much hype , im not so easily sold to be honest !!

This rig may have a new name and few new improvements , however the rig itself has been around for a long time mostly used in saltwater ..

My question to all is what is the advantage of using this rig instead of simply running three baits on my main line at any giving time ? i.e swimbaits , spinnerbaits ,soft plastic

 

thats my thoughts on the topic !! 

Permalink Reply by Phil Mehrtens on December 20, 2011 at 3:24pm

WORD my vairy good friend!

Permalink Reply by Jerry on December 20, 2011 at 10:00pm

Bass fishing evolution...like it or not

Permalink Reply by Phil Mehrtens on December 21, 2011 at 7:57am

You are what dey call a vairy fat fool from de old school !
 
Clif Kincaid said:

I just won't use it. For fun I throw big swimbait instead. Usually pitching a jig. Ill keep it old school and fish 1 lure 1 rod 1 line.

Permalink Reply by BigBass Dez on December 21, 2011 at 8:41am

I hear ya Brian and i dont dout that the rig can entice a reaction strike in that situation , My thing is that would Yuske have been able to get the same results by running  3~4 of those same baits on his main line are my thoughts ? 

The overall appeal  factor of this rig is the fact that anglers can run Multiple baits right ? Well keep in mind that the bass are reacting too the baits (Not the rig) .

Here in washington , the laws state that we are only able to run 3 hooks on our main line at one time ,So do we really "Need " The A-Rig  in order to get the same results ? 

I personly have yet to witness any angler running more than 2 hooks with 2 baits on there main line with there baits of choice , but i find it hard too believe that if an angler wanted to add a 3rd bait that he/she would require one  of these rigs in order to get the same results of the A-rig ...  hmmm

 

Dez "The Sophomore"

Panic Minnow said:

I had a chance to talk to Yusuke (BASS Elite) about this rig, and he and Takahiro Omori have been using it with incredible results. They are fishing in Texas and the fish really react to it when they are "done" reacting to other lures. They will fish thru an area with crankbaits, then slow down and fish it with jigs / plastics and get 1 or 2 fish total. Then they fish right back thru the area and get 7 fish in 7 casts. They are casting them, with 60# braid mainline, and have the 5 baits on them.

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