Umbrella rig(s) ?

Micheal · #1 04/05/12, 06:43 AM

In the latest issue of Bass Master there is an article that touts 27 different types (manufacturers) of the darn things. Range in cost $13 - $30 for a 5 arm one and $9 and up for a 3 arm model and that is just the rig, added lures/bait/etc not included.......
So a couple general questions:

Are they legal in your state?
Here in NY supposedly you can use up to 5 single hooks on the same active line. Therefore yes they are legal, but a word of caution has been put out that there are local rules that say 5 hooks are a no-no.........

Ever use one?
Closest I've come is I saw one.....

Better yet do you have the rod/reel/line to be able to fish with an umbrella rig?
I would have to answer NO - because mainly being a trout fisherman I don't have rod nor line that could handle the possiblity of pulling in 5 large fish at one time; let alone throwing that much lure weight out there........

big rockpile · #2 04/05/12, 07:49 AM

Ok right off I'm thinking they have been Outlawed for Tournament use.Here in Missouri we can only Bait 3 Hooks.

I would use Medium Heavy Rods with Light Tip,just for normal pull through whatever,doubt you will hook 5 fish at once more like 2.

big rockpile

Bearfootfarm · #3 04/05/12, 10:49 AM

Just throw dollar bills in the water, because that's what you'll be doing every time those rigs get hung up on something

Micheal · #4 04/06/12, 05:06 AM

For those that don't know what an "umbrella rig" also known as an "Alabama rig" is:
The orginal is - 5 (1/8 oz) jigs tipped with swimbaits (plastics) that are attached to a (5 wire) wire harness (picture the ribs on an umbrella). With a simple cast-and-retrieve the plastics swim in tandem to imitate a school of shad.

It was 1st used last Oct in a FLW tour event on Lake Guntersville. Bass pro Paul Elias's winning effort brought in over 102 pounds of bass in 4 days. This is what his 5 fish a day limit weighed in, not what he caught (which was more). A week later it was used to win another FLW event on Kentucky Lake

Tackle used by one of the pros to fish it:
7'4" med-heavy swimbait rod.
bait casting reel.
80 pound braid (line)

In Jan 2012 BASS outlawed it in their Elite and Classic tournaments and it has been declared illegal in some states..........