Alabama Rig all the rage among bass anglers
Updated: December 12, 2011, 13:33
The bass fishing community is forever in a state of change.
New baits, new techniques and methods of catching more and bigger fish are always the hot topic. The latest high tech reels, newest super line or the lightest or strongest specialty rod have become expected from the manufacturers almost monthly.
Certain standards prevail and many of the fads come and go as quickly as popularity dictates. Some new innovations join the ranks of baits that work well for many. Many of the hottest techniques are as old as the sport just reintroduced after many years or decades in some cases.
One “new” bait that is causing uproar in the bass fishing and tournament world has made an impact in recent months.
This miraculous bait is known as the Alabama Rig and is all the rage in bass angling and especially in the tournament circle. The basics of bass fishing include surface lures, crankbaits, spinners, and bottom bouncing baits such as jigs, Texas rigs or some other bottom crawling design.
The Alabama rig uses the more is better theory. The basic idea was borrowed from an old saltwater tactic.
The umbrella rig is or was formerly used to troll multiple baits behind a harness and is or has been successful for years. The rig worked extremely well on striped bass and bluefish.
The bass adaptation was introduced by Muscle Shoals, Ala., resident Andy Poss. After about a year of marketing and testing October rolled around and the meteoric rise in popularity began.
Major national tournaments were won using the “A-Rig” and by dramatic margins. Longtime bass pro Paul Elias of Mississippi won an event by a 17-pound margin and a total of over 102 pounds for 20 fish.
This kind of weight gets attention and for good reason, a five pound average is a winning weight at any level tournament. Elias had five swim baits attached to his A-Rig and alternated between retrieve speeds. Slow rolling the bait worked as well as shallow in the water column. A steady medium retrieve seemed to work best.
There is some controversy spreading with the popularity. Some states have laws banning such devices as the A-Rig. Tennessee outlawed the baits several years back to limit the number of hooks used on the devices.
This law was to protect striped bass as the bait hadn’t been applied to largemouth or smallmouth. Texas does not have a law that I am aware of restricting this type of bait. The shakeup doesn’t end with the lawfulness, the integrity question has been raised by some tournament anglers. To cap off the controversy the innovator has sold his rights to the bait to a major lure manufacturer. Lawsuits have been threatened over the patent infringement on knock offs of the bait.
However the controversy ends I can imagine a healthy market for East Texans once the late winter big bass season kicks into gear. Lakes should be getting much needed level increases with the recent rains and in just a few short weeks big stories should start circulating.
By: Chris Smith cksoutdoors@aol.com
