The Alabama Rig

[SAMBOLIE]

Originally Posted by MNfisher

Man! This is all way over my head. I just moved here 7 months ago from MN where you are only allowed to use one rod per angler and on that rod you may only have one "lure". Which is either a single hook, or a treble hook which has to have a spinner on it or attached to a artificial bait to be legal.

Also it is absolutely illegal to cull. Once a fish is reduced to "possession" it is illegal to release back in to the wild(the only exception is catch and release tournaments with live weigh ins). Also if you have your limit in the livewell or basket or stringer. You can no longer fish for that species because if you catch another one and it is in your hands and you also have your limit in your livewell. Well you are now one over your limit! I have known people who have been ticketed for that! It is crazy how liberal the laws are down here compared to MN!

The fact that you can use more than one line to me is more than enough. Why would you want to have multiple lures on one line!! Just my comparison to what i have had to fish with my life in MN.

I'll bet MN did not allow explosives as bait either. Welcome to the south.

[Travis C.]

I have seen bunches to fly-by-the-night lures come up over the years and about every top pro has or had some silly looking lure that they endorsed at one time. From the flying lure, helicopter lure to banjo minnow this though is a completely different animal and an unfair advantage to those who don't have it on tour. It's not like when the Strike King Series 6XD or Red Eye Shad came out and was/is tearing up certain lakes. Anyone can get them and everyone had them in the boat regardless of sponsorship. This is only one place tha makes them and can easily make it hard to get for certain people not to mention the ethical or regulations surrounding the bait.

KVD has a lure setup he developed that is not similiar but in the ballpark called a Double Zulu Rig. Its a very heavy line to a barrel swivel then 18" leader to a soft shad above the barrel swivel is a free floating barrel swivel and a 12" leader tied to it with soft shad.

Its two hooks and absolutely crazy coming through the water looking like shad scattering when chased by something.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F21Ss3moZU

[Travis C.]

One thing that can be certain with this rig is ALOT of the big tackle manufacturers are watching it closely if not already in the works of their own.

[MNfisher]

Originally Posted by SAMBOLIE

I'll bet MN did not allow explosives as bait either. Welcome to the south.

No doubt!! Trot lines! Jug fishing!! All illegal in MN! Its a whole new world to me down here! Anyone want to take me jug fishing! HAHA!

[Jim]

I don't think it is too big of a deal. It will definitely work in specific situations like most lures. I have been tinkering with a very similar lure for fall fishing on OH for the past couple years. Big difference is the TN regulations so the design is different.

During the fall, the bass chase shad on the flats and you need something that looks like a school of bait to get some attention. My long time go to bait of a double white crappie jig does the same thing, but the alabama rig is better designed to use with bass sized lures.

A couple draw backs with this lure. One it will be snaggy so when bass are not out chasing it will be a poor choice, plus it will be expensive when you lose it. Two, it will be overkill with the tackle for typical bass, so while you will catch some it wont be very fun. Maybe good for a tournament, but not sure I would want to do this all the time.

It will be a white/striped bass killer. That is what I would use it for mostly, as they really go after shad schools hard.

I doubt it will effect fishing as much as the new electronics do. They really change the biggest problem in fishing which is finding them first. If you are on lots of fish, there are multiple ways to catch them. The alabama rig will be a good choice in some of those situations.

My 2 cents
Jim

[Jim]

Originally Posted by MNfisher

No doubt!! Trot lines! Jug fishing!! All illegal in MN! Its a whole new world to me down here! Anyone want to take me jug fishing! HAHA!

I would be glad to take you jug fishing some time. There is an art to it, just like any other fishing. Plus it is a really cool method to understand how fish are moving across a big open flat. I have probably learned more about catfish with jugs then any other method.

It is amazing how many 5 to 15 lb catfish are feeding in shallow water during the middle of the day. People always say you need to catfish at night, but why when they bite great at noon

Plus it is great for supplying a fish fry party!

Jim

Now back to the Alabama rig discussion....I think the LSU rig beats it by 7

[bd-]

Originally Posted by MNfisher

No doubt!! Trot lines! Jug fishing!! All illegal in MN! Its a whole new world to me down here! Anyone want to take me jug fishing! HAHA!

I went fishing one morning last July in Barton's Creek, and there was a group of several boats working together that must have had 500 or more jugs out. There were jugs all the way from the back end of the creek all the way out to the main river channel, plus several jugs in the back of nearly every cove. I've never seen anything like it. Who needs that many catfish???

bd

[Jim]

Originally Posted by bd-

I went fishing one morning last July in Barton's Creek, and there was a group of several boats working together that must have had 500 or more jugs out. There were jugs all the way from the back end of the creek all the way out to the main river channel, plus several jugs in the back of nearly every cove. I've never seen anything like it. Who needs that many catfish???

bd

There are always people with no morals....

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by Jim

Now back to the Alabama rig discussion....I think the LSU rig beats it by 7

I am looking forward to seeing how that plays out. No dog in the hunt for me just good old fashioned laying on the couch watching football.

[txnative]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim
Now back to the Alabama rig discussion....I think the LSU rig beats it by 7



I'm with you, Jim. All hail the Mad Hatter!


Chris

[Travis C.]

Well here is an interesting stat.

FLW Walmart series on Guntersville 10/23
Elias won $100,000 using this rig

FLW EverStart Championship series on KY Lake this past weekend
Morehead won $50,000 using this rig.

Not to mention the other guys in the top 10 at least half were using it.

[Alphahawk]

Originally Posted by Travis C.

Well here is an interesting stat.

FLW Walmart series on Guntersville 10/23
Elias won $100,000 using this rig

FLW EverStart Championship series on KY Lake this past weekend
Morehead won $50,000 using this rig.

Not to mention the other guys in the top 10 at least half were using it.

It is also interesting that TWRA has a post about it on their web site.



http://www.tn.gov/twra/