Umbrella rigs. Love them or hate them, you can’t deny that they are incredibly effective, which is why they are still one of the most popular inshore trolling weapons in existence. Rain or shine, always keep an umbrella on your boat!
In this post
When would you use an umbrella rig?
The best places to throw an umbrella rig are where the bass are feeding on shad, and seasonally the best times are in the cold water seasons of spring and fall.
Can you troll with a Alabama rig?
A smaller first cousin to the saltwater umbrella rig, Alabama Rigs can be trolled, and cast and retrieved, from just under the surface, to mid-depth, all the way down to right along the bottom.
What is the best bait for an umbrella rig?
For baits, almost any swimbait will work, and small fluke-style baits can be good too. The best swimbait heads for umbrella rigs are usually light, around 1/8- or 1/16-ounce, but they should have a stout enough hook to match with the tackle you’re using.
How fast do you troll an umbrella rig?
At typical trolling speeds of two to four knots, you can figure on one foot of depth for every ten feet of wire in the water. For example, letting out 200 feet of wire will put the rig at 20 feet. It’s a simple and accurate way of presenting umbrellas to deep-holding fish.
What states are umbrella rigs illegal?
States in which an Alabama rig with three hooks or more is considered illegal include New Hampshire, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Massachusetts, Nevada, Vermont and Maryland.
How many hooks can you have on an umbrella rig in Texas?
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia all have a 5 hook or no limit for Alabama rigs. Visit our Alabama rig guide for fishing & rigging tips.
How many hooks can you have on an umbrella rig in California?
three hooks
For instance, California fish and game law prohibits the use of more than three hooks, so the five-hook, Alabama Rig is illegal here.
What size hooks for umbrella rig?
Most states allow 3 or 5 hooks while some have no restrictions at all. Your state’s limit will determine how you set up your umbrella rig. You can find your state’s laws by following the link above. The most common a-rig setup for bass is 5 wires.
What’s an Alabama rig?
The Alabama rig is not a lure, but a device that allows an angler to deliver multiple lures on a single cast. The “Alabama rig” devised by Andy Poss and sold at TheAlabamaRig.com is simply a castable “umbrella” rig.
How far behind a boat should you troll?
First, a disclaimer: As with everything in fishing this is not an exact science, but a rule of thumb you can used when setting your lines to help make a better judgment as to where those lures are running is the “Rule of Fives.” When trolling at five mph, with 50 pound test line and five ounces of weight, set to 50
What is the ideal trolling speed?
In general, trolling speeds between 1.5 and 2.5 mph, as measured by GPS, are a good starting place for most species like walleye, trout and salmon.
How fast should I troll for stripers?
According to the Fishaholics, when fish are less active, the ideal speed is about 2.0 to 2.5 mph. When the fish does not bite, or the bite is tough, it is better to go below to 2.0 mph. However, if striped basses are active, you can opt for a higher speed between 2.5 and 3.5 mph.
Who invented the umbrella fishing rig?
Andy Poss
Its inventor, Andy Poss, dreamed up the device, which he called the Alabama Rig, while watching a tuna chasing a school of sardines on “The Blue Planet,” a BBC documentary series. In July 2011, he built his first prototype by hand in his garage in Muscle Shoals, Ala., and he spent nearly 17 months perfecting it.
Why are a rigs banned?
Basically, B.A.S.S. said the Alabama Rigs make it too easy for the pro anglers to catch fish. The Elite Series Rules Committee members “believe the rig eliminates some of the skill that should be required in tournament competition at the highest level,” according to the B.A.S.S.
Is it illegal to fish a Alabama rig?
Anglers should be aware that the “Alabama rig” (seen at right) as it was designed to be used, is illegal in New Hampshire fresh waters. This tackle generated national interest following a well-publicized win by a professional bass angler using it in a major bass tournament in another state in October of 2011.
What water temp is best for Alabama rig?
You hear very little about the Alabama rig today but it still catches fish in circumstances where the water temperature is between 40 and 60 degrees and is really effective when fish are suspended beneath baitfish.
Is braided fishing line good for trolling?
Braid is great for trolling but since it has very little stretch we recommend using a wind-on-leader or mono tophsot. We recommend using 30-130Lb braid as backing for trolling reels. Make sure any reel you spool on your trolling reels is spooled on tight!
How much line do you put out when trolling?
2. Stagger your lines’ distances from the boat. Trolling with four, five, or 10 lines at the same distance behind the boat is never a good move. The distance your lines are set should range widely, to cover as much water as possible.
How do I make my lures deeper when trolling?
If you need to go deeper, just let out some backing until your target depth is reached. On the lure end of the line, remove a short section of lead as before and tie on a size 18, or smaller, barrel swivel. Now use a 10 to 15 foot mono or fluorocarbon leader to tie on the lure.