I genuinely enjoyed you airing your frustrations LoL. This was funny. It's not very often we see you get wound up. Makes you really appreciate the simplicity of a jig!
Regarding reason #2: My #1 rule in the boat is that if anything can get tangled, snagged, wrapped around, or otherwise macramed around something else, IT WILL. ALWAYS. Adding multiple hooks just makes it exponentially more likely to happen sooner.
Ive lost a $25.00 Hog Farmer A-Rig on Table Rock on wood. Hard pill to swallow but man they are killer when things go right. I'll be throw one next week there in spite of potential lose. I do understand your comments.
I went all in after watching some Tactical Bassin vids on exactly how to set them up. First time I fished my $50 Hogfarmer I snagged a 5' branch. Luckily I got it back. Next cast I caught a 6lber. Not long after that I was using it in choppy water. So choppy I didn't see a log floating in the chop. I got hung up on that and snapped my line. While rigging up a new one it got so hung up in my carpet I had to cut it out and left a bare spot in the carpet so I gave up. They do catch fish obviously but jeez what a hassle.
Matt, Great video! I agree, the A rigs catch everything in the boat: rods, ankles, clothing, seats, etc. Here's the solution: 1. Long term storage, a zip tie. 2. During a tournament, I use a black metal clip binder (works great) to keep the Alabama rig together. Take care and wish you a speedy recovery.
Bruh, just put a split ring over all the arms up by the head, slide the split ring up when using, slide the split ring down to fold it up when not in use.
I have fished an A-rig for the last 5 years. I have not even gotten a nibble when fishing the lure. I know there is probably some user error going on, but not that much. I have it tied on right now, but like Matt said, it’s a heavy lure and after about 10 casts and no bites, I have no problem putting it down. I feel it’s not a lure for the common fisherman. Pros do well with it, but that does not move me . If anything it’s more discouraging because I’m not getting anything with it. Go figure??
Good points raised. I put one together and was shocked at how expensive it was. Then, the first trip out, it got snagged and broke the line. Tough lesson.
I really don't have a position on banning them in tournaments- I've never fished enough tournaments to have enough information to really form an opinion on that. But- I absolutely concur that they are a royal pain in the ass to rig, store, and fish. Me and my brother decided couple seasons back, no more A rigs- they cause too much stress and we're fishing for enjoyment. That said- as far as being "too good"- not in my hands. I can strike out with an A rig like no one else- I'm a professional at getting skunked. I've got it down to a fine art it would seem.
Those rigs might be awesome for trolling. Tuna fisherman use bigger versions offshore. I guess trolling for bass isn't very popular but the A rig should be good for it.
Thanks Matt. No really tells how you feel. I was out with a back injury during the A-rig debates but I would think FF sonar and a A-rig would be almost like cheating. Fisherman will wear out quick using an A-rig as a search bait but if they are looking at the fish that's different.
That was my first thought, A-rigs and FFS. Personally I feel A-rids, ffs, L.S and 360 should not be in the Terns, it completely eliminates skill and the actual competition aspect of it. I made a comment the other day that FFS is the same as military equipment and the Bass are not a threat.
I think you should try the new Hog Farmer Tactical Mini A-rig. Comes with owner csp screelocks and swivels. Finesse approach with 2.8 and 3.3 swimbaits.
Actually just got my 1st rig. I just came out of Dicks S.G 10 mins ago with the 6th Sense Divine A-rig for haha's to play around with. I'm accident prone so this will be an adventure. If it has hooks that's what it will do...
@@MattStefanFishing Thanks Matt! Gonna give a shot tomorrow to see how it casts and runs. I have a 6th Sense Team6 7'9" xh 1-4oz, hope it can handles it. I have it rigged with 1/4oz VMC's, 4 Keitech 4.8 and 1 Divine 4.4.
AHHHHH the A-Rig. Never used it and never will for all the reasons you stated especially for us old guys with serious shoulder issues. Definetly ban them along with FF monitors.
The easiest way I've found to store them is to wrap a pipe cleaner around them. Only takes a couple seconds to put it on or take it off and stops them from getting tangled on everything
I've got a couple of them. I've thrown one of them once... in the last 5 or so years. And I still catch fish. BANNED! (for tourneys. fun fishing... have fun!)
I don't really care if these rigs are banned from professional tourneys or not. As long as the rules are the same for everyone, it doesn't really matter to me. But regardless of whether you were joking a bit (or a lot) about all the problems with Alabama rigs, I agree with every single point you made. I fish for fun and relaxation, and these things are absolutely the most annoying and frustrating piece of tackle I've ever used. I'm not sure I would use one if I were guaranteed to catch a fish with each cast ;-).
haha! well i wasnt really joking about any of my points. they all drive me nuts while fishing with them. I was more being sarcastic that they should be banned just because I dont like them so I dont have to deal with them.
Zman Quadzilla is a good Alabama Rig substitute. And I believe it should be allowed in tournaments. They hit the American market for a very short time then moved them to the Australian market.
Two questions about fishing A-Rig; Can you fish it on straight braid? Do you use a snap and swivel to attach the rig to your line to prevent line twist? Thanks
🍺🤔….the buzz bait and chatterbaits were once considered “radical”. We now have extremely “fast”boats, more sensitive rods, sharper hooks, invisible line, digital controlled reels, titanium guides, air brushed paint, baits that look real, and of course FFS to name a few. The decision makers played the “we listen to our anglers” card in the past about the “A rig” by saying 2/3rds of our pros wanted it banned, but them listening to the anglers is 🤬 because bigger percentages then that want catch/weigh/release, no tournaments during the spawn, and of course a bigger piece of the 🤑 money pie today and they are not listening. So banning a multi armed bait that can only be effective at certain times and in certain places is not the decision I personally would have made. It doesn’t come close to the “gives the angler an unfair advantage” criteria we are told is the gold standard for making these type of decisions compared to other things that are allowed. What’s next… no max scent, no tungsten, etc. Slippery slope be careful. 🤠
For the record the anglers are never given a decision to allow or ban a lure. It may be portayed that way but its not accurate. I was really just poking fun at the idea of banning anything. I agree with you that banning anything inside or outside of fishing sets a precedence that can be hard to overcome at times.
I think the big pro circuits should ban not only a 5 lures in one rig, but also anything but basic sonar and GPS or sound devices that mimic baitfish. Let's see how good the pros are like Clunn or Hibdon were back in the day without waypoints and imaging.
Detected no sarcasm!! I've never used one and every point you made, I already assumed they'd be a pain in the butt!! Thanks for confirming!! Good stuff Matt!!
Come on out to CA where EVERYONE throws them all winter and spring. Thankfully fish have gotten used to seeing them and a lot of times something else catches them better and it's not always the top bait of a tournament
I gave up the umbrella rig years ago. Like livescope...its just not fun having that much of an advantage and they both take the skill and experience factor out of it.
We'll throw them on the Utah side of Powell sometimes because you can use 3 hooks instead of 2 but it's usually with something like dark sleepers or Texas worms. This is just casual fishing though.
83% seems pretty specific. 😂😂 I’ve never used them once in my life. Up here we have a 4 hook law, so they are legal to use. I just never got around to using one.
Matt, you are Fantastic and I'm pretty sure I understand sarcasm, but, WTF. 2 Points: 1. Lines get drawn somewhere...Why do we limit live bait, multiple poles, trolling, etc. You can certainly argue that an A-Rig doesn't rise to the same level but that is part of the conversation. If this point's absence is the sarcasm, clearly most of the commenter are missing it. Point 2. This is NOT directed at you, but as I read the comments of RU-vid fishing videos, I am stunned by the level of disregard for managing fisheries. I'm not a fisheries biologist, so maybe our bass fisheries are boundless. Catch and Release is not some silver bullet either. If that is the case then it would be nice if the people fishing beds or using the latest sonar or A-rings would stop whining about pressure on their fisheries. Pick a lane.
i dont disagree. fisheries management is needed and is occurring at the state level. For example Wisconsin limits you to only three hooks on an A rig because an angler is only allowed three lines at one time. But other states have zero limits. So i think it needs to be addressed at the state level. Some do it very well, or almost to well ( minnesota is one hook on an A-rig...but jerkbaits can have three trebles???) in terms of limiting anglers, while others feel like the wild west. The video was more just allowing me to vent and have some fun at why i dont like A rigs and that they cause a mess in my boat for me versus whether or not they should truly be banned.
For as much tackle and as much fishing as I do, believe it or not I have never fished the A-rig any at all but looking at your points I can really see the down side of that rig... maybe one day I'll get one but here in Ohio we are only able to use two hooks I believe on the rig and never really thought about setting one up for just two hooks.... great video Matt!
Ive never fished one and never will. I really liked your humor and "fire" in this video. I dont like the fact that if it gets broke off it presents a danger to wildlife and swimmers around docks.
I would have to agree with you, & you think they take up a lot room on your bass boat, try a 12' kayak! If I do have any A-rigs with me I only carry 2, a bladed & non bladed. I tend to toss them in back deck of my kayak behind my crate. If I don't have one tied on. But then it's very annoying to reach back & grab if I do want it. Half time the get tangled in my crate or rods. I know their annoying but they do definitely catch some decent fish! It makes it worth it to carry them at times for that reason alone. As far as for tournaments, I think they shouldn't be allowed because of multiple hooks!
“… 6” & 7” swim baits…” on an A rig? No wonder your arms hurt … lol. When I was running my offshore charter business we always put out an umbrella rig of 10” plastic squid on a 250lb wire leader with a 2 lb lead trolling weight run about 30’ off the transom as a teaser. When a marlin would come up on the teaser it was the Nate’s job to pull in the teaser to the near short flare line and yank it away so the marlin would more on the trolled bait instead …
They should not be banned. They are just another tool, and, as many have stated in the comments below, just because you throw them does not mean you automatically catch fish. The fish have seen a million of these things so it's just another technique that has its moment under the right conditions. Everything you said about how frustrating they can be to rig and store is true but that's still no reason to ban them. Every angler should make his or her own decision about whether or not to throw them, not the tournament trails.
I keep a rigged rod and a shoe box with 2 rigged A Rigs in my garage. If I’m going to fish the A Rig I put that one rod on the deck. When I am done I cut the bait off and put it away. They suck and I mostly use one for Rock Fish in tidal water the way God intended, lol.
Yeah I've been on the record for ever reason you just listed. At sixty eight it's just too much on these bones. Infact I had four still in their packages and passed them out to other anglers! My problem solved and won't go back.
The struggle is real!! I do not think they should be banned. Like other baits, it is your choice to use them. They are just another tool in the arsenal. As for storage, I bought a bunch of the tubes that Shane's baits come in. I rig them and slide them into the tubes. They fit nicely in a 3700-deep box. Ready to be tied on.
Ban those damn things…lol!!! I agree totally with you about this bait, they are like magnets to metal on getting hung up on everything, as you can tell I do not like them at all!!! Thanks for the true sarcasm, it was really funny!!!
Id agree with you based on cost factor alone as I am already spending to much as it is I shy away from the $12-$15+ each crank bates now and the odds Id loose them are much lower than this rig I just have to draw the line on spending money on fishing gear somewhere Especially now both my sons are genuinely committed to becoming good fisherman using soft platics I just spent over $250 on five different styles of worms in 5 different sizes, in at least 5 different colored versions along with three different jig head styles in three different weights along with both offset and EWG hooks along with hooks for a Wackey rig application and straight shanked worm hooks with keepers in 2 different sizes and I bought three different manufacturers creature baits each in two differnt sized and each in three different colors and this is not counting all the different hook types for soft plastics I already have and all the soft platic worms I already have and lastly add to the cost I bought both my sons each two rod and reel set ups one featuring 10lb yellow braid and one 12lb floro to fish soft plastics on top of specialized bait caster rigs they already have for other fishing applications lastly I also spent a considerable amount of money on the terminal tackle for drop shot rigs along with soft plastic flukes AND this year really gave $$fluorocarbon$$ a try And I bought the tackle and SP's needed to give a Ned rig a try as I live close to lake Michigan and excellent smallmouth fishing I bought all this based on yours and my two other favorite how to fish (specifically Matt Stephan, and Nathan Quince) content creators recommendations But NOT before I bought a very limited number of SP worms and creature baits rigged and fished them as you (and two other's) advised and my sons and I definitely experienced an increase in fishing success especially just recently fishing with 10" worms My son caught his first bass ever on a soft plastic using the 10" worm you suggested and it was also his biggest bass to date I simply cannot afford to buy every luer out there but especially not ones that cost $35-$40 each that I have a 80% or better chance of snagging and loosing Undoubtedly our fishing success has increased solely due to trying the soft plastics you recommend as well as fishing them as you described So I buy as much as I can from your sponsor as a way to say thanks. Thank you for providing Excellent honest content
Great vid my bro… If your talking (or we) banning the A-rig? Then they should be pulled off all the shelves Academy Bass Pro etc even your favorite bait shop.. As far as taking up too much room as you have indicated.. Then there is the possible cheating scenario.. Now I wanna speak about it that one.. I have taught me to fish and how to fish.. Everything from weights to hooks to line knots lures spinnerbaits worms creatures my list goes on.. I think I’m my own opinion.. This contraption should be banned.. Off store shelves straight down to the tackle box.. Banned/ Barred.. Seeing your vids and others as well.. This is taking the skill out of fishing.. I work I work hard… Especially when it comes to bass fishing.. Thank you for your time on this product giving your choice of views on such RU-vid material.. I just wanna say to you.. Tight Lines God Bless Amen.. And don’t forget to keep on releasing those back home to fight another day.. Amen To All…❤
They're ok for fun fishing if you go in with the mindset that there's a good chance you are throwing away $30-40, but there's a possibility of catching doubles. I don't throw it as often since my failed back surgery, to much twisting on the spine. I think it should be allowed, just because it really can't do anything more than active target does in a sense, it's just another "tool" in the anglers toolbox, if they use it or not, should be up to them.
My first time here. And I agree 💯 in our club events we have a gentleman’s agreement that we won’t throw a Alabama Rig. I absolutely hate a A rig. But like you said they will flat out catch fish. But not worth the aggravation for me. If we was fishing for big money then maybe. But I hate them
Yea, the pro circuit is a greedy racket. They can afford to pay anglers millions in payout, but they're only into making money. What they should do is take some money from the sponsors/advertisers and add it to the payout. Our sport can grow to the point of NBA, NFL, and Major League. Too bad the organizers suck.
I think there is nothing wrong with them being used because if your going to ban the A rig it’s only a matter of time before other things like Ned rigs and dropshots
Funny video and I agree with you on your thoughts. When I fish with one it's the only thing I'm doing. But I'm just fun fishing. I would not be upset about the ban on the A rig. It is called a A-rig for a reason. 😁
The dummie rig speaks for itself! Does it work? Absolutely! I’ve been part of the dummie craze in the past! When the bite got tough chase the winded points and lob the “Christmas tree” around. Combine it with FFS then you have the ultimate dummie combination! Damn I miss the days of yesteryear when fishing was FISHING!
I don't care if tournaments ban them or not, because I don't fish tournaments. However, I agree that they suck for all the reasons mentioned and more... The A-Rig sucks at everything except catching fish. I won't use them.
Doesn’t matter how much it cost, crank baits are $10 or more, there are ways to store it without complications, no reason to complain about pain, because there is so many others that have it worse, than us, but I wander why I cry when I 😢feel pain, lol, but I don’t think they should be ban, but livescope should be ban because it will cause more pain on the body or at the weigh in. 😅
Wow!! I know what gets you fired up, Matt!! Lol!! Have U ever looked @ Shanes Baits? They make A-Rigs. If U break an arm off, U can replace it & keep fishing. 2ndly, I keep mine in a very narrow drink bottle & it works Great! Just saying. All to say that @ the right time of year, the A-Rig can be Awesome. Whether they are banned or not.. Keep up the Great Videos!!
I was nervous when I saw the title that you were drinking some RB Cool-Aid! 🤣 Great video! I agree, although great fish catchers, they're a pain in the neck!
I think spinning rods are a pain in the butt. They tangle up with each other in the rod box. Rod sleeves would help but they’re a pain also. Baitcasters rarely tangle if you do the line twist around the guide trick.
I watch all these bass fishing videos to learn pointers, but I yet to have a pro or amateur explain how every time I open my plano, reach for one lure but instead pull five to fifteen lures out with every hook going through every split ring, hook loop and lure tie on point. I then spend the next hour trying to solve the unwrap puzzle without bleeding to death from hook stabs that is more damnimg than the puzzle cube from the movie Hellraiser. Man, fishing is supposed to be relaxing.
OK, but, you know now what you have to do? Now you have to sit there and think, what defines an alabama rig and how close can i get to that without technically throwing one, since you know everyone else will just pick up something different
If they allow forward facing sonar then they should allow the A-Rig as long as state rules are followed regarding number of hooks. I don’t see how the A-Rig is more of an advantage than FFS.
my video was sarcastic and only had to do with reasons why I dont like them and nothing to do with if they should be banned because they work to well at catching fish.
this video was sarcasm as i referenced at the end. I want to ban the A-rig simple because I dont like them. I didnt give one legitimate reason to ban them other than they drive me nuts and if they ban them I dont have to deal with them.
If u gonna let them use live scope, to win torneys, then Alabama rig should be allowed. All four reasons are personal reasons. Have to say Matt, 3 of 5 could be taken care of with pre fishing time. Who tries to put them all together on tournament day?????? Yes the cost alot, so do mega bass anything, or a 10 dollar jig.
yeah it was sarcasm that they should be banned based on my just not liking them. they were all personal reasons and nothing to actually do with real reasons to ban anything.
@@MattStefanFishing at hardware stores there is a plastic fluorescent tube protector can be cut down to size and you can see how a-rig is configured without removing it.
I think what has hurt fishing is all the information on the internet and fisherman don't have to figure things out they just look it up It seems like everyone is a good fisherman now and it's hard to keep things a secret
When it comes to tournaments, it doesn't make any sense they can't come up with a coherent reason for banning it. It makes me realize like FFS doing way more than just an umbrella rig, if its effectiveness is "unsustainable".
@@MattStefanFishing Honestly, I think it's the sponsors and it's all about the loss of market share for American Tackle manufacturers. My guesses: A-rig designs are hard to protect. The most common design is basically just an umbrella shaped support structure. Selling hard plastic lure blanks is barely tolerable but condoned because that market is still dependent on the overall hard plastic side of the fishing lure industry. In comparison, A-rigs/Umbrella rigs can be relatively easily assembled by anyone out of basic materials and preexisting terminal tackle. The material cost for a quality A rig that performs better and lasts longer requires higher material quality. With mass produced foreign contracted A-rigs, knowing one of the arms will break off eventually, doesn't reflect the idea it's going to be worth the cost to me. The labor cost of manufacturing them is too high for mass production in the US. For the smaller operation lure company that relies on higher retail pricing by focusing on performance and reliability, or a foreign manufacturer where they have lots of cheap material and human labor is cheaper than robots, the profit margins can justify the overhead. The small scale custom lure retail industry in the US has also grown a lot the last few years along with the traditional DIY market. ----- I find it very difficult to believe any reason they may have for banning them. When comparing net negative Umbrella Rig profits to all the reasons FFS is viewed as an asset to the sport fishing community, knowing how FFS has significantly increased sales while being extremely impactful to populations of largemouth bass, it a huge contradiction.
I personally don’t care one way or the other. I never used one, probably because it’s already hard to catch one with one lure at time let alone 5 !! Lol. I rather throw swimbaits. Those A rigs are just too clunky. Cool probably when the bite is really on, but I rarely have a day when they’re feasting crazy like that
Wow It takes u that long to set 1 up, only takes me 1.5 minutes to set mine up, U just get a bread rapper bag tab and put it just b4 the hooks and it keeps them from hanging on things And I slide a coffee stir straws on the line b4 the knot to help from it catching line and tangling when u cast
The fish finder companies pay lots of money in sponsorship dollars to the anglers and to the organizations. An umbrella rig can be homemade. So you see the profit 📈 difference. I personally don't think anything should be banned. Anything that works extremely well is only short lived. The fish always get smart to it.
