Fishin’ with Capt. Gus! The Alabama Rig 11-20-11

Picture # 1- Alabama Rig with swimbaits hooked up
Attachment 208548
Photograph #2 – Capt. Gus keeping a Lake Norman striped bass

Photo courtesy of Capt. Gus

Fishin’ with Capt. Gus!
The Alabama Rig
11-twenty-11

A new rig is using the bass fishing scene by storm. It commenced in Oct 2011, when Paul Elias won $ 100,000 in a FLW fishing tournament held at Lake Guntersville in Alabama. Elias brought twenty bass to the scales that weighed a whole of 102 pounds, all reportedly caught on the Alabama Rig.

So, it is no surprise that the Alabama rig has quickly grow to be as well-liked to bass fishing as the Sabiki rig is to catching white perch on Lake Norman. Its layout permits the angler to forged numerous lures at the exact same time, although producing the underwater illusion of a university of tiny bait fish swimming in formation. Large bass can’t resist taking a swipe at the lure as it passes, although schoolie bass will assault it from all angles, frequently generating several hook ups.

Simply stated, the Alabama rig is a miniature model of the saltwater umbrella rig used by anglers who troll for bluefish and striped bass. Its wire harness style makes it possible for the angler to forged five swim baits at the exact same time. The rig has a snap swivel hooked up to the terminal finish of each and every of its four arms and a solitary center wire which tends to make it effortless to alter lures when circumstances dictate.

A weighty rod and reel combination (loaded with 50 to one hundred pound braided line) is necessary to solid the Alabama rig. Because the rig alone weighs about a 50 percent ounce or so, even just before attaching five lures to the arms, it can be tiring to solid above the course of a day. For this cause, some non-tournament anglers pick to troll the rig powering a sluggish relocating boat.

Area anglers who target suspended spotted and largemouth bass, must include a few to 5 inch swim baits with three/eight ounce jig heads to the Alabama rig, then solid and let it to sink to the depth of the fish detected on the fish finder display screen. One particular tournament angler indicates that the velocity and cadence of the retrieve is vital, so fluctuate it till you uncover the correct velocity for the day. Unlike other lure displays, a quickly-to-really-quickly retrieve would seem to set off strikes much more instances than not.

Whilst the Alabama rig is at the moment permitted on most tournament trails, its multi hook style is beneath scrutiny. Multi hook rigs are already unlawful in specific states, which includes Tennessee, so check local fishing regulations and tournament guidelines before utilizing it.

The Alabama rig’s quick rise to fame has induced a offer and desire syndrome that has driven its cost to much more than $ 100.00 on eBay and other on-line sites. But, as a lot more rigs fill the provide line, the price will drop drastically. Regionally, the Alabama rig can be bought for a whole lot a lot less at local bait outlets, including Tackle Town (704 483 1007) in Maiden, NC and The Fantastic Outdoors (704 445 8848) in Cherryville, NC. Contact in advance to check on availability.

Tips from Capt. Gus:
According to Frank Parsons at Deal with City, “The Alabama Rig is finest employed when fished above suspended bass at depths to thirty feet. Deep water casting calls for the use of 1/two ounce jigs vs the lighter 1/4 and 3/8 ounce versions staying employed in shallower water.”

Sizzling Spots of the Week:
Noticed bass fishing is outstanding, with some anglers catching fifty or a lot more for the duration of a solitary outing. Comfortable plastics, fished off channel points, and jigging spoons fished vertically above suspended fish, are the baits of selection. Huge colleges of white perch are exhibiting up in drinking water 20 to forty ft deep. Catfish are even now quite active, in spite of cooler water temperatures. Striper fishing remains spotty, but these staying caught are hitting live baits and jigging spoons.

The lake stage on Lake Norman is down about 4.1’ from total pond and down three.1′ on Mountain Island Lake. The water floor temperature is in the fifties and very low sixties.

Captain Gus Gustafson, certified by the US Coast Guard, is a member of the Southeastern Out of doors Press Association and a Professional Sport Fishing Manual on Lake Norman, NC. Go to his website at www.FishingWithGus.com , e-mail him at Gus@lakenorman.com or get in touch with 704-617-6812.