I don't fish the umbrella rig much due to not having a heavier rod. Any tips on a good rod to use? Or line size? I had some ideas but looking for feedback. Thx in advance.
I use a Powell Endurence 795 CF its a great rod for the A-rig and also a great Frog rod.
I use the Frog rod that I have
Plus it has the 60# braid that works well
There are a ton of rods out there that can throw it. The thing to remember is to go light on the heads. 1/8 oz is plenty.
I throw it on a Bass Pro Shops MH action 7'11" telescoping Crankin' Stick. It throws it very nice, even landed my personal best 7.89 lb largemouth on it last spring on Table Rock Lake (a $640 fish in the tourney we were fishing!). I love this rod and they are not expensive. Matched with a Shimano Curado and either 20 lb florocarbon or 50 lb braid... depending on the situation. And because it's a telescoping rod it fits in my rod locker very easily.
I throw it on a Skeet Reese Swimbait rod, I think it's 7'11" and I use 20# florocarbon
Quote from: bsimpson on December 10, 2013, 03:06:38 PM
I throw it on a Skeet Reese Swimbait rod, I think it's 7'11" and I use 20# florocarbon
Yeah, but is it yellow? Yuck!!!! LOL!!!
Thx for the replies. I also have light jig heads (I think 1/8). I try to stay small. It gets heavy for 5 of them. It would be nice to use it for heavy cover (frogs and such) also. I've never used braid. Is it easy to cast? As for the reel. I picked up a few lew's reels last year and really like them.
I use braid (65lb) and it casts pretty easy but backlashes can be hard to get out. As for the reel you want something SLOW 5.4 or 6.1.
I use P-Line Spectrex IV braid 50 or 65 pounds (consistently less problems with backlashes and other braid problems with this line) on castable umbrella rigs of regular size. I have used flipping sticks, and with lighter heads like you're talking I've used my 7' Grandt C10, 7' Grandt C11 and C76M (7' 6" graphite crankbait rod).
I have thrown lighter headed rigs on Fluorocarbon HALO 20 lbs test when I wanted to test if it made a difference. I have to do more testing on U.S. waters. Braid worked fine in the Amazon!
I go by the 'use the heaviest line you can get away with' school most of the time. I do have a light Reaper Rig (http://www.kustomkickerjigs.com/kkj-catalog/reaper-rig/) by Kustom Kicker Jigs that I mostly throw on Fluorocarbon. It's like a finesse / light rig. Still working on it with Great Lakes smallmouth - shows promise. Definitely need more research time! Killer on white bass and schooling largemouth bass. The C10 is perfect for that rig!
For bigger castable umbrella rigs I do like the longer rod at least 7' 6" overall. I don't know yet if something closer to 8' will make a big difference. I may try that some day.
I cast the rigs with kind of a moderate-speed roll cast. It's hard on you, the line and the equipment if you try to cast the rigs with any snap in them. Some anglers report losing their rigs on break offs when they cast like normal. You will probably get many more tangles where the line wraps around the head and wires of the rig if you don't let it flip over smoothly on your casts.
You won't get as many overall casts in on a full day but you'll minimize snap-off risk and possibly avoid all messed up casts due to line wrap. So you'll get more working casts in.
I learned all this casting into flooded trees in the Amazon back in March 2012 for hours each day with heavier rigs. Makes accuracy into small places more challenging with looping casts, and you can't hit as many spots as fast but most people fish umbrella rigs out in open water. Rolling or looping your cast isn't much of a drawback on long casts in open water. You'll do better in the long run.
I like the g loomis NRX 7'7" EH. Nice rod but the $500 + price tag is making me cringe. Not as bad as the shimano stella reels. Holy cow, who buy's these things for over $1000 ? I thought I made a decent living but You would have to take a second mortgage to get a few new rods/reels.
I will never know... unless I win the lotto and can't think of other things I could do to make the world a better place. I have used plenty of $50 to $200 rods and reels and so far haven't felt like I'm really missing out on something. Light is nice but having enough good tools is better for me personally. Now, if someone just gives them to me... I would probably not say no... ;D
Looking at trying to narrow things down. I like the st croix legend TBC74HF which seems like it will handle an umbrella and even some frog or swimbaits. Also been eyeing the g loomis GL2956C which seems a little more heavy duty. I wish I could see it in a store. I went to Cabelas last night and they don't have much displayed but the basics. Anyone have and experience with these or any more input?? I feel comfortable in the 250 -300 dollar area. I have a lew's BB1 6.4:1 to go on it
I found a deal on a st croix 7' 10" h. Lure weight 1-4 oz. This sounds perfect fo the umbrella. I'm pretty sure thats all it will be good for though. Sounds kind of heavy duty for some other things like frogs.
Speaking of A-Rigs.. I never fished em.. Anyone tell me what are the best brand of A rigs out there. I know you can drop 25-30 dollars per rig. Im not really looking for the ultimate best, but I would like to pick up a couple to try this year. Also any ideas as to where you guys like to use them? Lakes / Situations / etc.. I think I have an idea but I wanted to put it out there. They seem like they could be advantageous, although I also see how they would be more of a benefit down south where shad are more prevelant.
I'm just getting into them myself. I have been looking for stuff on sale. I've fished them before but with under rated equipment. It can get expensive. I think its cheap enough i could resell it if i have to.
Use the BTD (Bass Tackle Depot (https://www.basstackledepot.net/aw.aspx?A=86)) link along the right edge of the forum. You'll help GreatLakesBass.com if you do make a purchase and they often have sale prices on some of the various castable umbrella rig brands. I see them for less than $10 sometimes.
I would also check out the Reaper Rigs (http://www.kustomkickerjigs.com/kkj-catalog/reaper-rig/) from Kustom Kicker Jigs that I mentioned above. They have a finesse version that works good for longer parts of the year (killer on white bass too). I use the Reaper Rig. I expect we'll see Kustom Kicker somewhere at the Ultimate Sport Show starting in Grand Rapids at DeVos Place today through Sunday.
Kustom Kicker makes a good one. The Yumbrella Rig is also a good one. I don't think any particular rig will catch more fish than any other as I've caught fish on at least 3 or 4 different brands. I think it's the baits you run that makes the biggest impact. That said... Reaction Innovations Little Dippers (4") and Skinny Dippers (5") work very well. As do Kaitech baits. I've also had good luck with the Cabelas version of these baits.
Whats the regulation in Michigan for hooks per A-Rig?
So with all said about the rig is anyone using them in Michigan and catching fish?
Thought about in front of Pier heads etc. or bigger waters but have not tried yet?
Just ask EDyer if the A-Rig works in Michigan. I've watched him catch some NICE fish throwing it in Michigan.
The regs allow you to use the 5 hook versions in Michigan.
Quote from: Coop on March 20, 2014, 10:45:16 PM
Whats the regulation in Michigan for hooks per A-Rig?
In Michigan
Your allowed 6 hooks per rod
So any 5 hook rig is fine.
You can always search GreatLakesBass.com for this kind of information. We often have it available even all in one place such as The Alabama Rig legality in the Great Lakes states and province (http://www.greatlakesbass.com/news/blog1.php/2012/03/10/alabama-rig-regs-around-the-great-lakes).
Of course, you should always confirm any regulations with the state or province through their latest fishing guides, their official website or by contacting them directly rather than go by anything on the Internet as your final word on the matter. Bonjour...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bufTna0WArc
Quote from: JBASS on March 24, 2014, 08:20:20 AM
So with all said about the rig is anyone using them in Michigan and catching fish?
Thought about in front of Pier heads etc. or bigger waters but have not tried yet?
Should I say, 'no, they don't work'... or tell the truth and say, 'yes, they work very well' when they're the right tool for the situation - spring, fall, schooling fish. As with any lure people have bought and not really tried yet, or haven't even bought yet, there are people telling me to KEEP QUIET! They forget... I'm not very good at that.
Quote from: djkimmel on March 25, 2014, 10:49:27 PM
Quote from: JBASS on March 24, 2014, 08:20:20 AM
So with all said about the rig is anyone using them in Michigan and catching fish?
Thought about in front of Pier heads etc. or bigger waters but have not tried yet?
Should I say, 'no, they don't work'... or tell the truth and say, 'yes, they work very well' when they're the right tool for the situation - spring, fall, schooling fish. As with any lure people have bought and not really tried yet, or haven't even bought yet, there are people telling me to KEEP QUIET! They forget... I'm not very good at that.
I guess I will have to try but was told by a pretty good click that they do not produce well enough to throw.....But then again... am I even in the click anymore??
We are not better than the water we know or the things we have learned...
We can all think about that stuff...
I like to have fun and sometimes those rigs are definitely fun to use at times. My fun might not be your fun though...?
I mention the different sizes often because the full-sized rigs can seem like work at times. They're heavy to throw but you don't have to throw the big ones only. They definitely aren't the best tool to throw all the time either just like any other lure. I'm glad nowadays I don't have to worry so much about catching the most, biggest fish so if I feel like throwing something different anyway I can do that.
You never know what might work. I was at a small pond once (10 acres or so). There was a young kid with my friend and I told him to use whatever he wanted out of my box. We weren't catching nothing anyway. I told him just don't lose nothing. A few minutes later he is yelling with his pole bent in half as he pulled in a big bass. When I went to see what he was useing I was amazed that he threw a spinner bait hooked to an erie dearie that was hooked to a daredevil. I guess you never know what works....
I think we need open water soon....
I sure like this site ....J
We're all with you on the open water part for sure! Maybe even the die hard ice anglers!?!
I caught big bass in a Grand River tournament once on a tangled Bomber 6A that was coming in backwards spinning in a lazy spiral a few inches under the surface. Haven't ever been able to duplicate that on purpose though...?