Alabama rigs in Michigan.

[bassinman#1]

Can you legally fish an Alabama rig in Michigan? (5 hooks on one line)

[TCook]

From what I have read they are this is one technique I am not going to be slow to jump on board with.  I have been stocking up on the necessary gear and have a box full already. 

[djkimmel]

I believe so. I will attempt to ask the Lansing MDNR spokesperson before spring season starts.

[fasttrack]

Its been like 20 yrs since I worked in sporting goods and was really up on all the nuances of laws. Seems like i remember back then something about no more than two 'rigs' on one line. Like a perch/crappie rig with two hooks - people were always asking about more hooks on it and we had to explain it was illegal (or so my boss taught us). But I could be all washed up....Fill us in DJK when u find out.

[djkimmel]

Yeah, the regulations have changed since then but I want to get an official interpretation on the rig from Lansing before I say anything. It is on my todo list.

[bassmandan]

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10364_52261-211448--,00.html  does this help?

[Manxfishing]

It's preety clear cut
Your allowed 6 hooks, so it's legel

"Hook and Line Fishing: Fish so taken must be hooked in the mouth. Fish not hooked in the mouth must be returned to the water immediately. No more than three lines per person (including tip-ups) nor more than six hooks or lures may be used. All hooks attached to an artificial bait or "night crawler harness" are counted as one hook. Hooks must be baited or attached to an artificial bait. You may use any number of hooks on one line for taking smelt in recognized smelt waters. Tip-ups and similar devices used for ice fishing must show the angler's name and address. All lines must be under immediate control. Hook size regulations exist on certain streams (see Exceptions to General Regulations by County, p. 16-18). "

what's not clear cut would be
Is it one lure or 5
"All hooks attached to an artificial bait or "night crawler harness" are counted as one hook."

If it's one lure under the current law you could fish 5 more and still be legal
But who's going to be able to fish more then one at a time

Most Tournament rules are one rod at a time for Bass any ways

[Rodz]

This was just sent from D&R Sports

ATTENTION: In the state of Michigan you can attach no more than 3 baits to this rig. Please consult your state's fishing regulations prior to use.

[djkimmel]

I wonder what they are going by. I'll ask Randy if I get a chance. I'm still going to try to get an official word from Lansing before spring.

[Manxfishing]

Did anybody notice
The price jumped 3 bucks now that Mann bought the rights to the rig.
There still back odered, But there now 27,99

Reading the FLW mag this weekend
The swim bait Paul E. was throwing was the Mann hard nose
I bought a bunch of those a few years back when TW was clearing them out for 2.99. So I'm at least stocked up on those

[bassinman#1]

Talked to the manager at Bass pro shops, and he said they got a bunched ordered and should have them by the march madness sale.

[djkimmel]

Or... you can order 3 different models from Bass Tackle Depot for less than $20 down to $16.99. And several others for $24.99. Save some money. The fish won't know.

Bass Tackle Depot Alabama Rigs

[YpsiBass]

Curious what kind of setup you guys will be throwing with these.  I'm thinking some heavy braid and a swimbait type rod.

[bassinman#1]

If you think about it, there are 9 hooks on a jerkbait. each treble hook has 3.

[TCook]

Curious what kind of setup you guys will be throwing with these.  I'm thinking some heavy braid and a swimbait type rod.

I plan on starting out with my loomis bcfr894 flipping stick and 65lb braid. I am expecting to realize quickly that it will not be enough rod to sling the a-rig and will probably have to get an 8ft heavy swimbait rod.

[KLAKE]

Curious what kind of setup you guys will be throwing with these.  I'm thinking some heavy braid and a swimbait type rod.

7' MH rod, and 15lb co-poly. Cxx or YZ Hybrid.

I've got a few ideas that should make this possible....

[TCook]

Curious what kind of setup you guys will be throwing with these.  I'm thinking some heavy braid and a swimbait type rod.

7' MH rod, and 15lb co-poly. Cxx or YZ Hybrid.

I've got a few ideas that should make this possible....

Good luck with that setup you better be rigging it with small swimbaits/grubs weightless even then it would weigh 2 ounces or more. Not to mention if you snag up your $40 rig its not comming back.

[Waterfoul]

Curious what kind of setup you guys will be throwing with these.  I'm thinking some heavy braid and a swimbait type rod.

7' MH rod, and 15lb co-poly. Cxx or YZ Hybrid.

I've got a few ideas that should make this possible....

As heavy as they are, the very first time you have any kind of backlash using anything other than braid that thing is going to go sailing into the next county.  I've thrown it several times now, and I won't be throwing mine on anything less than 50 lb braid.

By spring I'll be throwing it on a 7'11" MH Shimano Crucial swimbait rod with a Shimano Curado and 50-65 lb Power Pro.

Going to get myself a nice new lure retriever too!

[TCook]

Curious what kind of setup you guys will be throwing with these.  I'm thinking some heavy braid and a swimbait type rod.

7' MH rod, and 15lb co-poly. Cxx or YZ Hybrid.

I've got a few ideas that should make this possible....

As heavy as they are, the very first time you have any kind of backlash using anything other than braid that thing is going to go sailing into the next county.  I've thrown it several times now, and I won't be throwing mine on anything less than 50 lb braid.

By spring I'll be throwing it on a 7'11" MH Shimano Crucial swimbait rod with a Shimano Curado and 50-65 lb Power Pro.

Going to get myself a nice new lure retriever too!

Depending on how heavy the wire is on your jigheads you should be able to straighten them out when hung up with 65lb braid. Although considering in what situations we will be likley throwing the a-rig I dont think hangups will be a big issue. I think the biggest problem is how long will the wire on the rigs hold up to bending into place over and over. If they will break as often as some spinnerbaits it could get costly.

[Bender]

I have one so far just to play around with and it is rigged with 5 small swimbaits. It's really not too heavy and I don't think that casting it will be much of a problem. I imagine that there are so many different varieties of this rig that it really depends on which one you are using. I haven't looked too much at the ones they were using down South, but I imagine that they were heavy for fishing deep the same as the big heavy jigs they use while fishing the ledges. Now if this darned ice will go away I can go try it!