Alabama rig banned in major BASS events.

[dartag]

guess it was fun while it lasted.  Funny it was never even fished in this series.  Wonder if FLW will do anything since they made a big deal about it in there events.

www.greatlakesbass.com/tournaments/index.php/2012/01/20/bass-bans-alabama-rig-and-multi-lures

[Big dreams]

It will be interesting to see if local tournaments allow this in the upcoming season.  Seems like it would be fun to fish.

[fiker]

I don't fish tx's but.....
I'd be real ticked off if I had just laid out the money for a couple of these rigs at the show this past weekend only to find out I couldn't use em in the local tournaments. 

By the way if you haven't seen the rig that Nemesis has up for sale you're missing it.  It was the best looking rig I saw this past weekend. 

[customfishn]

Jim Sprague from NBAA said as long as the state doesn't ban the use of it that it will be ok to use but I heard that in Ohio or maybe Indiana you can only use three of the wires.

[Waterfoul]

Only 3 wires allowed in Missouri too.  FLW fishes Table Rock Lake... so they won't have to make a ruling there I guess.

[Manxfishing]

Jim Sprague from NBAA said as long as the state doesn't ban the use of it that it will be ok to use but I heard that in Ohio or maybe Indiana you can only use three of the wires.

No were does it say 3 wires in the Reg's
It states 3 hooks

[Waterfoul]

Right, 3 hooks.  We plan on using two "decoy" lures on our rigs when we fish Table Rock in April.

[thedude]

seems like a stupid and unnecessary rule. It doesn't create an uneven playing field, its not illegal and it doesn't hurt the resource. There really is little justification whatsoever for banning it.

I bet we see BASS fish 3 or 4 spawning tournaments this year though. They don't have a problem with big spawners being sloshed around livewells for 5 days straight, but god forbid you use 5 single hook swimbaits at on time..... maybe they will ban tandem spinnerbaits too.

[Waterfoul]

Well, it's their "club."  It won't affect any of us... unless you say we can't throw it on Monday nights!  LOL!!

But who am I kidding... with my shoulder and wrist issues I can probably throw the dang thing for about 5 minutes tops... and not 5 in a row!

[djkimmel]

I'm more than a little surprised. But not much more. I can't see FLW banning it at this time, especially now. I think it is a backwards step though I understand why some of the pros wanted the change and B.A.S.S. would support it.

Seems a little like a 'we're premier' statement too which I don't think is productive. I look at it as not really accomplishing that. To me, it's a little more like Minnesota trying to outlaw fishfinders and that was a long time ago. It feels like a time warp move not a modern move. Not that big of a deal to me personally though since I don't expect to be in either the Elite Series or Classic but I wouldn't have supported the change. They've been allowing double rigs for years. Now even those are outlawed. I would have just set a limit, but not 1.

I guess as long as the majority of their anglers want the change and will still fish with that rule, that matters most to B.A.S.S. not what I think. I think the other pros would be better off is they outlawed KVD than any certain rig. He'll still beat them a lot with or without it!

[djkimmel]

BTW, I've seen one high MDNR Fisheries employee stating that the 5 hook Alabama type rig is legal in Michigan - up to 6 hooks actually, but just to be sure, I've asked Lansing Law Enforcement to please confirm in writing before I post it on here and say go do it. I always try to have the right person in writing to help with any confusion at the local level later (just in case).

I would think, since tournaments haven't outlawed side imaging and that is out of the reach for many anglers on a budget, I don't see why they would outlaw umbrella rigs that are much more affordable to more anglers. It's just a tool. You still have to use it right in the right places.

[Manxfishing]

I myself see it that BASS banned the rig for the reason that allot of the top guys (and there the assets) whated it banned.
It's mob rule

And I do see it as a step backwards for the Elite series

[McCarter]

Royce nailed it.  Mob rule.  BASS is banning a legal fishing technique.  Nuff said.

[Waterfoul]

Again, it will affect none of us, so who really cares. 

[djkimmel]

Maybe after a few seasons, they'll reconsider or amend it.

[djkimmel]

Again, it will affect none of us, so who really cares. 

We can still care. We have to have something to talk about right now.

[Manxfishing]

Again, it will affect none of us, so who really cares. 

Oh, You'll care Mike
Next they will be banning the DS. LOL

[dartag]

Hope KLBA does not ban it

[matt]

I'm glad...I'm NOT a fan of the Alabama rig at all. You won't see one in my tackle box or me fishing one for that matter either.


It does give an unfair advantage IMO in bass tournaments.   

[thedude]

It does give an unfair advantage IMO in bass tournaments.   

please elaborate.....
i fail to see how it's at all possible an alabama rig is an advantage when everyone has the choice to use it or not.