So I talked to a certain friend of mine, you all know who :) who is out at Kentucky lake right now getting ready for the FLW fish off thing for the Everstarts.

He says it's Alabama rig fever out there with everyone scrambling to hook up every form of 5-way rig imaginable.

So in the spirit of new lure fever, I bring you, Alabama Rig Deal Spectactular!!! :9 :P :o

First thing you'll need is a nice meaty rod. How about an . Are you kidding me, $98 for this rod?!
http://img.tacklewarehouse.com/new_thumbs/OC3CR-thumb.jpg

Then you'll need a beefy reel. should suffice. Granted it's $249 but if any part of your setup is going to take a beating casting 5 or 8 ounces of contraption, it's the reel.
http://img.tacklewarehouse.com/new_product/SC3ER-1.jpg

Now some braided line. TW has an .

And then the jigheads. These are on sale, 3 pack for $3.89
http://img.tacklewarehouse.com/new_thumbs/BJWSH-AYU-thumb.jpg

I'm a fan of eyeballs, so I'd be inclined to go with the myself. 3 plain 3/8oz heads are similarly $3.89
http://img.tacklewarehouse.com/new_thumbs/HHSSH-PL-thumb.jpg

Now for some baits. The herd of basstrix clones seems to be thinning down these days. A pack of 5, in Hologram Shad will keep enough baits on your rig for the southern states and only set you back $9.99.
http://img.tacklewarehouse.com/new_thumbs/BTPTT-HSD-thumb.jpg

On the topic of not very sporting ways to catch fish in the south, did you know that in many states, using live trout for bait is legal? I've heard that in Georgia you can go in to a bait shop and select your live trout by the piece for purchase as bait. Using 5 lures at a time doesn't seem like much of a big deal after that. Ridic!

Now you know my love affair with Big Hammer, that's what I'd be pulling, er casting. A 4 pack of runs $4.69. Superglue the baits to the heads and you can land a lot of freshwater bass. The money color as always is #13 baitfish
http://img.tacklewarehouse.com/new_thumbs/BHSBT-GBC-thumb.jpg

To spice up the mix, you might try the . These are nice baits. They do tear up, but they're scented, finesse, and swim great. Best of all they are cheap. An 8 pack of 4 inch runs $4.75. Crystal shad is nice
http://img.tacklewarehouse.com/new_thumbs/KSI-CRY-thumb.jpg

Last, you're going to need a rubber mesh net. Because the tangle that's going to unfold in a regular net is going to generate a lot of cuss words. This looks passable. 50 bucks.
http://img.tacklewarehouse.com/new_product/ERMLC-1.jpg

Git r Done Alabama rama maniacs

Rob, your killing me. Funny stuff.

It looks like THE rig is out of stock http://thealabamarig.com/.

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/8832-thealabamarig.com.png


How long before Reaction Strike offers their own version? :P

Rob you are a marketing genius by combining Big Hammer baits with the AL Rig! I suggest marketing yellow Big Hammer baits with the rig to pull in both the UA and Auburn football followers. UA fans have a chant which includes a referemce to "yellowhammer" which is the AL state bird (aka Northern Flicker).

For UA fans, the chant after a victory over Auburn goes:
"Hey Auburn! We just beat the hell out of you! Rammer, Jammer, Yellowhammer, give ‘em hell, Alabama!"

Not to be outdone, Auburn fans have their own version of the chant:
"Hey Bama! We just beat the hell out of you! Rammer, Jammer, Yellowhammer, go to hell, Alabama!"

I can see the $$$ rolling your way! :)


By the way, what is wrong with being able to pick out your very own trout for bait? It sounds like the joy of being 5 years old and getting to pick out a goldfish. Check out Hammonds if you find yourself in need of a trout for Lake Lanier http://www.hammondsfishing.net/livebait.htm

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/8833-trout.jpg

Picking my son up at daycare today, I saw this in the backyard. Sad the damaged mind of the fisherman :)

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/8834-octo.jpg

Fever!!!

http://www.flwoutdoors.com/bassfishing/afs/tournament/2011/6584/kentucky-lake-paris-landing-morning-story/153067/alabama-rig-mania-hits-a-fevered-pitch/

God help us all.

If you thought the stares from throwing a swimbait were bad...

FLW EverStart fish off was won yesterday on the non-boater side with an Alabama rig and 3 inch Big Hammers on it.

http://www.flwoutdoors.com/bassfishing/afs/tournament/2011/6584/kentucky-lake-paris-landing-co-angler-headline/153074/anderson-all-the-way-to-the-top/

Here they come. At record knock off speed!!!!


http://img.tacklewarehouse.com/new_product/CPUMBRELLA-1.jpg


http://img.tacklewarehouse.com/new_product/PTGEGR-BGS-1.jpg

BTD has three additional versions including the "Calibama Rig".




http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/8862-CalibamaRig_1.jpg

made my own out of spare parts!

Used an old school 3/8 lead sinker that has the rubber insert, pulled out the insert and inserted a line tie, and 5 wires with the berkley type locs (you can get these online), epoxied and crimped the lead, added terminal tackle and paddletails.....ADD WATER!

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/archtx9/IMG_0065-1.jpg

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/archtx9/IMG_0070.jpg

unhooking a fish is like sticking your hand in a cactus, with all those hooks thrashing around

"unhooking a fish is like sticking your hand in a cactus......"

The quote of the day right there!

Thank you for sharing your creation. If you don't mind sharing, what size wire did you use to create your swimming cactus?

I'm traveling through Kentucky / Tennessee right now... So far I've counted 17 versions of the A-Rig. Some are really.... (add descriptive word for sitting on the toilet). I watched one guy pick one up and have an arm fall off. 3 arms, 5 arms... Hell even a 9 arm version. It's pure pandemonium back here. Can't find a hollow belly Swimbait in either state either.

Drive across lake Cumberland, Tennessee river, Melton Hill... Oh the striper and Muskie possibilities. As a matter of fact, my parter just said look at that! Friggen stripers are foaming in the river as we are driving by FML

0.040 wires 6 inch. The supplier I got them from is running out. The closed loop version is back ordered

I made mine from spinnerbait wire forms. It is kinda cheesy looking but swims, I don't know if it will catch fish or not but I will toss it and find out.

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/380372_10150394963509513_856684512_8255564_251919561_n.jpg

Alan & John - Thank you for sharing your garage builds!