The Alabama Rig legality in the Great Lakes states and province UPDATED

[djkimmel]

The Alabama Rig legality in the Great Lakes states and province UPDATED

GreatLakesBass.com has compiled regulations by state and province around the Great Lakes region for fishing with castable umbrella rigs like The Alabama Rig. This information is confirmed by official government sources for each state or province as of 3/10/2012.

Read the complete summary on GreatLakesBass.com Bass Fishing News including number of lures/hooks allowed per state and province, and whether or not you are allowed non-hooked teasers on additional wires.

[bigjc]

Thanks for the research.

[djkimmel]

You're welcome. It will probably change as the year progresses.

[djkimmel]

UPDATE: The Iowa DNR released a statement 3/13/2012 on the Alabama Rig legality on Iowa waters.

Modified Two-Hook Alabama Rig Meets Iowa Fishing Laws

Excerpt from statement: "There has been a lot of confusion over this rig and how it fits or doesn't fit in our laws," said Joe Larscheid, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Bureau. "In Iowa our anglers are limited to two hooks per line so the fully-rigged Alabama Rig would be illegal to fish with in Iowa. However, anglers may use a two-hook version of the Alabama Rig in which five baits are attached to the rig but only two of these baits have hooks.

Read the entire Iowa DNR statement at: Modified Two-Hook Alabama Rig Meets Iowa Fishing Laws

[djkimmel]

UPDATE: The Minnesota DNR released a statement 3/13/2012 on the Alabama Rig legality on Minnesota waters.

Alabama umbrella Fishing Rigs: Legal in Minnesota?

Excerpt from statement: The short answer, no, but rigs with 5 attractors and only 1 hook are legal

Minnesota DNR has been fielding questions from anglers wondering if the Alabama Fishing Rig (also know as a Yumbrella rig) is legal to use in this state. The answer? Not the configuration as it is commonly promoted and sold. However, a rig would be legal if not more than one hook or artificial lure/bait is attached. An angler then could place hookless spinners or plastic baits to the other wires if desired.

Read the entire Minnesota DNR statement including exceptions for border waters at: Alabama umbrella Fishing Rigs: Legal in Minnesota?

[Cy]

Thanks for doing the work on this Dan!

[bigjc]

I spent the last week in TN and the locals there were telling me that they may only have three hooks.

[djkimmel]

I believe that is correct. I would confirm with their DNR before I posted on here. I didn't confirm TN for now since they are not actually a Great Lakes state. They have some great lakes, but not our Great Lakes.

I do recall they were the first state people talked about as an exception to the rule of 5 Elias was using to put on his whooping. TN officials clarified or put out a temporary definition on using the rig in their waters. I don't recall the specific details at the moment. California was the next one people talked about as only allowing three. Hence, the 'Calabama' rig was born.

[matt]

Michigan is legal up to 6 hooks!?! 


I don't like it one bit....matter of fact I still hate this rig.

[MSURoss]

Michigan is legal up to 6 hooks!?! 


I don't like it one bit....matter of fact I still hate this rig.

Have u fished it?

[djkimmel]

This has definitely been like reliving the invention of the plastic worm - the original 'end of bass fishing as we know it!'