Gettin' my A-rig ready for next Saturday.

[bigjc]

After watching Zona this morning slammin' spots and stripers on the A-rig, I had the itch to get mine out.  So this may sound goofy, but I finally pulled my A-rig out of the package today, and rigged it with some 4 " paddletail/swimbaits.  I had to see how it would look coming thru the water, so I filled up the bath tub and swam it back a forth a few times to see what it would like like swimming.  I tied it to a 7' 6" telescopic BPS Extreme Medium rod and gave it a few tosses in the yard.  I am pretty excited to throw it in a couple weeks down on Dale Hallow, if not next weekend somewhere around here. 

I noticed a few obvious drawbacks...on the model that I have, the clasps were a bit difficult to hook through the eyelet of the leadheads.  Thus it took me a good solid ten minutes to rig the baits on it.  Swimming it in the tub I noticed that the baits fowl easily if not careful.  Then I noticed that casting it was no simple task either.  Not to mention that Zona and guest seemed to hang in every brush pile that they got within 50' of.  Oh well no bait is perfect I guess.

Still cannot wait to get doubles on it!!!

[djkimmel]

There's lots of ways to minimize snags. I expect a ton of enhancements and variations to come. I've seen some people using jigheads with weed guards on the bottom hooks or using Texposed-rigged hooks on the bottom hooks. That should help some. You know they have always said if you don't get snagged once in a while, you might not be doing it right.

Of course, like any presentation, there will be times when other presentations work better maybe just because you can fish them through the present cover better. Should be a fun season regardless!

[dartag]

I rigged 3 of them today.  BPS had a YUM Money MInnow kit which had 5 jig heads and 5 Minnows.  I rigged the other 2 with curly tailed grubs.   Tossed them off my dock in the 40 mph winds this afternoon.  The money minnows looked the best.  Probably throw it next week for fun.   then put it down and get the jig rod out.

[bigjc]

Are the yum kits easy to rig?   I find that some of the swim baits/hollow belliies are difficult to rig straight.

[dartag]

They were not bad to rig.  The kit came with 5 jig heads and 5 minnows.  I superglued the minnows to the heads.    I am sure the pike on kent will be excited to see them

[djkimmel]

Who doesn't like a school of juicy minnows??

[bigjc]

To date, Pike is all that I have caught on any swimbait!

[Jay-MadWags]

After watching Zona this morning slammin' spots and stripers on the A-rig, I had the itch to get mine out.  So this may sound goofy, but I finally pulled my A-rig out of the package today, and rigged it with some 4 " paddletail/swimbaits.  I had to see how it would look coming thru the water, so I filled up the bath tub and swam it back a forth a few times to see what it would like like swimming.  I tied it to a 7' 6" telescopic BPS Extreme Medium rod and gave it a few tosses in the yard.  I am pretty excited to throw it in a couple weeks down on Dale Hallow, if not next weekend somewhere around here. 

I noticed a few obvious drawbacks...on the model that I have, the clasps were a bit difficult to hook through the eyelet of the leadheads.  Thus it took me a good solid ten minutes to rig the baits on it.  Swimming it in the tub I noticed that the baits fowl easily if not careful.  Then I noticed that casting it was no simple task either.  Not to mention that Zona and guest seemed to hang in every brush pile that they got within 50' of.  Oh well no bait is perfect I guess.

In the bath tub???  Really??  WOW.
Rain and cold forecast for Saturday.  Bring your other umbrella rig.  The kind for rain.

Still cannot wait to get doubles on it!!!

[bigjc]

I didn't have any other way to see the action of the baits.

[djkimmel]

I've tested lures in the bathtub before. I bet lots of anglers have.

[YpsiBass]

Luckily there's a farm pond next to my condo so I don't have to do this anymore.  My a-rig comes in the mail tomorrow.  Forgot to buy jig heads though so going to have to head to Dick's or something.

[Bad Poncho]

I threw a Krypton Lures Crappie Rig (small size/wire) during the earlier season, got a few on it too! when throwing around grass I skin-hooked the hook points and never had a snag and I crawled it over laydowns.

Personally I will be throwing grubs on my fullsize rig with smaller hooks and will be doing a similar method. Biggest thing I can saw though is pick yourself up some Hitch Series Trailer Keepers, you quickly get tired of playing with five swimbaits sliding down their jigheads.

[bigjc]

What about glue?

[YpsiBass]

Just got my rig in the mail.  I did not realize how big it's actually going to be with 4" swimbaits on it until just now.  Geez.  I'm going to need a bigger rod.  65 pound braid is fairly hefty though.  Not worried about losing it at least.

[bigjc]

it seems like the popular notion is to throw an a-rig on heavy braid.  I am not sure that I get that notion,  I have for the moment rigged mine on 17# co-polymer.  I guess I will just have to throw it for a day or two until I decide what setup I like.

[Bad Poncho]

What about glue?

Glue SHOULD work, I've used glue in the past but since I got the Hitches I've been using those so I can switch things out when I tear appendages off. I throw mine on a 7' MH with 65lb Fluorobraid, same as my jig rod, plus I use heavy 50lb clips to switch in a hurry if need be. They are HUGE with 4" swimbaits, fish still hit it though!