A Totally Weedless Rig
Billy “Hawkeye” Decoteau
Andy Vallombroso owner and lure designer of Andy’s Custom Bass Lures, is quickly becoming a house hold name to savvy bass anglers across America. Bass Anglers familiar with Andy’s products, especially with his outstanding hand tied jigs, appreciate Andy’s attention to detail!
Several years ago I had the unique pleasure of sharing my USA Marine (www.USAMarineinc.com) sponsored Nitro Z-9 bass boat, with Andy on Maine’s Lake Cobbosseecontee. Andy had called me all excited about a newly designed hair jig he developed with an attached rattle. With that I scheduled a meeting with Andy at his shop in Madison, CT.
Watching ‘The Jig Master’s’ demonstration of both natural and synthetic hand tied hair jigs in his large aquarium tank, Andy suggested I place my ear on the side of the tank and listen.
After doing so I replied, “All I can hear is the bubbling sound of your aquarium, and the movement of the fish?”
“That’s because the jigs I have tied on are not my rattling hair jigs.” Advising me to keep my ear on the side of the aquarium, Andy said, “Now listen and tell me what you hear?”
Much to my surprise the small rattle Andy had attached to his hand tied hair jigs echoed a clacking crayfish sound throughout the entire aquarium!
Those excitements lead to the filming of one of my best ever TV Shows, The Bass Bureau……..Where the Road Meets the Water. My challenge to Andy Vallambroso and his Rattling Hair Jig called for us to travel to the Lakeside Motel and Cabins nestled on the shores of Maine’s prestigious Lake Cobbosseecontee, in Winthrop, Maine. (www.LakesideLodging.com)
This was an early spring venture in late April into early May. Our results were outstanding! Andy’s Rattling Hair Jigs far exceeded my expectations.
In one hour we shot a complete television show, and we only worked a small 100-yard stretch of water. For the next two days Jig Master Andy Vallombroso and I literally slayed both largemouth and smallmouth bass in just about every section of famed Lake ‘Cobbie’, a nickname given by the locals.
As the season progressed I continued to work Andy’s Custom Bass Lures ‘Rattlin Hair Jig’, in a variety of situations and weather conditions. Utilizing Andy’s ¼ oz. Ratlin Hair Jig during the summer for bass tucked up under the docks proved productive, as did both Andy’s 1/8 and ¼ oz. Rattling Hair Jig along out side weed lines or into open pockets when conditions called for a finesse technique.
As the bass fishing world continues to be flooded with what seems to be every possible configuration of the famed “Alabama Rig”, leave it to New England’s Andy Vallombroso the “Jig-Master” to let his inquisitive lure designing techniques come up with another outstanding addition within his freshwater A-Rig line. (www.AndyscustomBassLures.com)
“The fishing world has a lot to be thankful for since Andy Poss introduced his ‘Alabama Rig’ to bass anglers,” says Vallombroso. Continuing Vallombroso enlightened me to his new A-Rig concept.
“I have been working diligently over the last several months with proto-type A-Rigs designed for a Top-Water application.” Pausing for a moment just to receive my response, I replied, “I know you want me to come to your shop for another hands on demonstration?”
Pursing the Black Bass
Knowing my passion for pursing the black bass via top water baits, especially frog style models, Vallombroso met me at the door wearing a huge bass-eating grin!
As I followed Andy into his shop, I was overwhelmed with his expansive additions since my previous visit two years earlier.
“My line of A-Rigs has covered just about ever technique possible including utilizing my hand tied hair jigs. Yet, I felt I was still missing one technique………Top-Water. However, I now believe I have that technique covered as well.”
With that Andy handed me a double wire A-Rig which looked just like any other basic freshwater umbrella rig, except for having a much larger leading head design. “Besides my larger head design, you should also notice this particular A-Rig is much lighter than even my Finesse A-Rig?”
As I listen intently, Vallombroso explained his R&D proto-types leading up to his finished product.
“The Floating A-Rig, required nearly eight different proto-types before I was able to be satisfied.” Adding, “The two-wire rig is what I consider at this stage to be the perfected model for waking, churning, buzzing and frogging.”
A totally Weed-less Rig
Watching Andy rig two solid type frog or toad style baits to his Floating A-Rig, he then demonstrated the action bass anglers would witness by varying their retrieve speeds.
Once again, I was amazed as the Floating A-Rig ran straight and true upon his retrieve. “This is just about a totally weed-less rig. Bass anglers will find themselves throwing the Floating A-Rig into the heaviest cover, and thickest matted vegetation on the lake.”
When it comes to balanced tackle, anglers need to consider the type of cover they will be working. However, Vallombroso recommends anglers continue to stick with heavier rods and braided line as with most other umbrella type rigs.
Multiple Uses
“You have to realize the Floating A-Rig not only will be effective within and on matted vegetation and lily pads, but it is absolutely fantastic in open water for schooling bass, worked above submerged grass lines, along docks, trees or any where you would throw a top-water or even a spinnerbait!”
Major tournament trails such as the BASS and the FLW trails have announced their individual decisions allowing the usage of freshwater umbrella type rigs during tournaments.
BASS will not allow the use of these rigs within their Elite Series competition, nor during the Bassmaster Classic.
They will however allow them within the other BASS trails, with state regulations taking precedence. FLW on the other hand has and will continue to allow the usage of these multi bait rigs within all of their events. As with BASS, FLW will adhere to state regulations first to guide their usage during all FLW tournament events. (www.FishPAA.com
Taking his personalized lure designs into another dimension, Andy Vallombroso and his line of Andy’s Custom Bass Lures continues to excel producing bass baits anglers can depend on for quality and craftsmanship.
Vallombroso highly suggests all anglers contact their local state fish and wildlife agency for their individual state regulations. To view the complete line of Andy’s A-Rigs and all of this hand tied jigs visit www.AndysCustomBassLures.com. Be sure to tell them the Rig-Master ‘Hawkeye’ sent you! God Bless and Best Bass’n ■
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