Bass Lures .. Inventing & Modifying
How many times have you been in the situation in which you suddenly lose the only lure, in the only color that seems to be catching the bass?
You know exactly what I’m talking about. Why didn’t I buy another one of those in baits in that color you wonder? I’m certain we have all experienced this situation more than once on our Bassin adventures.
With that thought in mind, the latest craze is that one is good; two is better, so three or four has to be awesome. Right?
Speaking of two being better than one and three being better than two, etc, I’m certain every savvy bass angler this side of the Mississippi, or should I say Alabama, has heard of the “Alabama Rig” by now. Invented by Andy and Tammy Poss of Muscle Shoals, AL this “Freshwater Umbrella Rig” concept has resulted in several major tournament wins coupled with a national following! (www.TheAlabamaRig.com)
Although, personally I have a hard time giving credit to someone for inventing a lure, concept or in this case a rigging system that has been utilized for as long as I can remember.
I’m in my sixties; as a young boy I remember my dad and his pals utilizing this type of rig when they went saltwater fishing! I do however applaud the Poss’s for their successful adoption of a proven saltwater rigging system into freshwater bass angling.
But, then again I have to applaud my friend Byron Velvick for adapting saltwater swimbaits into his freshwater angling arsenal. Does Clear Lake ring a bell?
And, what about the host of pros to weekend bass anglers across the nation that have utilized and or modified saltwater baits successfully for fresh water bass applications? Do we call them inventors as well?
You make the call. Although, I doubt Reaction Strike would appreciate me renaming their POP-130 Series saltwater top water popper, to the “Billy Bass Buster”.
I modified and secretly (Until now!) have been crushing Connecticut River and Lake Champlain smallmouth bass, yes largemouths as well, on this 5” spitting, splashing noisemaker for several years.
Freshwater Umbrella RIG
Like every other enthusiastic and curious bass fanatic I surfed the Internet reading everything possible, while reviewing bass-fishing entrepreneur sites that seemed to suddenly add a “Freshwater Umbrella Rig” to their line of products.
I discovered most companies adding a “Freshwater Umbrella Rig” offer it in only one size. By this I’m referring to the length of the wires utilized for each arm to where you would secure your particular bait of choice, not the leading head to where you attach your line.
The Alabama Rig
One other very interesting thing I noticed on some sites was the out of stock and back logged time frame for ordering their versions of an Alabama Rig. Obviously, proving its popularity with bass anglers!
This in turn led me to believe that possibly these particular companies were not making their rigs, but actually having them manufactured by a sub-contractor.
In the case with Andy Poss and his “Alabama Rig”, Mann’s Bait Company Inc., is the exclusive licensee for the manufacturing, marketing and sale of his “Alabama Rig”. (www.FishPAA.com)
Andy’s Custom Bass Lures
Then I came across Andy’s Custom Bass Lures. (www.AndysCustomBassLures.com) Like every other site featuring their concept of an “Alabama Rig”, jig heads and baits were not included in the price of Andy’s Custom Casting A-Rig. However, not only did Andy’s A-Rig offer a variety of head colors, he also provided anglers with three readily available sizes 4”, 6” and 10”, all at the same price!
Andy’s Casting A-Rig features five possible bait locations, the same feature offered by most other companies, allowing anglers throughout the USA to meet individual state fishing requirements pertaining to the legal number of hooks allowed on an umbrella rig.
If your state allows only three baits with hooks, the remaining two become decoy baits.
Firing Andy an email via the Contact section on his site, I sent him several questions pertaining to his version of a freshwater umbrella rig, asking for his reply by telephone. A few hours later I found myself in conversation with Andy Vallombroso, owner, designer and manufacturer of all his custom bass lures.
Finesse A Rig
“Anytime a major tournament is won with a particular bait, the fishing industry goes crazy in efforts to mimic the same bait, or as in this case the same rigging technique,” says Vallombroso.
According to Vallombroso, who once owned a successful fresh and salt water store front tackle shop before switching strictly to the Internet, the umbrella rig concept has been utilized by Connecticut salt water anglers for many years.
Taking his Custom A-Rig to another dimension, Andy Vallombroso offers anglers four hand tailored A-Rigs systems.
“We have our Custom Casting A-Rig model available in three wire lengths, a center willow leaf blade teaser A-Rig, our very popular 3-hook A-Rig system and our newly developed Finesse A-Rig.”
According to Vallombroso, his Finesse A-Rig system is designed to be paired with smaller baits, such as grubs, hollow body swimbaits, or small jerk baits and weighs 1/8 oz. “In addition to these model A-Rigs, I will also build custom A-Rigs to an anglers specifications,” he added.
When it comes to balanced tackle, anglers need to consider the size of their rig, the number and size of baits as well as the individual jig head weights per rig. Most manufacturers of an Alabama style rig, recommend braided line, flipping stick style longer rods for longer cast, coupled with bait casting reels.
Whether a new invention or a modification there is no doubt The Bass Bureau will be bringing you much more on this newly adaptive freshwater Bass’n Rig! God Bless and Best Bass’n ▄
........Reaction Strike & Castaic Baits
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........Reaction Strike & Castaic Baits
