Zona’s Awesome A-Rig Smallmouth Strategy
When the Alabama Rig (also known as the “castable umbrella rig”) first became a big deal in the bass world about a decade ago, it established itself in largemouth country. Veteran Mississippi pro Paul Elias let the cat out of the bag with a six-figure tournament win on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville, and the dominance continued on other storied green fish venues like Kentucky Lake.
Since that time, the A-Rig has had a mixed history. Some people consider it unsporting and multiple tournament circuits have banned or limited its use. Additionally, rigs with more than a certain number of wires and hooks have been deemed illegal in certain states. Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no question that the flying chandelier catches bass. It’s not a cure-all, even under the right conditions, but there are clearly times when it’ll work better than anything else.
It’s particularly exciting for several reasons:
First, you’re liable to load the boat while anglers using other techniques are hauling water;
Second, you can often tempt the biggest bass in a school; and
Third, it’s not impossible or improbable to catch two, three or four bass at a time.
Despite the early heritage in bubbaville, there’s no question that the rig can be deadly on northern smallmouth venues, too. Indeed, it’s a great way to catch GIANTS, and few people know more about catching giant northern bronzebacks than television host Mark Zona. He can get the job done with a variety of techniques, but he’s an unabashed fan of this multi-wire “home wrecker” and has found several key tips for getting the job done. Click on the video and you’ll learn how to tempt multiples and keep them buttoned up.
