Alabama Rigging El Salto: “They Have to Eat It ‘Cause They Can’t Stand It”

I love fishing, talking about fishing and getting people to dream destinations to fish. I spend a lot of time speaking on the phone or converse through email or social media to set up bucket list fishing trips – often without meeting my new friends face to face. If you are an angler, you are likely a good person so why wouldn’t I want to meet you?

After speaking and texting with Dave Mansell many times, I felt like I knew him well. This January we finally met. I had just arrived at the lake, no time to go out and fish, but I thought I would get those first jitter casts out of my system so I went down by the launch to throw a Rico. I did not catch anything but I didn’t backlash from casting excitement, so the walk served its purpose.

The sun started setting and the boats were coming back from their afternoon session. Dave stepped out of his boat and the next thing you know he was next to me, telling me I have to throw one particular bait. Here is how you do it, watch me, he said, and the next thing you know he cut it off and gave it to me. It was like we were old fishing buddies sharing fishing tips.

His efforts brought some closure to one of the most frequent questions we receive about El Salto and Picachos: “Can you catch fish an Alabama Rig?” Our new friends want to know what to bring, and while we have some pretty good lists, we’re just not experienced enough with the A-Rig to give an honest answer.

Fortunately, Dave helped to solve the problem. In fact, he was so adamant that this was the bait to use for bigger fish that I thought more people should get his advice directly from the source -- and get to know Dave as well in the process?

HPFC: Where are you from?

Dave Mansell: I’m from Woodville, Wisconsin

HPFC: What is your home water?

Dave Mansell: The Mississippi River.

HPFC: What do you fish for and what is your favorite way to fish?

Dave Mansell: Smallmouth and largemouth bass and I love to throw a swimbait.

HPFC: Outside of Mexico, what is your experience throwing an Alabama Rig?

Dave Mansell: You can catch them really well on the Tennessee River, they eat them really well down there. I go there to catch big smallmouth but I also throw that A-Rig in the fall exclusively on the Mississippi River because the smallmouth can’t stand it, they have to eat it.

HPFC: Had you thrown an Alabama Rig in Mexico prior to this January trip? Dave Mansell: Yes, last year in January. I caught a lot of fish on it last year, I was there for over a week and caught like 45 fish over seven pounds so there was no question I was going to throw it again this trip. And the water conditions were just about the same, high and in the bushes.

What happened last trip, our guide, German, came into our room and when he saw we had Alabama Rigs his eyes opened wide and he said “Good, good, you’ve got to throw that”. So, we took them out there and we just peeled them on it. I had some overnighted to me last time because I ran out.

HPFC: Did it produce bigger fish than other presentations? What else did you throw?

Dave Mansell: Yes, the fish caught on the A-Rig were big and healthy. We also threw swimbaits, Senkos, Rat-L-Traps, Chatterbaits, jigs and more.

HPFC: Under what conditions did it work the best?

 Dave Mansell: Morning and evening, low light.

HPFC: Under what conditions did it not work?

Dave Mansell: When you were fishing around all them bushes.

HPFC: What rod, reel and line did you use and what were the components of your rig – umbrella rig, hooks/heads, soft plastics?

Dave Mansell: I used extra heavy St. Croix Rod, provided by the lodge, a Shimano 8.5:1 Metanium reel and I use Power Pro 65-pound braid. The rig was a YUM Flash Mob Junior with belly weighted swimbait hooks I pour myself that includes a Mustad hook in it and Strike King Rage Swimmer swimbaits in pro blue pearl.

HPFC: How did your rig make a difference over someone else throwing it or using different components?

Dave Mansell: I don’t think it made a difference it’s the technique that made the difference. You need to make a long cast, count it down to halfway into the water column and then swim it back at a slow speed. Imagine that you’re keeping it at the right depth because if you reel too fast or too slow and it sinks or it’s rising, they just won’t hit it. It needs to be going horizontal through the water column. So, this and the structure we were fishing when there was no bushes for them to hide in because of the flooded water made them eat it. They have to eat it ‘cause they can’t stand it.

HPFC: Why do you think this works so well under those conditions?

Dave Mansell: It works well everywhere, the fish have to eat it. They can’t stand it, they have to eat it. It's like me walking by an ice cream shop, I have to go in there and get ice cream. The only thing is this time at El Salto it was flooded and I believe the fish were up in the bushes and the only productive areas were where was not a significant amount of bushes for the fish to hide. They also haven't seen it very much down there.

HPFC: Any changes you would make to your rig?

Dave Mansell: No, I got it perfected! I fish the exact same rig -- well not exactly the same because you can only have three hooks in Wisconsin -- but I fish it the exact same way on the Tennessee River and Mississippi River. Everything is the same.

HPFC: What advice about the A-Rig can you provide to upcoming travelers to Mexico?

Dave Mansell: Don’t bring it with you, it doesn't work, and I will catch ‘em on it (laughed out loud). But really, pick it up, throw it, get some hits on it and figure out how to make them bite it and you’ll catch big fish on it.

HPFC: You have been to Anglers Inn several times, what would you say to someone on the fence, that would be coming for the first time?

Dave Mansell: It’s an experience of a lifetime. Step off the edge of the cliff because it is really good. I’m booked for the next five years and going back this June. I keep coming back for the fishing, of course, but the staff, hospitality and accommodations are perfect. The quality of the boats is good. The guides are great. I just can’t say one bad thing about El Salto.

HPFC: What is your next bucket list fish?

Dave Mansell: A 10-pound largemouth. But I would like to go billfishing and to the Amazon with you.

By the way, after Dave left I threw the rig every chance there was to throw it. I got hit twice but no hookups. Perhaps it was my technique? All I know is that it is waiting for me at El Salto and Dave can’t have it back until I show him I can catch fish on it too. Dave and I have a date to fish a session together in June for some on-the-water training.

Update: In February 2023 a group of Wisconsites hit an epic stretch at El Salto, a trip loaded with personal bests and consistent big fish bites. While a single Keitech did some of the damage. the A-Rig was the ticket for numbers and jumbos. Check out some pics below: