understanding a lot of it before me part of my
to other things. The same thing has happened with
profession and passion.
frog fishing in the Delta and swimbaits at lakes all over.
That being said, in my years as an industry person People still catch them on old lures or techniques; and
and an angler, I’ve come across two things that have
quite well; but the more people use those lures, the
driven me nuts more than anything on the water. One more bass learn to stay away from them.
is a lure, and the other is
a technique.
The first is a split-
I hope we get the
My point is that the same thing will
shot rig with a four- inch, Morning Dawn colored, hand poured
chance to see what this
happen with the Alabama Rig. It will be hot for a while, and
worm on it. In my early years of fishing
thing can be, because
then it will slide to the edges as a standard
tournaments, I looked for the different pattern; I’d often find myself
it sure has generated
tournament item, but not “the hot thing anymore”; history tells
buried in the willow trees at Folsom Lake with a Flippin’ Stick (by the way, thank you for that rod Dee) in my
some excitement - both
me that it will.
The good thing
on and off the water.
about the Alabama rig is that it has
hands trying to find
people excited about
a Hail Mary pattern.
buying fishing tackle
That’s just one example of the different things I’d try
again. At a time when the manufacturers as a whole
and while my approach worked sometimes, there
are struggling to find something to speak positively
were times it didn’t.
about, the Alabama Rig - and its many “knock-offs”
But, even in those times that I figured out the off
have made people spend money on not just the rig
the wall pattern, I can’t tell you how many times I’d
itself, but swimbaits, heads, line and even dedicated
come back to weigh-in and finish third or fourth to
rods and reels.
some “unskilled soul” dragging a stupid split-shot
Hopefully, the leagues will see this as an
rig with a dang Morning dawn worm around by the
opportunity to promote their sponsors and the
trolling motor. I even remember one time finishing
industry that helps keep them launching boats into
second as a co-angler at Shasta to a guy who was
the misty morning. I’m sure there will be some who
fishing in his first year doing exactly the same thing.
will deem it unfishable; but I hope not. I know there are
individuals out there working to have it barred from
The next thing I don’t seem to hold in high regard use in tournaments, and what the result of that will be
is the Senko. I know, it is the best lure ever invented;
is yet to be seen.
but I just don’t seem to get the same bites on the
thing as everyone else. My first fish on it was a Clear
It may not be as easy as I’m making it out to
Lake five-pounder; but that is still the biggest I’ve
be, but if we are truly competitors then we should
caught on it, and I can only think of maybe 10 fishing
learn to use everything - within the rules - to help us
days in the last 10 years that I’ve caught more than a
win. It shouldn’t matter if we love frog fishing, flippin’
couple of bass with it. I know, I suck, but I’m just being or the infernal Senko and a drug split-shot with a
truthful.
Morning Dawn worm as our favorite technique; if
What eventually happened with those
we want to win, we use what is going to give us the
presentations is that the more people started using
chance to do so.
them, the less effective they became. Oh, they still
caught bass, and quite well (for some), but the fish
Editor’s Note: This article was submitted prior to
became accustomed to them and anglers moved on
the B.A.S.S. ruling banning the Alabama rig.
ISSUE 1 February 2012
11