THE
THE BAIT, THE BUZZ, THE BAN
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BY JODY ONLY
aBassmasterElite&anAlabamaStyleRig
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nless you’ve been living under a rock,
you’ve heard the buzz about the Alabama
Rig and with numerous knock-offs flood-
ing the market, it is likely you’ve even fished one. The multi-arm rig has been dubbed with
many a nickname, especially after the trademark of
the name has limited what anglers can call and com-
panies can name their own Alabama style rigs.
The spreader rig, umbrella rig, Calabama rig, five-
arm, three-arm, three tree and many more names
have cropped up and just as many versions of the rig
have materialized since the excitement of the Paul
Elias wire-to-wire win with the original Alabama rig at
the Lake Guntersville FLW Tour Open last October.
The new lure ignited a fishing frenzy and fired up
an interest in a rig that may never be matched. Word
spread around the country and all level of anglers
were trying to get their hands on one.
Within the world of tournament fishing, it seems
there has been a line drawn in the sand and the
craze for the lure is riddled with controversy. The
opposition to the notorious bass catcher is equaled
by the support of its proponents. There are anglers,
organizations and tournament directors on both
sides.
At this point, the only major tournament circuit to
put their foot down against its use is the Bassmaster
Elite Series. The Elite Series Rules Committee
unanimously voted to outlaw the rig and while many of the Elite Series pros agree with the decision, they picked it up and prepared themselves to fish it, if and when necessary.
Just like other Elite anglers, Tackle Warehouse pro Jared Lintner from Arroyo Grande, Calif. acquainted himself with a five arm rig and shares what he thought about the bait breaking out in the bass fishing world.
“I have been fishing it around here and in the off- season; but nothing makes me happier than to go to the Elite Series and leave them at home,” stated Lintner. “Now that’s not to say I am not throwin’ it in other tournament organizations. There will be times when I have to use in order to be competitive. Like in the Professional Anglers Association (PAA) I will throw it; because I know it is effective and I promise I will be throwin’ it at home. It is that good; but for the Elites I didn’t want to feel I had to throw it in defense of others throwing it. I’m just glad it’s off the table”
He remarked that he didn’t think it has been fished enough to know its full potential. “It is good in a variety of different areas and it’s effective on emergent or submergent vegetation,” explained Lintner. “Don’t get me wrong; it’s not magic. It doesn’t work every day on every lake, all over the country. Like big swimbaits, you need the right conditions to be successful.”
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