The A-Rig Ruled Out by the B.A.S.S.
After a record setting performance in the fall by the F.L.W. on Lake Guntersville; Paul Elias won with the hottest new bait the A-Rig, but the B.A.S.S. has ruled that the bait is not fit for use on the tour. The Alabama Rig which has become maybe the easiest bait to catch fish on in recent history has been shunned by the Elite Tour. This bait with an umbrella look and 5 hooks appears to be nearly irresistible by the fish and the B.A.S.S believes it does not test the skills of the elite anglers.
They referred to it in the same breath with live bait and trolling saying that neither is ethical along with the Alabama Rig, "that bass just cannot help themselves:" one B.A.S.S. committee member said, fishing the Elite should be about "one rod, one reel and one bait."
Along with this ruling the B.A.S.S. also ruled against the double fluke rig, or the double top water rig saying all umbrella type rigs will not be allowed in practice or during the tournaments. The only savior at this point for the A-Rig seems to be that the FLW at this point is still allowing it and the B.A.S.S. organization has not ousted it at the next level down like the Weekend Series, but hold on that could be next!
The part of the discussion that I believe has not yet been addressed is the pure sportsmanship of the rig! I have said before that most tournaments and professional trails want their anglers to hook the fish and not snag them. The A-Rig is a bait that I can say from my own experience makes it very hard to determine when you catch a fish whether it was snagged or caught just because many fish get pulled to the boat and have several hooks in them. This to me is just not sportsman like, when a fish gets to the boat it should only have one-bait in its mouth anything more than that should not be allowed.
Lastly it's a fish killer, not only from the many hooks in a fish when caught; but I personally believe the bait will absolutely affect long term the numbers of bass and hurt our fishery. The average fishermen along with the meat hunters will take more fish home and hurt the population of Lake Guntersville. Our lake has gotten tough enough without baits that can increase catches and kills over a long period of time.
Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service
www.fishlakeguntersvilleguideservice.com
Email: bassguide@comcast.net
Call: 256 759 2270
Captain Mike Gerry