If you’re tuned into the largemouth bass tournament channels, you’re probably already familiar with the Alabama Rig – the latest largemouth fishing craze. If you’re just finding out about it, it’s essentially a modified umbrella rig that is castable. It swims as many as five baits with hooks in them at a time, and is supposed to be dynamite for fishing suspended largemouths.
The rigs have been responsible for a couple tournament wins so far in the FLW, and have been so effective, the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) already banned their use in the Bassmaster Classic and Bassmaster Elite Series.
Since these rigs employ as many as five hooked lures, some models may not be in compliance with state regulations.
Here’s how hook regulations break down in the Northeast:
New Jersey: It is unlawful to possess a fishing device with more than nine hooks in total or more than three treble hooks.
Pennsylvania: No more than three hooks shall be attached to a line used in fishing (one hook having two or three points is considered a “single hook”).
New York: Each line is limited to not more than five lures or baits or a combination of both; and in addition, each line shall not exceed fifteen hook points in any combination of single, double or treble hooks.
Connecticut: Each line may have any combination of hooks, flies or lures, of which a maximum of three hooks may be baited. (Hooks with lures are not considered baited).
Rhode Island: No more than three (3) hooks may be attached to each device.
Massachusetts: Fishing Prohibitions: More than two hooks for fishing or more than five hooks when ice fishing. A hook is defined as an angling device attached to a fishing line which is designed to take one fish at a time but is not limited to devices commonly called spinners, spoons, bait harnesses, lead head jigs, or plugs.
New Hampshire: While taking fish in open water, two hooks may be used for bait per line, one with a single hook point and the other with no more than three hook points, except in certain waters where only a single hook with a single hook point may be used
Vermont: Each line may not have more than two baited hooks, or three artificial flies or two lures with or without bait.
Maine: I couldn’t find the actual wording on the Maine IFW website, but all my searches seemed to indicate that the Alabama Rig is prohibited in Maine’s inland waters.
So, if you’re fishing New Jersey, New York or Connecticut, cast away with that 5-hook Alabama Rig. In PA, use the three-hook model, and in MA, RI, NH and VT, clip off one of the hooks and give it a shot with a two-hook model. But pay close attention to the regulations. As this rig becomes even more popular, more regulations regarding its use may pop up.
Since I have no bass tournament aspirations of my own, I’m going to try to procure one of these rigs over the winter and give it a thorough testing for a Field Test Favorites column over the summer. Getting one may be easier said than done – from the looks of it, orders for the hot new rig are backed up. Slick Lures, LLC, the owner and developer of The Alabama rig, has partnered with Mann’s Bait company to produce the rig. Tackle Direct recently announced on their Facebook page that after a month-long wait they expect to be receive a shipment any day now.
So where does this leave the famous 9er rigs when fishing ma or Ri? Should we be clipping hooks?
Jaime,
Those were the freshwater regulations. In saltwater, the 9ers are still fine at the moment.
i called ct dep. they said the 5 rig was ok .as long as you did not use real bait (worms,shinners ect…)
The Bass College
FINALLY!! SOMEBODY WHO IS IN CHARGE WITH SOME COMMON SENSE!! I AM BURNING MY BASS LIFE MEMBER CARD IN THE MORNING AND NEVER GOING BACK!!
FLW
20.Jan.2012 by Kathy Fennel
The Alabama Rig has taken the bass-fishing world by storm. Every discussion about its use seems to generate an emotional response unlike anything I’ve seen in my more than 30 years in the sport.
For every passionate plea that it be banned from tournaments, there is an equally passionate plea that it be allowed. No matter which side of the debate you are on, one thing is undeniable: The Alabama Rig has generated a level of excitement and interest in bass fishing unlike anything that has come before.
Since their inception, tournaments have been the spawning ground for lure, equipment and technique innovations that help recreational anglers catch more and bigger fish. It’s the reason fans tune in to our television shows, visit our websites, read our magazines and attend our events. There are millions of bass anglers out there with an insatiable appetite for cutting-edge information that will make them better at their sport. To argue that the Alabama Rig and other castable umbrella rigs be banned from tournaments is to believe that we’ve finally reached the end of innovation; that the great equalizer has been found; that the only thing separating novice anglers from the world’s top professionals is a weighted head with five wire leaders and swimbaits. There is nothing more to learn.
We believe professional anglers deserve more credit than that. We believe their skill and intuition will not be undercut by a baitfish-imitating technique that helps less experienced anglers catch fish when otherwise they might not. Will it force some pros to elevate their game and adapt? Of course it will. Just like GPS, side-imaging sonar, sight-fishing, shallow-water anchors and countless lure, line and rod innovations have done over the years. Buzzbaits and ChatterBaits were once considered radical, as were flipping and sight-fishing. But they are all simply tools of the trade now. The same will hold true for Alabama Rigs. It’s not the end of fishing as we know it.
Anglers are still held to a daily five-fish limit. Tournaments are still catch-and-release. Our conservation ethic has not changed. We’ve taken the additional step of contacting wildlife officials in each state hosting an event in every FLW circuit to urge them to study the effects of castable umbrella rigs on live release rates. If conservation issues are discovered, we will reevaluate our rules accordingly. For now, we are leaving that in the capable hands of the experts within each state, and castable umbrella rigs will be permitted in our 2012 tournaments.
Sincerely,
Kathy Fennel
President, Operations Division
FLW Outdoors
It is my understanding in New Hampshire that rule only applies to bait- not lures.
I can confirm Steve’s comment. In CT, you can use an umbrella rig with 100 hooks if you feel like it. The word “baited” generally refers to something that is alive or was recently alive.
You guys are correct. “Baited” only refers to natural or live offerings. The 5-Hook Alabama Rig is allowed in Connecticut. I made the adjustments in the post — thanks for the heads up.
i don’t know about bass fishing but trolling for lakers/salmon love to try it out! But NH I would have to rig steamers or spoons hook removed.
http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/frequently_asked_questions.html
Is the Alabama Rig legal in Maine?
The Alabama rig is legal to use in Maine with the following stipulations, there can only be a single baited hook on the line, the other lines can have artificial lures but you can only have a single baited hook. If used strictly for artificial lures you can have as many lures on a line as desired.
Just spoke with a EP in MA and was told these are legal in MA waters because, by the definition, a “hook” is the device itself, not the number of hooks on the device…so long as said device is used with the intent of catching one fish at a time. You can use a max of 2 devices (hooks) per anger