AlabamaSpothunter

I've had it happened occasionally on a couple of different rigs from different makers like Yum and Picasso, but it's not the design of A-Rigs per say, rather how I was casting them. With any big bait such an A Rig or big swimbait, you have to be very smooth and deliberate to not tumble or helicopter the bait

My pleasure! For the first question, I don't see why it wouldn't work with a couple caveats.....first, that you use a similar weight BR fish as the senko or fluke you throw on that same setup. The jigheads come in a big range of weights, so the answer would change if you're using 1/10th vs 1/2oz jighead if that makes sense. Second caveat is that you have a reel fast enough to retrieve the line in between rod pops/twitches. It's important to remember that unlike a senko, fluke, or jerkbait, you can't really pause this bait. It doesn't stall out like a fluke or jerkbait, and it doesn't slowly sink like a senko, so you really do need a reel that allows you take up the slack generated from the rod twitches/pops. As for the second question, I think it would be great from the bank especially in the warmer water months. Combine the fact that fish are more prone to being closer to the bank with the fact fish often want a faster, more erratic moving bait in warmer water temps, you got a good bank bait in my book.

It's easily one of the most effective baits for schooling Bass that I've ever found. If you can see Bass schooling and busting baitfish, it's going to be a player for sure. So I'd say electronics of any kind aren't a requirement, but you still need to have an idea of where the fish are, but that goes for everything.

One of the biggest misconceptions about shaking a minnow is that you need FFS. This time of year, it's almost an unbeatable technique. We are however going on the third year of this technique taking over the Bass world, and I can't imagine the fish will stay dumb to it for much longer. On the big derby lakes, it's already getting much harder to catch them on it. The Spotted Bass on Smith Lake know more types of minnows than I do 😆 The Freeloader has won a ton of money, but you really need to try the Jackall Drift Fry and DEPS Sakamata Shad. Imho, those are the two best minnows made. Like the Freeloader, both have also won major Elite/BPT events.

Without having FFS, I can't really say exactly how well it stays at a particular depth in the water column, but I just count it down like a jighead minnow to where I think the fish are. Seems to be working well as I've already caught a few fish using 2D sonar and counting down to their depth.

If your talking about the jigheads, it depends on the size as for the quantity, but the price is for a pack. Duo Realis Bayruf BR Head | Tackle Warehouse I fish it more like a jighead minnow than a jerkbait. I just jerk the rod up from about 60degrees to 90degrees while reeling in the slack. Very much like strolling a minnow, but with a harder, and more exaggerated up and down motion. Hope that makes sense. The actual cadence underwater is every bit as fast as if you're working a spook, except I'll pause a spook but with the BR Fish you don't ever pause. Just a steady walk the dog action. My understanding is the actual jighead design is the reason this bait has such unique action. I'm not sure if that's solely because of the gliding fins on the sides or maybe the shape of the head. In time I plan to experiment with non BR fish plastics to see if I can get the same action but with different plastics.

@Darth-Baiter My viz is like 3-4ft so I'm not in real clear water, nor am I in real dirty water. I'd say if somebody can fish a fluke, jerkbait, or jighead minnow and catch fish, then those same fish will at least see the BR Fish.

Katie don't play in the offseason.....her and monkey start preparing for next season the day the water freezes 😁

You got it pal, it's really simple to make the bait dance side to side by just popping your rod up and down while reeling in the slack on each pop. I haven't tried jerking it to the side very much, but in some videos I see some doing it that way as well. It's one of those baits that looks so tantalizing in the water that it gives you confidence, one of those baits you say no way this thing doesn't get destroyed. Some folks rig the swimbait less than perfect on the hook because they said it yields an even more erratic motion, but I haven't tried that yet.

Yeah Scott, I'm just using it for the 'winding' action with the flat side down rigging. I too share your thought process behind this bait, it should be dynamite for schooling or active fish. The speed at which you have to work it kind of rules it out for negative or neutral fish in the cold-water months, but I suspect it will still be effective for those same Bass to some degree in warmer water temps. I've only fished the 3/16th heads thus far, and that's what I expect will be the correct size for schooling fish in the first 5-10ft of the water column. I've got the 5/16ths for deeper fish, and maybe I'll play around with the 1/2oz as well. I need to grab some 4" models as that's my preferred minnow size in general. I bet Katie will like the 5" models though since she has so much success on the 5" Sakamata Shads IIrc.

Awesome fish Bob, keep throwing that Vault brother! I wouldn't mind catching a 5ft Gar, anything that fights that hard is gonna be a blast to catch.

I just got home from fishing with a buddy, and he said he was in the dog house because of XMAS gifts for the wife......I was pretty surprised to hear grown ups get upset about not getting the gift they expected. I really like the original idea and intention of Christmas, however as it exists in modern day society is pretty insidious. Everybody is running around with their hair on fire, everybody is stressed out about gift buying, it's a hectic time for many people. This is not even talking about all the people who are lonely, have lost a loved one, or are depressed for whom Christmas throws jet fuel on their negative emotions. It's hard on people who aren't having a good time in life seeing everybody else around them full of joy and happiness, whether that's the reality or not.

I love being such a bad influence on you Katie, and the only thing I ask in return is some fresh Maine Bananas 🤣 Can't wait to hear you results, and one of the first things I thought of when I saw this bait was you. @softwateronly Beautiful fish, and great feedback! You're always fishing the new sneaky ninja stuff 😎 I'm really glad you started this thread as it'll be interesting to see if others see the massive potential in this new bait/technique as I do. Fishing has been really tough the last several weeks since buying these BR Fish, but I've still caught close to 20 fish on them. Any day the fish will start schooling and blowing Shad up, and that's where I suspect this bait will truly shine. ETA: This bait can be rigged two ways that produce totally differently actions. The 'winding' technique is what really fascinates me.

Katie's eyes never lie, that's a beautiful fish. Congrats @TnRiver46 on an early XMAS present Merry Xmas and happy holidays everyone!

Hope all you guys and gal have a very merry Christmas, and happy New Years! Please stay safe and enjoy your families!

I took a 10+ year break from the sport, and I feel like that gave me a unique perspective on how far and fast the technology of gear changed within the sport from the early 2000s......and then from the 2020s. For the most part I only buy Made in Japan reels, so the reels before and now would be considered the higher end models from both Shimano and Daiwa. Reels like the Calais and Steez from the early 2000s, and reels like the new Zillions from today. What I learned is that the differences b/t early 2000s and 2020s reel technology is not nearly as significant as most other aspects of the tackle markets. I don't feel like a Calais or Steez from 2007 era is all that behind the Zillions of today in terms of tech and usage. For me I feel like reel technology evolves extremely slow, with very small incremental changes happening to them. On the other hand, it's beyond mind blowing how much both hooks and lines have improved. The hooks and lines of the early 2000s are no longer usable for me given the massive gap in effectiveness and tech in the current ones. Look at lures innovation from the early 2000s to now......insane. Whole new categories of baits like Glides, A-Rigs, Jighead Minnows, etc. Look at electronic innovation from the early 2000s to now.....beyond insane. Literally real time tracking of fish using sonar. The thing that has changed the least from the early 2000s to today is reel technology. Like the AR-15, the modern day Bass reel has been refined to death, and any technological advances are happening on such a small scale year to year that's its hard to notice.

My starting spot is a 7' MH Fast for casting rods. If the bait doesn't work well with that 'control' rod, I usually find that I need a technique specific rod for the bait. Jerkbait......doesn't work well on that control rod, so I've got a p5 Destroyer 110 stick Chatterbait.....doesn't work hardly at all on the control, so I got Alpha Angler Chatterbound rod. For spinning rods, my starting spot is a 7' M Fast. Everything I want to do on a spinning from skipping senkos, to shaking a minnow, to throwing a neko rig......all perfect on that rod. I don't own a single technique specific rod in terms of spinning gear.

Awesome fish Pat! I guess that's why you get a lure color named after you 😎

Like Jig Man, it's not uncommon for me to fish 5+ times a week, and everything really does start to blend together making it almost impossible to pick out individual details of importance from a particular day. I write about a paragraph worth of info in Notepad for each session with a few main data points that always get listed.......Hours fished, number of fish caught, sub species breakdown, baits used, big fish, and water temps. I don't worry about weather or moon phase because I can always look those up using a historical weather app. On a true banger of a day, I'll record every single detail I can remember that I think might play a factor.

Honestly that's why I stopped following his content even though I learned a number of great things from him. I can't think of another influencing Bass angler who treats Bass as poorly as Milliken. It's shameful the way he handles these fish when you understand who many of his viewers are......and those are young adults or kids. It's such a terrible example for the future of our sport. Like most humans, Ben is a complicated, and flawed individual. On one hand, he's a very talented Bass angler, has lots of charisma, and has built a nice comfortable life in the sport of Bass fishing coming from a very humble background without any connections to the industry. On the other hand he's quite arrogant, has shown his willingness to play fast and loose with rules, and shows a terrible lack of respect for the creatures we all love.

I have no idea the exact math that calculates the guys who are dropped each year, but it's a bit complicated IIrc. Some how he qualified without a legends exception though because Howell and Pace received the only two for the year. Ike finished 94/103 anglers in AOY standing for last season. He's on borrowed time either way imho. He really is statistically one of the worst anglers on the Elite Series.

I watched him celebrate like a sugar high kid on XMAS on Day 1 at Champlain event this year, then he produced his typical results on day 2 and melted down, then refused to speak on stage, let alone thank the fans, his sponsors, or his family......the ones responsible for him being there. How many kids were watching that day? I mean he's thrown dozens of tantrums, and even a number of more serious incidents over the years.....how many kids watched all that stuff. He's acted like a child his whole career, he deserves to be judged as one imho. Most adults in the real world have to control their emotions.

Ike simply can't compete anymore, and I'd love to see him forced out. Imho he's terrible for the sport anyways. Terrible attitude, and terrible random childish acts. Easton will no doubt be a huge player, and he'll likely win a blue trophy next year. He knows how to close out wins. Some anglers can fish a whole lifetime without learning how to close, G-Man comes to mind. He fished for college right now the road from me. I hope Jon Cox wins every event including the Classic....if that happens the sport will never have been better 😎

I use an Alpha Angler Wide Glide that's 7'9 XH with a moderate tip. I've never had problems landing or hooking fish with it, I just find the A-Rig to be nuance in general. When it works, it's fun though 😁

Somewhat related, but a guy on my home lake had a really nice folding dock umbrella somehow get blown off during a storm. I showed him it on 2D sonar, but we couldn't recover it without hooking the fabric or something with a big treble hook. It was standing vertically in about 18ft, and the top of it was about 10ft deep. I think his main concern was his kids jumping off the dock and swimming. I'm out there fishing yesterday and lo and behold I see a freaking scuba diver out there in 52d water. Apparently, the guy called a local Dive school/shop and found a guy who does recoveries for an hourly rate. Just something to keep in mind if you lose something, many communities have a diving school/shop in the area. I suspect these guys are more than happy to put their skills to use. Scott Martin lost a drone during an Elite Series practice, and they found a local diver to recover it for them. Imagine how much more effective of an angler you'd be if you were able to scuba dive all your favorite spots and see how the fish are setting up on them.