I'm kinda new to the A-rig used one of the little mini 3 arm ones with little success. Thought it'd be a great bait to throw now that shad are schooling here on my home lake. What has been you guys success with the A-rig and how do you rig it? The one I just purchased is the Mann's A-rig and I have it rigged with the Yum money minnows one 5" on a 1/4 oz jig head and the rest are 3.5" on 3/16 oz jig head.

Well, there is no magic formula, most combinations woill work. I have several, but this is my favorite:

 

YUMbrella Jr.  LFT Live Magic Shad on the outside arms, weightless on thin wire #3 EWG Offset Worm 

Hooks and a Johnson Silver on the middle arm. This ia a light rig than can be fished on whatever you

consider your jig rod.

I like to fish them in the spring and into the spawn and post spawn and again in the fall. But in the summer them dam Pike will tare them up! I hate Pike!

I'm having trouble deciding between the duckett white ice 7'3" MH or the 7'3" H. Any suggestions? I will be throwing a 3 arm rig but not sure about the size/weight of the baits. Would the MH handle it?

I would go with the H action because if you ever go with bigger baits you have the rod that will handle it. Some guys use MH but for me the A-rig, I use H action and 65 lb. braid! And that works for any A-rig baits or weight that I want to throw.

One more thing,you don't need a high end rod for the A-rig remember it is a reaction bite! Just a 7 ft. to 71/2 H action ft. rod.There are alot of good mid priced rods out there!