I've never thrown any type of umbrella rig. But I think I'm going to give it a try soon. I was wondering what kind of lures you guys put on them. And more importantly, what type of rod, reel and line do you use?

Thanks.

First off, what size rig are you looking to throw?  The smaller casting rigs (flash mob jr size 5 1/2" arms) or the larger full sized rigs?  The smaller rigs I fish on a 7'6"MH crankbait rod and basiclly fish it like a large spinnerbait with a 5.4:1 reel and 30lb pp with 20lb mono topshot.  3-4" swing impacts on 1/8oz lead heads.  If you're looking at the bigger rigs, I would suggest something that can handle up to 2oz with a moderate fast action and probably 40-50lb pp and 25lb mono topshot. 

First off, what size rig are you looking to throw?  The smaller casting rigs (flash mob jr size 5 1/2" arms) or the larger full sized rigs?  The smaller rigs I fish on a 7'6"MH crankbait rod and basiclly fish it like a large spinnerbait with a 5.4:1 reel and 30lb pp with 20lb mono topshot.  3-4" swing impacts on 1/8oz lead heads.  If you're looking at the bigger rigs, I would suggest something that can handle up to 2oz with a moderate fast action and probably 40-50lb pp and 25lb mono topshot. 

I'm thinking of the smaller ones. 5 1/2" arms sounds about right. I've read elsewhere on the web about people using 7'6" rods for them. Is that just for casting purposes? I currently don't have anything over 7'0" which is why I am asking.

you are going to want atleast a 7'6" for sure.  I use a BPS Crankin Stick MH for mine.  It has a soft enough tip to keep the fish from pulling the hook but yet has enough backbone to turn bigger fish and make long enough casts.  Have it matched with a carbonlite 5.4:1 reel since I like using the bladed rigs and makes fishing them easier with the lower gears when you throw them all day.  When I decide to fish them and "hop" them off the bottom I go to an older 7'6" BPS Bionic Blade MH which lets me get hook sets on fish when they hit it on the drop.  To be honest, it took me about 4mo of constant fishing to get a good idea of what I can do with them around where I live and what works and doesn't.  It works better in some places then others.  

I throw them on a 7ft.11inch x heavy swimbait/rig rod with 25lb mono, as for reels a slow ratio makes it easier but something in the 6:1 area is fine. I like 1/4oz ball heads. Here in Missouri we can only have 3 hooks so i cut the the hooks off the 2 teasers and just use the jig head, I think it helps balance the thing out and keeps them from spinning on the retrieve.

 As to baits I usually use the Keitechs in the 3.8 on the outsides and the 4.8 fat on the center hook. It seems thats the one that gets bit 90% of the time.

 The swimmin flukes and the LPO's with the grub tail are also good on the teasers.

You can throw it on on a 7ft rod ,especially around docks or casting to the bank, but out in the open or on bluffs casting distance is at a premium.

 I don't throw the 3 wires much but that may be a option as well.

Pinnacle Perfecta7 DHC7-761CAHFS

Pinnacle Optimus OP10 XiHS  http://www.pinnaclefishing.com/shop/p-139-optimus-xihs.aspx#page=page-1

Tuf-Line Heavy Core #50

 

I like a light rig and fish both 3 arms in Tennessee and 5 arms in Alabama.

The outside arms are rigged with LFT Live Magic Shad on #3 Gamakatsu

Offset Worm Hooks, no weight. On the inside arm, Johnson Silver Minnow. 

 

 

I'm using a Cumara A umbrella rig rod - 7'9" H fast action with a Curado 301E. I've recently spooled it with 65# S8S but I've yet to fish it so the jury is still out on how I like using braid with this particular technique. I'd been using 25# P-Line CXX and liked it because of the small amount of stretch copoly has when compared with braid. In my experience fish hit this rig so hard that braid might be "over kill". I'm just such a fan of braid for almost everything else I figured I'd give it a try for this as well.   

Thanks guys. Great info. Feel free to keep it coming

 

I do have a follow up question though: What disadvantages other than casting distance would be involved if you used a rod shorter than 7'6" and possibly less than a heavy power?

The A-rig fishes well on a setup you'd use for similarly weighted swim baits. 

Rod:  7'6" Heavy

Reel:  Abu Ambassadeur 5x:1 ratio

Line:  50lb Braid MIN

 

I love using the Flash Mob and Mob Jr. with 4 small swimbaits around the perimeter and a larger in the middle.

 

I generally start with white baits although colors can vary based on your locale.

I fish a 7' 10" H/F custom build with a 300E Curado and 25lb McCoy copolymer with mine. I usually rig it up with 1/8 or 1/4 ounce swimbait heads that I pour tipped with grass pigs, swimming flukes/swimming fluke Jr, or swing impacts.