Where I fish, many guys use umbrella rigs almost exclusively, so I know that they catch fish, but I've never had any success with them. I'll catch fish on consecutive casts using a standard smallie bait like a jerkbait, tube, or swimbait. I'll switch to the A-Rig and catch nothing for awhile. Then I'll switch back to the standard smallie bait and start catching fish again.

 

For my setup, I usually use a 5-arm model. I have dummy springs on the top two arms, a 1/16 oz head on the middle arm, and two 1/8 oz heads on the bottom arms. I use Keitech 2.8's on all the heads. For line, I use 65 lb braid with a 7 foot, 15 lb fluorocarbon leader. The water I fish is typically gin-clear. During prespawn, which is now, I typically retrieve the rig just fast enough so that it stays off the bottom. During the retrieve, it always appears to swim true. Am I doing anything wrong?

It's more of a winter time/cold water bait in my experience, never done well much after the prespawn phase starts.

 

Also, it's a gangly rig with thick wires and snaps all over the place, I don't think a fluoro leader is really needed. Lots of guys on the clear water Ozark lakes fish them on heavy braid and catch fish just fine. 

Try the YUM version, but as Bluebasser86 said, prime time is when the water is cooler.

 

http://www.yumbaits.com/yumbrella-r-flash-mob-jr-willow-blade

 

 

 

I have never got a bite with one either. A little costly for something I never catch fish with

If it ain't broke don't fix it. You're catching them on consecutive casts with "normal" techniques. You'll be better off then they will after a day of fishing.

  I've never had luck with the A-rig either.