Does anyone here use or have used a umbrella rig?  I don't know anything about them and would like to try one out. Any advice is welcomed.

I have several and use them quite a bit but in December through March not now. 

Appreciate all the info..wow..

First step is to check your local laws and see how many hooks you can have rigged up. If only one or a couple, no biggie. Use hitchhikers on the dummy baits and have the long middle wire with the hook. 

1st the A-rig has evolved into school rigs. School rigs have multiple blades added where umbrella rigs had jigs with swimbaits. A lot of states only allow 3 hooks, no limit on attractors. 

To effectively cast and retreive A-rigs you need rods that can cast 2 oz lures. The best time to use A-rigs is when bait fishing are schooling.

Tom

Yes. Figure out your rigs ROF, so you can count it down to the depth you want to fish and add in occasional pauses/ twitches to elicit a strike.

Like Jig Man said, It's a winter time /pre spawn deal. Here in Missouri we only use 3 hooks so on the top 2 baits I either cut the hooks off the jig heads or use hitchhikers. I like a fairly light wire hook so I can straighten them when the thing gets hung up.

 Also I use a bigger swimbait on the center wire, it's the one that gets bit most of the time anyway. Just put something like 2.8's on the teasers.

Something smaller like the Flash mob JR. you can throw on your jig rod.

 

I really do appreciate all the responses and info. Like I said, I  haven't ever used one and know nothing about them. I wouldn't  have thought about having to check the laws about there use or using trailers etc.. learned a lot..thanks fellows..