5 hours ago, WRB said:

Casting from shore using 12# FC you were doomed from the start.

Tom

Who? I never used 12# FC. 

 

5 hours ago, JWall14 said:

I am with some of the guys here too. Wait until it gets colder! It’s still a little too warm for prime time a rigs. Some of the best a rig days are the ones where your fingers are freezing off and your guides are icing up. Don’t give up I’m a bank guy as well and it can be so worth it! Where are you located in the country? Sorry if it’s already been asked. 

I'm in northeast Oklahoma so it doesn't freeze over but can get reasonably cold. 

 

I don't want to give up on it and I'm not heartbroken about losing the one I had, just didn't know if it was worth it to try a non-bladed one and as cheap as I have seen them online I'll probably get another without blades. 

 

For everyone who doesn't read all the comments, I won't use a leader and just throw it on straight 65lb braid on my heavy/fast rod I use for frogging that I already own and have the braid spooled on it already. 

2 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

Who? I never used 12# FC. 

 

I'm in northeast Oklahoma so it doesn't freeze over but can get reasonably cold. 

 

I don't want to give up on it and I'm not heartbroken about losing the one I had, just didn't know if it was worth it to try a non-bladed one and as cheap as I have seen them online I'll probably get another without blades. 

 

For everyone who doesn't read all the comments, I won't use a leader and just throw it on straight 65lb braid on my heavy/fast rod I use for frogging that I already own and have the braid spooled on it already. 

You were doomed using 15# FC casting A-rig from shore,

No reason to use a FC leader. 

Tom

 

1 hour ago, Luke Barnes said:

Who? I never used 12# FC. 

 

I'm in northeast Oklahoma so it doesn't freeze over but can get reasonably cold. 

 

I don't want to give up on it and I'm not heartbroken about losing the one I had, just didn't know if it was worth it to try a non-bladed one and as cheap as I have seen them online I'll probably get another without blades. 

 

For everyone who doesn't read all the comments, I won't use a leader and just throw it on straight 65lb braid on my heavy/fast rod I use for frogging that I already own and have the braid spooled on it already. 

Your best window is 100% going to be January and February. Id guess you’re still in early fall where you’re at. Prime time will be coldest time of the year for you. I don’t even bother throwing it when waters above 50. Wait another month or two and you will be set. How is the clarity and depth at lakes you’d be fishing?

3 hours ago, WRB said:

You were doomed using 15# FC casting A-rig from shore,

No reason to use a FC leader. 

Tom

 

Gotcha. I was thinking for visibility and stretch is why I used the leader. But visibility shouldn't be an issue seeing as there are metal wires everywhere and I often forget that I don't need to put so much thought into line visibility. I get too hung up on that. 

 

But throwing one on straight braid and a H action rod, do I need to start worrying about straightening hooks on fish? 

1 hour ago, JWall14 said:

Your best window is 100% going to be January and February. Id guess you’re still in early fall where you’re at. Prime time will be coldest time of the year for you. I don’t even bother throwing it when waters above 50. Wait another month or two and you will be set. How is the clarity and depth at lakes you’d be fishing?

I believe you and trust you, but I am curious why this is? 

 

Depths are maybe 15' and less and visibility is usually medium stain to muddy. I've yet to fish a body of water in oklahoma that I would consider just straight clear. Gin clear is non existent where I have been. 

1 hour ago, Luke Barnes said:

 

But throwing one on straight braid and a H action rod, do I need to start worrying about straightening hooks on fish? 

Generally I would say if you are worried about straightening a hook on a a-rig you aren't using the right jigheads and you need heavier hooks. 

 

In your particular case, being able to bend out a hook could help you a lot if you get snagged, otherwise you are in a bad spot if you are on braid.

 

Your reel has a adjustable drag...use it.

Take a wooden dowel to use for pulling the rig out of snags in lieu pulling with the rod and breaking it.

Tom

I have a love/ hate relationship with A-Rigs. Hate throwing them, but LOVE them when they are working. Had so many days now when they just straight up out fish everything else and its not even close. Yes, they are a chore to throw (especially all day), yes I have a box full of them and an expensive, dedicated setup to throw them (bye bye $), but when they are on, THEY ARE ON! I can see why they got banned on the tour level. 

 

As for OP, they are not bank fishing friendly. Heavy equipment (300-400 size reel, 20-25 lb test (mono/ flouro, heavy power rod). Like others have mentioned, they are a huge investment of time and money and best suited for boat fishing with a lure retriever or a nonchalant attitude if you lose one. 

17 hours ago, RB 77 said:

I have a love/ hate relationship with A-Rigs. Hate throwing them, but LOVE them when they are working. Had so many days now when they just straight up out fish everything else and its not even close. Yes, they are a chore to throw (especially all day), yes I have a box full of them and an expensive, dedicated setup to throw them (bye bye $), but when they are on, THEY ARE ON! I can see why they got banned on the tour level. 

 

As for OP, they are not bank fishing friendly. Heavy equipment (300-400 size reel, 20-25 lb test (mono/ flouro, heavy power rod). Like others have mentioned, they are a huge investment of time and money and best suited for boat fishing with a lure retriever or a nonchalant attitude if you lose one. 

I was way less upset about losing the one I had than I thought I would be. I don't mind dropping another $12 on another one. But I'm really weighing all that's been said and if it is worth it being a bank angler. 

On 10/28/2022 at 8:01 PM, Luke Barnes said:

Gotcha. I was thinking for visibility and stretch is why I used the leader. But visibility shouldn't be an issue seeing as there are metal wires everywhere and I often forget that I don't need to put so much thought into line visibility. I get too hung up on that. 

 

But throwing one on straight braid and a H action rod, do I need to start worrying about straightening hooks on fish? 

I believe you and trust you, but I am curious why this is? 

 

Depths are maybe 15' and less and visibility is usually medium stain to muddy. I've yet to fish a body of water in oklahoma that I would consider just straight clear. Gin clear is non existent where I have been. 

Not if your hooks are good. I use Matt Allen heads and my 12lb drag will slip before those bend out

14 hours ago, JWall14 said:

Not if your hooks are good. I use Matt Allen heads and my 12lb drag will slip before those bend out

For some reason, I guess because of the amount of hooks and the weight of it all, I forget that I am throwing it on a H action rod with braid so I don't need to worry about hook penetration. So I can get away with bigger, stouter hooks. 

1 hour ago, Luke Barnes said:

For some reason, I guess because of the amount of hooks and the weight of it all, I forget that I am throwing it on a H action rod with braid so I don't need to worry about hook penetration. So I can get away with bigger, stouter hooks. 

Oh yes. And when you get bit swing hard. No windup just tick and swing. Let me know how you do this winter. If I were you I’d go to the clearest water near you (I like 5+ ft vis). Quarry lakes are great for A rigging.

I'm just not a fan of stout hooks on the ol' chandelier . If I were to use any it would be on the center hook. They bite that one 90% of the time.

We can only use 3 hooks here in Missouri so the hitch hikers go on the top 2 .

I want a hook I can straighten if it gets stuck. When you feel one load up on it just start reeling all the way to the boat.  

I started using the Yum/Scottsboro tackle deal last year. Great heads and the swimbaits are great quality.

47 minutes ago, rangerjockey said:

I'm just not a fan of stout hooks on the ol' chandelier . If I were to use any it would be on the center hook. They bite that one 90% of the time.

We can only use 3 hooks here in Missouri so the hitch hikers go on the top 2 .

I want a hook I can straighten if it gets stuck. When you feel one load up on it just start reeling all the way to the boat.  

I started using the Yum/Scottsboro tackle deal last year. Great heads and the swimbaits are great quality.

That is my dilemma.  I want the hooks to bend if snagged but not on a fish. I know I want my cake and to eat it too.  Just trying to find a happy enough medium. 

 

I am convinced though that the next one I get will not have blades. 

1 hour ago, JWall14 said:

Oh yes. And when you get bit swing hard. No windup just tick and swing. Let me know how you do this winter. If I were you I’d go to the clearest water near you (I like 5+ ft vis). Quarry lakes are great for A rigging.

Not sure I know of any within an hour drive of me, but my take away is that the clearer the water, the better.