Should have done this sooner, about to go out in a couple hours in MO and thinking about throwing a a-rig. I have one of the smaller 6th sense units, 5 wire, in MO I can only have three hooks so I know my top 2 baits will be without. The only heads I have are 3/16 which is a little heavier than I would like but my plan was bottom three to go with 3/16 and then the top to use just screw locks into the baits.

 

My question is do you have to use weighted heads with the top two arms, I have screw locks and was thinking that might work. I am going to be throwing small 3" baits, maybe on the middle one a 4" bait but do I need weights for the top 2 baits, thanks. Just trying maybe to save some time on the water rigging it up now, thanks!

No weights needed or even preferred on the top two arms. I use center pin screw locks.

Edit to add: Cut the swivels off the top wires and attach the screw locks directly to the wire loops. If you attach them to the swivels without a jig head for keel weight, the baits will twirl and not swim right.

I always run blades on my top wires.

34 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

No weights needed or even preferred on the top two arms. I use center pin screw locks.

This ^^^ works for me, too. I used hitchhikers (screw lock/twist lock/CPS spring) in Indiana with smaller soft plastic baits as “dummies” on top 2 arms where 3 hooks was the limit.

Thanks everyone, I have screw locks and that was what I was going to use and just wanted to make sure I wasn't out in left field or even in the ballpark, lol. Windy as heck but I'm still going to go out, mid 50's and water temp is probably mid 40's at the surface....

2 minutes ago, bishoptf said:

Thanks everyone, I have screw locks and that was what I was going to use and just wanted to make sure I wasn't out in left field or even in the ballpark, lol. Windy as heck but I'm still going to go out, mid 50's and water temp is probably mid 40's at the surface....

Personal preference I also cut off all the snaps. You can thread the screw locks directly to the top swivels and attach swimbait heads with some #3 or #4 split rings.

Well if you’re going out make sure you bundle up brother, I just came in from outside here is southern Ind and wind gust are 30 to 40 and it’s -frigging cold af outside 🤣🤣🤣. 
 

 Seriously, be careful and good luck fishing. 

17 minutes ago, F14A-B said:

Well if you’re going out make sure you bundle up brother, I just came in from outside here is southern Ind and wind gust are 30 to 40 and it’s -frigging cold af outside 🤣🤣🤣. 
 

 Seriously, be careful and good luck fishing. 

 

I live in Indy and the two local ponds I go to are frozen.  Last few years I fished them on December 26th. 

 

As far as the A-rig goes, depending on the rod, I would go weightless if possible and use Owner CPSs for the dummies.  With those weights, it will sink fast if not retrieved quickly.  If your in approximately 15 feet of water or deeper, you should be OK. 

15 minutes ago, FishTank said:

 

I live in Indy and the two local ponds I go to are frozen.  Last few years I fished them on December 26th. 

 

As far as the A-rig goes, depending on the rod, I would go weightless if possible and use Owner CPSs for the dummies.  With those weights, it will sink fast if not retrieved quickly.  If your in approximately 15 feet of water or deeper, you should be OK. 

 It looks like we’re in for an actual winter this year! 

6 hours ago, F14A-B said:

Well if you’re going out make sure you bundle up brother, I just came in from outside here is southern Ind and wind gust are 30 to 40 and it’s -frigging cold af outside 🤣🤣🤣. 
 

 Seriously, be careful and good luck fishing. 

Yeah it wasnt bad, mid 50s but the wind was a blowing, but small lake so no big deal just the hassle factor but plenty of pockets etc to slip out of the wind. Water temp down to 42 and gonna get real code next couple of days but warm up over weekend hoping to get out Saturday or Sunday. St. Louis area can get cold but has lots of warm days also...going to try to go out on the warmer days and see how much I can get in...hoping zits another mild one but we will see ...

8 minutes ago, bishoptf said:

Yeah it wasnt bad, mid 50s but the wind was a blowing, but small lake so no big deal just the hassle factor but plenty of pockets etc to slip out of the wind. Water temp down to 42 and gonna get real code next couple of days but warm up over weekend hoping to get out Saturday or Sunday. St. Louis area can get cold but has lots of warm days also...going to try to go out on the warmer days and see how much I can get in...hoping zits another mild one but we will see ...

Catch any?

14 minutes ago, F14A-B said:

Catch any?

2 dinks on shad rap..Ive never fished this late in the year so no idea what Im doing, lol. The one other guy that I know was out there killed it with jerkbait in a couple of locations...i threw a jerkbait but nada...probably fishing to fast and not in the right area...i know where he was fishing so if I get out on Saturday will try to fish them. Its only 600 acres and not deep, but has lots of boat lifts which tends to be most of the structure. Only thing ive had any luck this fall has been spinnerbait, but that was when water was warmer. I dont have ffs which I thin would at least help me know where the fish are setting up, now I just have to cover a lot of water. Lake has a good concentration of decent size bass and are well fed with shad its just a matter of figuring out where and in what where I struggle, lol.

1 hour ago, bishoptf said:

2 dinks on shad rap..Ive never fished this late in the year so no idea what Im doing, lol. The one other guy that I know was out there killed it with jerkbait in a couple of locations...i threw a jerkbait but nada...probably fishing to fast and not in the right area...i know where he was fishing so if I get out on Saturday will try to fish them. Its only 600 acres and not deep, but has lots of boat lifts which tends to be most of the structure. Only thing ive had any luck this fall has been spinnerbait, but that was when water was warmer. I dont have ffs which I thin would at least help me know where the fish are setting up, now I just have to cover a lot of water. Lake has a good concentration of decent size bass and are well fed with shad its just a matter of figuring out where and in what where I struggle, lol.

Shad raps are good baits to throw in colder water, I once won a tournament in Florida on the St. John’s river on a large Gold/orange shad rap. Solid bait to be sure. 

2 minutes ago, F14A-B said:

Shad raps are good baits to throw in colder water, I once won a tournament in Florida on the St. John’s river on a large Gold/orange shad rap. Solid bait to be sure. 

This was a larger deep diver but they suck to throw in the wind..potato chip is a good analogy... obviously the other guy did really good with the jerkbait, me not so much...have so much to learn, just never sure where I should be fishing in the lake.

Bringing this back up...looking for advice on WHERE to throw the a-rig. I have gone out last couple of times and have it rigged up and have thrown it around but nada so far...lol. 

 

Just looking for suggestions in where maybe better locations may be to increase my odds. I have read that they are good cold water baits and my lake temps are around 42 right now. Out fishing to day throwing a shad rap in the back of a cove and all of a sudden shad was jumping out of the water, I assume some bass were on the hunt. I pulled out my a-rig and threw it around but no takers.

 

Current setup is a 6th sense short 5 wire setup, three hooks and the top 2 are dummies. More of a finesse setup, throwing 3" swimbaits, the 6th sense a-rig has small willow blades on all the wires.

 

Thanks 

I just bought the tactical bassin flex rigs, the regular, the mini and the micro. Bought some Lead Free bass jigs jig heads, and Beast coast jig heads. Got some Beast Coast Slow flow and Keitech fat impact!  Really looking forward to throwing this. Think they would be great up here in New England, we get a lot of river herring! 

I'm actually not limited to 3 here but I like the Hog Farmer Baits Mini Rig 3 Wire 3 Blade anyway since I'm in a kayak and use a 7'6 flipping stick (Dobyn's Sierra) that's rated up to 2oz. Have done well with this setup and usually pair it w/keitechs or 6th sense divines...might be worth looking into next time if you are limited to 3 where you're at...