just wondering what some of you are useing on your ala rigs

I won't use an original A-Rig. With advise from some FLW pros I've found several knockoffs that will hold up a lot better to the big fish that live in the lake I guide on. Plus they are about 10 bucks cheaper than the original.

The baits I have to put on them range from Swimming Super Flukes to Hollow Belly Swimbaits. Several different sizes but I'm only going to try to mimic Shad and Shiners. All have paddle tails.

I was talking to a couple of FLW pros today (same guys as above) while on a visit to the JJ's Magic Shop and they said that there are two mistakes that people make.

1. Not using a swivel on the nose of the bait. (The original doesn't come with one anymore.) A swivel makes it so you don't get tangled up and helps it run right when using different size baits.

2. Spreading the wires out to far. (The closer you have the baits the better.)

I will second the don't spread the baits out too far.......the tighter looking that fake school of fish is the better.

The best thing so far has been skinny bear jigs product i believe it is called the kickin five but it has to be one of the softest baits out there and not overly expensive i have met the owner really nice man and he makes a great product. Chris Zaldain really likes them and he qualified for the elite series this year. Just a recommendation.

Fluke has it dead on. One of the better rigs I've found, for wire diameter and strength, is actually the BPS one. It's cheap, and it works. I don't like the wire ends much, but it hasn't failed yet. I also have found that a swivel on front is a big deal.

What I'm using: Berkley Swim Shads, Northland Mimic Minnow, Zoom Swimming Fluke, Yum Money Minnow- modified to get the tails to kick.

Keitech Swing Impact fats. They can't keep them on the shelves down here. They come in various sizes and colors so you can match the hatch. Great tail thump on a slow retrieve. Superglue them to the jigheads.

Lake Fork Live Magic Shad on the outside, weightless. Johnson Silver Minnow in the middle.

I'll be using the big paca craws at night when warmer weather comes =)

Renosky Mirror shad 3" 1/8oz pre-rigged on the clear water lakes, Yum fat money minnow on 1/4 Jwill swimbait heads on the muddier waters.

5" Grubs.

anyone tried the storm wildeye swim shads

I've been using the Storm WideEye Curl Tail Minnow--the bass seem to like them

The Picasso version comes with a swivel on the nose.