Using The Alabama Rig in Lake Champlain

Alabama rig in Lake Champlain

Note: Anglers beware. This is a rapidly changing area of law and the regulations in your state or province may have changed or may be changing soon. Be sure that you are within the law and check with your state and provincial fish and game departments.

What is The Alabama Rig?

The Alabama Rig is a fairly new lure in the bass fishing world and has recently captured national interest after professional bass angler, Paul Elias won a  $100,000 prize in the Forrest L. Wood Tour Open event on Lake Guntersville, AL in October 2011.

Technically, the Alabama Rig is not a lure in and of itself but an apparatus that allows the angler to attach and fish up to five lures on a single line. This, of course, increases the possibility of catching more than one fish at a time. The Rig is basically a cast-able “umbrella” rig.

The Rig consists of a hard body with a line-tie, followed by five wire strands that fan out, each with a snap swivel at the end. Anglers can attach a variety of lures to each swivel for a look that is meant to mimic a school of baitfish.

The problem is that the Alabama Rig runs into with certain state and provincial laws, because it consists of more hooks per line than is allowed in those waters. Like a standard umbrella rig, used for gamefish such as stripers, the Rig has a single metal rod attached to a plastic head with five wires extending from the back of the head. A lure can be attached to each of these five wires.

After Paul Elias’s tournament win while using this technique, bass fishing websites, forums, and magazines teemed with stories regarding the fish-catching abilities of the Alabama Rig. The device has quickly become one of the most sought-after pieces of bass fishing  tackle. Many anglers are concerned about the legality of the Rig in their waters. Here are the latest positions on Lake Champlain:

(Be advised these may change. Check with your local agency to be certain.)

Alabama rigNew York State:

It is legal to fish the Alabama Rig in New York with (5) hooked lures

“…each line is limited to not more than five lures or baits or a combination of both; and in addition, each line shall not exceed fifteen hook points in any combination of single, double or treble hooks.”

Vermont:

It is legal to fish the Alabama Rig in Vermont with (2) hooked lures.

“… a person may take fish only by using not more than two lines over which he or she has immediate control and to each of which lines is attached not more than two baited hooks, or more than three artificial flies, or more than two lures with or without bait.”

Quebec:

It is legal to fish the Alabama Rig in Quebec with (3) hooked lures.