You will hear discussion on the A Rig

[CaymasRodney]

For those of you who have an opinion on wether the A Rig should or should not be banned or the rules changed on how many hooks and baits can be used at one time can voice their opinion at these meetings. If you are against the A Rig then by all means you need to show up and say what you think.

Join Kentucky Fish and Wildlife staff for a town hall meeting


FRANKFORT, Ky. - People have the opportunity to exchange ideas and engage in open conversation with staff from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources during a series of town hall meetings being held across the state.
The nine town hall meetings begin Feb. 13 in Lexington and conclude with the final session April 2 in Morehead. Individual meetings are subject to rescheduling due to bad weather.
The meetings encompass Kentucky Fish and Wildlifes goal of striving toward a more informed and involved public. Commissioner Jon Gassett and managers of the departments various programs will be on hand to answer questions, provide updates and discuss issues of interest to hunters, anglers, trappers, boaters and other wildlife/outdoor enthusiasts. The commission member representing the district will also attend the meeting.
All meetings will begin at 7 p.m. local time. Meetings, dates, locations and counties in each district include:
* Lexington, 6th Wildlife District, Monday, Feb. 13. Meeting to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park, North Exhibit Hall, Iron Works Road. Use the main entrance. This district includes Anderson, Boyle, Casey, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Jessamine, Lee, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Powell, Rockcastle, Scott and Woodford counties.
* Louisville, 3rd Wildlife District, Wednesday, Feb. 15. Meeting to be held at the E.P. "Tom" Sawyer Park Community Center, 2201 Lakeland Road. This district includes Breckinridge, Bullitt, Jefferson, Meade, Oldham, Shelby and Spencer counties.
* Burlington, 5th Wildlife District, Thursday, Feb. 16. Meeting to be held in Britt Hall, Immaculate Heart of Mary, 5876 Veterans Way. This district includes Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Henry, Kenton, Owen, Pendleton, Robertson and Trimble counties.
* LeBurn, 7th Wildlife District, Wednesday, March 21. Meeting to be held at Knott County Sportsplex, 450 Kenny Champion Loop. This district includes Breathitt, Floyd, Johnson, Harlan, Knott, Lawrence, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry and Pike counties.
* Somerset, 9th Wildlife District, Thursday, March 22. Meeting to be held at The Center for Rural Development, 2292 South U.S. 27. This district includes Bell, Clay, Clinton, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, McCreary, Pulaski, Russell, Wayne and Whitley counties.
* Gilbertsville, 1st Wildlife District, Monday, March 26. Meeting to be held at the Kentucky Dam Village Convention Center, 113 Administration Drive. This district includes Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, McCracken, Marshall and Trigg counties.
* Powderly, 2nd Wildlife District, Tuesday, March 27. Meeting to be held at the Merle Travis Music Center, 750 Cleaton Road. This district includes Allen, Butler, Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, Logan, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson, Todd, Union, Warren and Webster counties.
* Campbellsville, 4th Wildlife District, Wednesday, March 28. Meeting to be held at the Banquet Hall in the Badgett Academic Support Center, Campbellsville University, 110 University Drive. This district includes Adair, Barren, Cumberland, Edmonson, Grayson, Green, Hardin, Hart, Larue, Marion, Metcalfe, Monroe, Nelson, Taylor and Washington counties.
* Morehead, 8th Wildlife District, Monday, April 2. Meeting to be held at the Perkins Center, KY 32, 1/2 mile south of I-64 on the right. This district includes Bath, Bourbon, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Greenup, Lewis, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Rowan and Wolfe counties.
For more information about the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, visit online at fw.ky.gov.



Media Contact: Dave Baker 1-800-858-1549, ext. 4454

[pdadave]

I thought Dave Baker worked with Oscar Combs during basketball season......

[Roddy]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by RangerRodney &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">. If you are against the A Rig then by all means you need to show up and say what you think.

</td></tr></table>
What if your for it?
Should you show up too?

[agreynolds]

I am against more and more useless regulations and you can be sure that Commissioner Gassett knows it.

[09Z7SC]

I wonder if I can return the ones I bought!!

[CaymasRodney]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by 09Z7SC &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I wonder if I can return the ones I bought!! </td></tr></table><table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by 09Z7SC &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I wonder if I can return the ones I bought!! </td></tr></table>


Personally i don't like what the rig does to fish, i used it for the first time on Sunday and like every body else caught the heck out of fish but i bet that 90 percent of the fish had as many as three hooks some times four stuck in it's side, tail, gills or bellie. No one can convince me that all those holes in those fish aren't going to have an impact on them living with out some kind of problems from those hook marks in them. You add on top of that four to five tournaments a week end with 300 to 500 boats tournament fishing plus all your every day guys and you are looking at some problems down the road for our grand kids. This is my two cents on the subject any way.

[CaymasRodney]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Roddy &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
What if your for it?
Should you show up too? </td></tr></table>

Scott, it is for all fisherman and hunters in Ky, if u want to go by all means i would go then.

[bassmaster658]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by RangerRodney &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">


Personally i don't like what the rig does to fish, i used it for the first time on Sunday and like every body else caught the heck out of fish but i bet that 90 percent of the fish had as many as three hooks some times four stuck in it's side, tail, gills or bellie. No one can convince me that all those holes in those fish aren't going to have an impact on them living with out some kind of problems from those hook marks in them. You add on top of that four to five tournaments a week end with 300 to 500 boats tournament fishing plus all your every day guys and you are looking at some problems down the road for our grand kids. This is my two cents on the subject any way. </td></tr></table>

You don't have more than one hook in a fish with a crankbait, topwater, jerkbait???...just wondering how you do that?

I'm sure they will be discussing the A-rig but it's an open forum. I got a great E-mail from them about a week ago. They stated that NO changes would be made at this time.

Here is a copy of the E-mail:

Mr. Lane,

Thanks for your question. The Alabama Rig has recently created a good deal of
discussion throughout the country. Kentucky currently has no regulations
limiting the number of fishing rods or hooks that our anglers may use when sport
fishing. We have received several complaints from tournament bass anglers
concerning the effects the rig has on fish survival. We do not have data to
substantiate those concerns. Since Kentucky does not regulate fishing
tournaments and we have no evidence that the rig is increasing bass mortality
beyond the expectations of our harvest regulations, our position concerning the
Alabama rig and tournament angling is that the anglers should address their
concerns to their tournament directors.
Without definitive data, this Department does not routinely make new regulations
that limit an angler’s potential for fishing success. However, given the recent
fervor that some anglers have exhibited on this issue, we are going to include
the rig in our 10-year statewide angler survey that will be conducted in 2013.
At this time, we have no research scheduled to examine the anglers' complaints
of increased mortality due to the rig's effectiveness.


Mary Nickles
Information Specialist
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
#1 Sportsman's Lane
Frankfort, KY 40601
1-800-858-1549 ext 4436
mary.nickles@ky.gov

[reelman]

I think Louisiana wants anglers to catch fish!
Our limits remain the same, the AR can be bought by anyone and it is a situational bait like ALL baits...soooo I can rest easy.

&gt;&gt;&gt;You can bet all those shallow bait makers and all those bank beating anglers are behind the scene doing ALL they can to BAN the AR...
always follow the $$$...ignore the baloney.&lt;&lt;&lt;

Maybe T boats will be "strip searched" before launch every day...lol...

[Roddy]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by RangerRodney &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">


Personally i don't like what the rig does to fish, i used it for the first time on Sunday and like every body else caught the heck out of fish but i bet that 90 percent of the fish had as many as three hooks some times four stuck in it's side, tail, gills or bellie. No one can convince me that all those holes in those fish aren't going to have an impact on them living with out some kind of problems from those hook marks in them. You add on top of that four to five tournaments a week end with 300 to 500 boats tournament fishing plus all your every day guys and you are looking at some problems down the road for our grand kids. This is my two cents on the subject any way. </td></tr></table>

Rodney, about 1 in 7 that I've caught on 5 wire have also had another hook in them. That number has been much lower when I used the 3 wire/hook rig and from what I've seen it catches nearly as many fish. I too worry about fish mortality but I think I killed a greater % of the fish I hooked on a crankbiait this last year than I have on an A-rig. I for sure haven't deep hooked them like a senko or carolina rig and as of yet I haven't seen any torn gills. Your experience may be different as I have on caught or seen caught a couple hundred or so. Even though I have 25 or more 5 wire rigs in my garage I'm not sure I would be against a 3 hook limit from the difference in foulhooking I've seen, but I would be against an all out ban. I could really use a little less government in my life right now.

[whitebassboy]

I have caught several bass on my home made a rigs and I have yet to snag a fish that was hooked in the mouth with any of the other hooks on the rig. I have caught two bass that bit two baits and had two hooks in their mouths. I have not caught a double yet. I fished today and caught 8 on the a rig. I saw a lot of people throwing them, but I did not see another boat catch a fish. The biggest problem I see is all the people that havent even fished the thing jumping on the ban them band wagon just from hearing peoples opinion. They are not magic baits. If you cant find fish you wont catch fish. They are new and hot right now, but I believe the fish will get accustomed to them just like they do to every other new bait.

[CaymasRodney]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by whitebassboy &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I have caught several bass on my home made a rigs and I have yet to snag a fish that was hooked in the mouth with any of the other hooks on the rig. I have caught two bass that bit two baits and had two hooks in their mouths. I have not caught a double yet. I fished today and caught 8 on the a rig. I saw a lot of people throwing them, but I did not see another boat catch a fish. The biggest problem I see is all the people that havent even fished the thing jumping on the ban them band wagon just from hearing peoples opinion. They are not magic baits. If you cant find fish you wont catch fish. They are new and hot right now, but I believe the fish will get accustomed to them just like they do to every other new bait. </td></tr></table>


I disagree 100% on this statement, i know guys who have came in here from across the country, never been on the lake before and catch 20 to 70 bass a day, it does not take much skill at all to catch fish on the A R. Cast and reel down about any old bank and catch them.

Any way if any one wants to voice their opinion they should make plans to attend these meeting at their location, that is why i posted this to let every one know.

[Roddy]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by RangerRodney &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">


I disagree 100% on this statement, i know guys who have came in here from across the country, never been on the lake before and catch 20 to 70 bass a day, it does not take much skill at all to catch fish on the A R. Cast and reel down about any old bank and catch them.

</td></tr></table>

Glad you had the wink on there. And I respect your opinion Rodney.

I have no problem with people catching fish, heck thats one of the reasons we go. I am a little worried about injuries to the fish. I do think the fish will learn the bait and it will become less edffective and will not be effective when the fish are shallow as it's a hangy SOB.

[CaymasRodney]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Roddy &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

Glad you had the wink on there. And I respect your opinion Rodney.

I have no problem with people catching fish, heck thats one of the reasons we go. I am a little worried about injuries to the fish. I do think the fish will learn the bait and it will become less edffective and will not be effective when the fish are shallow as it's a hangy SOB. </td></tr></table>

Thai is my whole point. i to don't have any problem with guys going and having a ball catching fish all day long but when it injures the fish then that is a different story. Time will tell i guess

[natebedwell06]

i agree with ranger rodney, from what ive understood you can pick any old regular bank down there and run down it with the a.r. and catch a lot of fish, and thats coming from a guy that lives on the lake, and another guy that makes his living on that lake, b.a.s.s made a smart move banning it and i hope flw does it also, i hope the thing gets banned from all tournament fishing

[Roddy]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by natebedwell06 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">i agree with ranger rodney, from what ive understood you can pick any old regular bank down there and run down it with the a.r. and catch a lot of fish, and thats coming from a guy that lives on the lake, and another guy that makes his living on that lake, b.a.s.s made a smart move banning it and i hope flw does it also, i hope the thing gets banned from all tournament fishing</td></tr></table>

So it should be banned because it catches fish? That don't make no sense!

I'd bet money the Bass ban is due to pressure from the lure manfactures who sponsor their pros who voted.

[JC25]

If you want to ban a fishing lure cause it catches fish, I want to ban cheeseburgers and coors light because they taste good and create health problems.

[buzzking]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by JC25 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">, I want to ban cheeseburgers and coors light because they taste good and create health problems.

</td></tr></table>

GTFO NOW!

[skeeter tom]

You want to ban it because it catches fish ? REALLY? One thing I know for sure is nobody knows what the A-rig will effect either positive or negative, because it hasn't been out long enough . If you say you do, show me your scientific proof. Anything else is just an uneducated opinion.

[JC25]

I want to clarify my last statement. I was just being outlandish based on the knee jerk reactions we are getting from anglers opposed to this rig. Most opposed to this rig Sound as silly to me as banning a popular food or drink because someone somewhere thinks it is bad. I thought it was funny, many may not.