Alabama Rig Use

[chip]

Seen this on the MDWFP site today!


Press Release

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
1505 Eastover Drive, Jackson, MS, 39211
Phone: 601-432-2400


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 6, 2012

Alabama Rig Illegal to Fish in Some Mississippi Lakes

JACKSON – The newest, hottest lure in bass fishing, the Alabama Rig, has generated much discussion regarding whether it is legal use in Mississippi waters. The Alabama Rig has five wire arms extending from the center of the bait, with each arm having a clip or swivel on the end. A variety of baits, typically swimbaits or grubs, are attached to it. The “device” basically allows an angler to cast multiple lures on a single cast.

The Alabama Rig, as defined above, is illegal to use in the following waters due to regulations that limit the number of lures and/or hooks that can be fished per pole.
•Grenada, Arkabutla, Sardis, and Enid Lakes
•Spillways of Ross Barnett and Okatibbee Reservoirs
•Spillways of Grenada, Enid, Sardis, and Arkabutla Lakes from spillway outlets to the end of the riprap
•Bluff Lake spillway in Noxubee County
•Lowhead dam on Ross Barnett Reservoir from the dam to the end of the Idle Speed Only/No Wake Zone area downstream of the dam.
The Alabama Rig is legal to fish everywhere else in Mississippi.

For more information regarding freshwater fishing in Mississippi, please visit our website at http://www.mdwfp.com or feel free to give us a call at (601) 432-2200.

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[B_Thompson]

I just read the same thing in the new Bass Times.

[JayLaw]

I dont get down there much since i moved, but may come down and fish with a buddy from time to time.

This i understand: Lowhead dam on Ross Barnett Reservoir from the dam to the end of the Idle Speed Only/No Wake Zone area downstream of the dam.

That will lead to some serious questions when fishing the rez. So you can have it fishing the main lake, and half way up the river, but once you go thru the idle zone, you cant fish with it. and what constitues fishing with it, say your on the main lake and have it out and you run up the river past the idle zone and its still laying on your deck, would this be considered illegal? Oh i can see the tournament protest now....i saw so and so with an a-rig up above the idle zone...

Too many varibles to have half a lake with one law and the other half under another set of laws. If i dont have the areas of the lake correct then nevermind but i believe i know the areas in which this law is talking about and see nothing but problems with it.

But what does this mean? Spillways of Ross Barnett and Okatibbee Reservoirs

Does that mean the river below the dam, which is essentially the pearl river and no longer the Rez? Or is it the entire area lower dam rip rap area of the Rez that you cant fish it? The other spillways are defined as the outlet of the spillway to the end of the rip rap. The one for the Rez just says spillway, so is this the outlet side or the entire length of the dam on the southern end of the lake?

[spotted_bass]

what it boils down to is that you cant use the A-Rig in the tailrace area of the rez. The no-wake zone mentioned starts about 1/4 mile below the low head dam so below that 400 yard stretch it would be legal. This area is approx 25 miles northeast from Hwy 43 ramp.

It would also be illegal below the Barnett spillway until you get past the parking lot on the Rankin County side.

[JayLaw]

Ok thats a little better, Hope they post these areas with some signs though, as i can still see it causing some confusion. I thought they were talking about the first no wake zone going up the river near that sharp bend to the right if i remember right, that would have left a couple miles of river before the low head dam. But if its only the the first few hundred yards below the dam then thats not too bad. Just sucks that all these lakes and states have to have sooo many different set of rules just to go out and go fishing.

[spotted_bass]

actually the first no wake zone is at Ratliffs Ferry (9 miles from Hwy 43 ramp) which is still about 15 miles by boat to the lowhead dam. There are 5 no wake zones up the river. Ratliff Ferry is the first one. 3 miles up is the Eddies Island no wake zone. About 1/4 mile above that is the Flag Island no wake zone. Go another 5 miles or so you will get to the Coal Bluff no wake zone. Go another 5 miles or so and there you will find the low head dam no wake zone. Hope this helps..........

[Stanford]

Looks like if you get one with 4 arms you will be good to go.

[JayLaw]

5 no wake zones ? Hmmm, only remember one as being posted, not sure how many people know about 5 of them cause it sure never felt that i saw too many people idling going up the river BY the way what is the exact number of hooks you can throw on the A-rig to be legal on the REZ? I guess i could go look it up...but feeling lazy today

[spotted_bass]

The only new no wake zone is the one at Eddies Island. Its about 5 years old. The others have been there since I started fishing this lake in 1979. Also the no wake at Flag Island was extended 1/2 mile south about 5 years ago. They are all clearly marked. You dont have to idle the river in between the no wake zones. The only one that seems like it is forever is the Eddies Island no wake and the Flag Island no wake because there is only about 1/4 mile between the two.

As for the hook numbers to be legal in the areas specified as illegal, I think that number is 2. 3 hooks and more would be illegal in the areas specified. I would have to research more to be 100% sure.

[spotted_bass]

I dont think 4 hooks would be legal. The Rez is also governed by the Pearl River Valley Authority in addition the the MDWFP. There are additional regulations in the specified areas because of a problem we had with "snaggers" a few years back.

These specified areas are really insignificant because you are only talking about less than 1/100th? of 1 percent of the lake..... i.e. the tailrace area of the lowhead dam which is only a 1/4 mile stretch where the tailrace is.

The bottom line is that the 5 arm A-Rig is legal in 99.99% of the rez.

[murdrd_out]

Kinda glad I don't have an Bama rig yet ! Lol it'll be extinct before long I fear it but would love to try one when I find a supplier in stock !

[B_Thompson]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by colreb2000 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I probably shouldn't give you boys any hints......but hell, I don't fish the Rez. The "definition" of the rig is what I would be focusing on instead of where I could fish it. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
</td></tr></table>

Well aren't you just in a helpful mood today.

[Stanford]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by murdrd_out &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Kinda glad I don't have an Bama rig yet ! Lol it'll be extinct before long I fear it but would love to try one when I find a supplier in stock ! </td></tr></table>

Give Joey Watts a call, he has them in stock, and he is a great guy to deal with.

[corn]

got me a new BUZZIN RIG, this thing is the deal. it has a buzzer in front of a low profile head with 3 wires and only weighs 3/8 oz.

[aussiebasser]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by corn &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">got me a new BUZZIN RIG, this thing is the deal. it has a buzzer in front of a low profile head with 3 wires and only weighs 3/8 oz. </td></tr></table>

Where do you fit the batteries.

[corn]

only batteries needed are for the weigh-in scales, BUZZIN RIG, BUZZIN RIG, BUZZIN RIG gonna be awsome, get the net, get the net