B.A.S.S. bans the uses of the Alabama Rig

Article Located at Wired2Fish

We just received a communication from B.A.S.S. that in essences bans the uses of the Alabama Rig in competition and practice for the Bassmaster Classic and the Elite Series competitions. Here is their communication in full:

B.A.S.S., upon the recommendation of its Bassmaster Elite Series Rules Committee, has amended its tournament rules to limit anglers competing in the Bassmaster Classic and Bassmaster Elite Series to the use of a single lure during practice and competition.

The rule change, which does not apply to Bassmaster Open, B.A.S.S. Federation Nation, College B.A.S.S. and other events, clarifies the intent of long-standing rules permitting only one rod, one reel and one cast at a time. No longer permitted are double soft jerkbait rigs, drop shot rigs with jigs used as weights, double topwater setups and other multi-lure rigs, such as “umbrella rigs.”

Read more: B.A.S.S. bans the uses of the Alabama Rig

A Word of Boating Advice

As you know many anglers are hardcore fisherman in the winter.  Even if there is five inches of snow on the ground, a serious tournament angler is going to head to the water.  A big problem I encounter in the winter doesn’t have to deal with fishing but more about the boat ramp being froze over.  I’ve hit my brakes too quick and would slide a little down the ramp.  My heart skips a beat for a second then the tires finally catch.  Though, I’ve never seen an accident from the situation, it’s still something to think about.

Last year though, I had an experience that I’ll never forgot.  Good friend, Kenneth Griffin and I loaded the boat and went down to Guntersville last January.  We put in at Waterfront in the mid-lake area.  Once we got there, we recognized the lake was froze over with 3 inches of ice!  We fished up till 11:00 a.m., without much success.  We then decided to spend our afternoon back on Tim’s Ford lake to catch some smallmouth.  Once we arrived back to home water, I got in the boat and Kenneth started to back me in.  Once he pulled the emergency brake, the boat slid off the trailer and landed on the bottom pad, and the skeg!  We were shocked and didn’t know what to say!

This is a problem I can see happening to many anglers.  I see too many people unlatch there boat at the top of the ramp, or halfway down.  I see this most when anglers are hurrying to get their boat in the water before a tournament.  Though it doesn’t happen much, I experienced first hand what can happen.  So please be smart and back your boat almost in the water completely before latching in the wintertime.  Especially when the boat ramp you are using is steep, or you have went fishing earlier, and your running boards freeze over!

To make a long story short, instead of calling a crane, we backed the boat 8 feet down to the water.  We got buckets and poured water on the ramp and let it freeze and back the boat down.  We figured there was already a hole in the bottom pad and later found out we were correct!

This was a lesson learned for me.  Though other anglers may get upset, I will continue to unlatch the boat almost in the water and take up more time launching.  But this was a stomach cringing experience!  I don’t want any angler to experience this and become boatless a couple of months!  Also, be sure to wear your flotation devices!  It could save your life!  God Bless and best wishes fishing!

-Cody Gass

Sorry Kenneth, but I had to post the picture! Haha!

Winter Smallmouth Fishing with the Alabama Rig?

The big boom heard around the fishing world is the famous "Alabama Rig."  For those of you who have not heard this bait was invented by Andy Poss of north Alabama.  The lure was then made famous by Paul Elias' miraculous showing this last fall on Guntersville.  I was skeptical about this lure at first.  I knew it would catch fish in the fall when the bass have the bait pushed up and feeding.  But what about winter, spring, and summer?  This question will have to wait awhile to be answered.

    To give a quick run-down of the "A-rig," it is simple.  Five steel or aluminum wires rigged with swivels and snaps.  It is meant to hold five swimbaits, imitating a ball of baitfish.

Here is a picture of Andy Poss' creation.

Click here to read more on the Alabama RigWinter Smallmouth Fishing with the Alabama Rig?

Montana Wolves Under Threat

Congress stripped wolves of protection under the Endangered Species Act earlier this year, Montana has been encouraging hunting to drastically reduce its wolf population. To date, at least 120 wolves have been "harvested," but this is not enough for the state. Montana is extending its hunting season past the original Dec. 31 limit, through mid-February, to meet its ultimate target: 220 wolves dead. This would reduce the population to 425 wolves -- a 25 percent drop.

Help This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   the email subject is filled out for you and so is the body text, you don't even have to write, just click the link and send it. How hard can that be and you will be part of this movement to help stop the slaughter of the wolves. Its time we stand to fight decision like this especially when they have been made with no regard to what we the people want. Government officials have no right to make this decision without the consent of ALL parties who hold an interest in this. Click the link and send it!!

If you don't have an email program then visit their site and fill out this online form here and ask him to suspend the hunt and let Montana's wolves live. The Tennessee Outdoorsman strongly opposes the hunting of these wolves and will stand behind all who endeavor to have this senseless slaughter stopped. We will have more on this story later this week.