How to Fish Bass Using an A Rig Swimbait

The Alabama rig known simply as the "A Rig" is a very specialized technique using a wire based spreader to present the fish you are seeking a group of 3 to 5 swimbaits in a single cast. This gives the fish the illusion of a small school of baitfish swimming by a situation that is much more common in most lakes, rivers, and ponds, than a lone minnow out in the open.

Bait fish have a tendency to school up as there is safety in numbers and so the A rig gives an angler the ability to present a whole ball of bait for the fish to choose from. Using this technique you may catch more than one fish and multiple hook ups are common when fishing around very active largemouth, smallmouth, or striped bass.

The wire spreader generally will have a lead head near the front of the set-up which is colored so make sure to match the color of the swimbaits that you will use. Some states do not allow you to use more than three individual hooked lures so if that is the case you cannot rig up five swimmers in the rig, at least all with hooks.

Some rigs also come with a spinnerbait blade in the middle to kick off a little flash and vibration in the water, so like any lure you will have to try a few different styles and color combinations to learn what works in your local waters. But a simple rig with white big hammer swimbaits will imitate a ball of bait fish anywhere in the country.

Additional Components

The A rig being a specialized technique requires specific tackle to be successful and these are a few guidelines to follow when looking for the right rod, reel, line, swimbaits, jigheads, and other trailers you may want to consider for your A rig set ups.

Rod

A heavy action rod is ideal for a swimbait set up in general and due to the heavy nature of the A rig when it is fully rigged with swimbaits and lead head jigs. I prefer an 8ft Heavy Action rod and go with more of a sideways lob cast to get the lure out in front of the boat and on target. Overhand casts can work as well when you need to get really far out there but the umbrella style spreader can make it hard to be accurate depending on the wind.

Reel

Absolute requirement is a bait casting reel and preferably a little larger spool such as a Curado 300 series or better yet to go with a Calcutta or other larger Shimano round bait casting reel.

Line

I usually like to use braided line from power pro with 50 to 65 lbs. test being best for the water conditions that I fish in. When fishing in clear water situations though I will go with 20 - 25 lbs. fluorocarbon line to gain an advantage over the visibility of the braid.

Swimbaits and Jig Heads

I like to use three styles of swim baits. A paddle tail swimbait and preferably made by big hammer, they have a great action in the tail kick and are very durable. I match these with a 3/0 - 5/0 jig head from big hammer. Hollow body minnow swimbaits, which I will rig up before getting to the lake.

Take an appropriate size jig head and open up the back of the lure and seal the plastic lure back up with superglue or soft plastic glue so that just the hook and eye are exposed from the bait. A different approach to the a rig is to use a large grub like a 5 or 6 inch Yamamoto single or double tail grub and traditional jig heads rigged like you would if just swimming a grub.

This last technique can be reeled in at a snail’s pace allowing the wary fish time to make the decision to strike. Other options include brush bogs and lures with curly appendages that can entice a bite.