Yumbrella/Alabama Rig

[Deleted]

Hi all

I have just ordered a couple of Yumbrella Rigs (Alabama Rigs) after seeing them used on one of the Yank bass fishing programmes. One is a 5 rig outfit rigged with shads and the other a smaller 3 rig outfit fitted with small curl tails which should be a killer for perch.

They look an awesome bit of kit but I was wondering if anyone has had any experience of using such rigs?

My main concern is the possibility of hooking fish in their bodies as well as in their mouths as there are multiple hooks and jigs.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Regards Ian

[Izzetafox]

Are they the rigs that some of the US comps have banned? Supposed to impersonate a small shoal of fish?

Terry

[Daz]

That's the one Terry, one thing that would put me off is you have to many flying hooks that could very easily cause damage to the hooked fish,

Daz

[philpot]

Are they allowed in the UK fresh water venues

Phil

[Deleted]

I am not sure if they are allowed. I don't know of any such ban. I got them cheap off ebay but they are genuine yumbrella rigs with jigs and curl tails. Just the rigs without the baits are very expensive to buy.

My friend has the gear for making spinner baits so we are thinking of trying to replicate them but with one bait on a slightly longer wire with that bait the only one having a hook and the others as attractors. Not sure if this will work and might just result in a lot of missed takes. But who knows?

I am a lot like Daz and can't resist lures, especially anything new or something I haven't seen before. So I bought these without giving it much thought, I just couldn't resist. I have dozens of lures still unopened and this might be the case with these. Let me make it clear I certainly won't use them if not allowed to on a venue or if they cause any unnecessary damage to a fish.

I bought them more out of interested and that is why I asked if anyone has any experience with these lures.

Ian

[Izzetafox]

No criticism is intended Ian. I think we are just going by snippets picked up off the net. Not sure why there are selective bans in the US. I think I will have a look.

Luritis is a serious disease and very infectious, I think I have caught a mild form off Daz.

Terry

[Izzetafox]

Ian,
All I can find about the ban is that it applies to certain pro tournaments. Apparently it refers to the multi hook versions as it contravenes the 'fish with only a single lure'. I guess each hook is deemed to be a lure??

It has never been banned for recreation anglers and I have not seen any negative comments on fish welfare. Personally as Daz says I would be wary of too many hooks flying around but a series of blades surrounding a lure would create the desired 'shoal' effect but be a lot safer without a load of sharp hooks flying around.

If you are signed up for the Lure Angler Society Forum ( Free) take a look at this thread for comments.
www.lureanglers.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=16935

Let us know how it goes mate.

Terry

[Deleted]

Unfortunately my illness is not mild. I have had it in check for a while now but feel I have fallen off the wagon.

I wasn't offended by the replies, the whole point was to get feedback on something I know little of.

The guy I bought them off said the smaller one was brilliant for perch. Although the larger one is only rigged with curl tails of about 60mm.


They have just arrived and I must admit they do look good. Not sure what to do really but I may try them out at the weekend when I go to the Lakes (unfortunately family holiday and no yaks allowed). They may be something more suited to sea fishing for mackerel and bass so that's another possibility.

Ian

[Deleted]

Terry

I am just looking at them and the larger 5 rig one comes with spinner blades on each stem with a swivel and link at the end. The larger one has one arm in the middle and four on the outside so it looks as if I could fish it with just the one curl tail rigged in the centre if I wanted.

Looks like I may have to open these now and have a trial as soon as possible. I will have a look on the LAS forum as well.

Cheers
Ian

[Deleted]

Terry

Looked at that thread on the LAS forum. It certainly provoked a response from the locals. Looks like most are dead against these lures but a few good points raised as well regarding potential damage from other lures most lure anglers chuck without too much concern. I certainly know of a few multi hooked lures, all from reputable manufacturers, that do cause damage to pike when they roll so I have since removed certain trebles to avoid this.

If I do ever try these lures in their intended form I will definitely crush the barbs at the very least and report back on the results. It goes without saying though that if they do cause any unnecessary damage they will not be used again. For now though they can go in the Devils cupboard with all my other unopened impulse buys!

Ian

Ian

[philpot]

Hi Ian, can you put up a photo of these things, I am very curious.

Phil

[Deleted]

Hi Phil

The ones I bought are from a company called YUM www.yumbaits.com/ Please check the website for pictures. Hence the name Yumbrella. One is called a Yumbrella Ultralight Tripod and has 3 wire stems with very small 35mmish curl tails and approx. 2g jigs. The larger is the Yumbrella Flash Mob Junior and has 5 stems with 60mmish curl tails with approx. 4g jigs. I won't be opening the packaging on these unless I actually use them. You don't get the full effect in the packaging. I bought them more out of curiosity, desire and impulse. If only all lures caught fish as easy as they catch me.

Try yumbrella rig on youtube too to see them being used.

Also known more commonly as Alabama Rig.

Ian

[philpot]

Interesting, thanks Ian.

By the way, did you sell the boat.

Phil

[Deleted]

Hi Phil

Yes I did sell the boat. Got the full asking price but I was only ever going to take that. I am going to concentrate on kayaking for the near future but will probably get another boat at a later date.

I had an inflatable and bought an outboard to go with it but didn't like the package so sold that too. If the right inflatable package takes my fancy I may get another one to give me other options without taking up too much space. I am also considering motorising my sons Trident 11 so I may come calling for your help on a Torqeedo, although they are a bit dear so its just a thought at the moment. Its just that he is only 11 and I am getting fed up of towing him when we go on the river.

Have you found a job yet?

Ian

[philpot]

Now given up on the job front and fully retired, just waiting for the pensions to get sorted which will take a couple of weeks.

I can get you a Torqeedo at trade price if you are interested, may sell mine yet because I am going to buy another inflatable when my dosh comes through and actively looking now. I have had 5 inflatables so know what I am looking for which will get me back into doing some fishing on the salty stuff again as well as fresh water. A good friend of mine has just bought a Honwave inflatable and that has made me see just how much both the family and myself miss mine.

Phil

[Deleted]

Phil

I am looking for an inflatable of about 3.4mtr with a 9.9 or 15hp outboard. Must be able to be packed away for storage. The trouble is I am really fussy and always looking for a bargain.

What are your recommendations on an inflatable. I have had 2 in the past, both 2.9mtr with air decks and inflatable keels. The air decks are good and theres less gear to cart around and store than the aluminium floor type.

Ian

[philpot]

The best bet for this is to give me a call because there are plenty of options but here are a few.

Zodiac--really good but pricey ( Bombard and Avon are owned by Zodiac )
Excel---good reputation and the UK market leader
Honda Honwave--good design and well made
Sea Search--heavy duty, very good
Seapro--heavy duty, well made

Aluminium deck, strong and very durable but adds to the weight by a large amount.

Air deck, two types, fixed and detachable. Fixed can make handling the boat when folded heavy. The removable type make light of moving the folded pack but can on certain boats rub against the hull/transom.
Then we have 'V' deck and flat deck, this is a matter of personal choice but you must consider sharp stones or objects can damage the floor. One company can supply a neoprene cover to put on the floor to protect it or you can even make one out of 3mm painted ply to cover the deck whilst remaining light.

Size, well I have had 2.85 up to 4mt and others in between, it depends what you want to do with it and how often will you have to handle the boat on your own. I can only speak for myself, I have been looking at 3.8--3.9mt boats but to be honest I think I will go for 3.4-3.5 as they give enough space for family use but not too heavy for using on my own.

Engines---------------------how long is a piece of string. Again for me it has to be 2 stroke because they are lighter than 4 stroke and offer quicker acceleration from the off, they also tend to be good starters but the important thing with all outboards and in particular 2 stroke motors is to feather the engine when you finish for the day before taking the boat home because most issues of poor starting come from leaving fuel/oil in the motor. Take a few minutes to run the motor out of fuel unless you are using it the next day or run it until dry at home with a pair of mufflers attached via the hose pipe so you are cleaning any salt out as well as getting rid of excess fuel.

I am looking at a 20hp but to be honest finding a good 20 2 stroke is easier said than done so I may well go back to old faithful 15hp which is a nice all rounder. Weighing in at 30-37kg, a 15hp is manageable for a retired ole tart like me and with only a couple of people in the boat, it will fly. It does become a little more sedate with say 5 adults on board but nevertheless turns a reasonable speed. This is however where the 20-25hp would really come into it's own but then you are really restricted to having a trailer which I do not want. The average weight of a 20hp 2 stroke is around 42kg ish, a 4 stroke jumps to around 50-60kgs.

It is worth noting that Honda, for example, use the same block on a 10, 15 and 20hp so there is very little difference in weight, another company could have the 20 come from a 25hp block so you need to check with manufacturers specs. it is quite common to have a 10 and a 15hp at the same weight so unless the boat or cost is an issue, I would always go for the 15hp

It is a big subject and like cars, kayaks and just about any item that is bought, we all like different things, try to stick with known brands that have a long warranty period and support and repair staff should the need arise.

hope that helps a little.

Phil

[Deleted]

Phil

You are on the same wavelength as me with regards to makes. The last one I sold was an Excel and it was a decent quality boat.

My ideal outboard would be a 2 stroke 15hp for all the reasons you said. Thanks for the tip on the blocks as this wasn't something I was aware of. My last outboard was a Yamaha 2 stroke and it was fantastic so I wouldn't mind another.

The problem now is finding one second hand in good condition and not too far away. They don't come up too often in this area and travelling too far can be dangerous as not only do you spend a fortune on fuel but the fact you have travelled a long way could cloud your judgement.

I am going to the Lake District today and was hoping to find one before I went but never mind. I will keep an eye out while I am over there as they do come up quite often around that area for obvious reasons.

Cheers Ian

[philpot]

Getting a 15hp is not a problem, I know where there are several but not cheap, expect to pay £1000-1500 for a cracker with a 3 month warranty but let me know if you want one and I will PM you the details.

Phil

[Deleted]

Cheers Phil, I will probably buy private if I can. Will be looking to pay up to £2000 for a complete package so if you see anything then please let me know.

In the Lakes now, just about to crack open a beer and get in the hot tub.

Ian

[philpot]

Oh my heart bleeds for you Ian

Phil