THE BASS COLLEGE

Hey guys, I am running into some questions, I looked up the regulations for the alabama rig and lines per rod for certain states and am finding different numbers, NY i found it can only be 3, maryland 2? Can someone help find the actual regulation for MD, NY, (great lakes, and 1000 islands), Indiana, please thanks bros lol

Not sure on NY but MD is two

Here is what the DNR in Marylands response was to an email concerning this:

i) Restrictions on certain hooks.-

(1) Except in State waters in the Atlantic Ocean, a person may not use more than 2 hooks or 2 sets of hooks for each rod or line.

(2) For the purposes of this subsection, artificial lures or plugs with multiple or gang hooks are considered 1 set of hooks. <

4-617. Restrictions on fishing in nontidal waters.

(a) Use of rods, lines, and hooks.- Except when fishing through ice, a person may not angle with more than three rods and lines with two hooks to each line. Artificial lures or plugs with multiple or gang hooks are considered one unit.

Sgt. Art Windemuth

Public Information Officer

Office of the Superintendent

Maryland Natural Resources Police

580 Taylor Ave. E-3

Tawes State Office Building

Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Office: (410) 260-8850 *NEW*

Fax: (410) 260-8878

SO....... it appears to still be a little gray, but here is how I see it.

1... plugs, no matter how many sets of hooks are considered 1 set.

2... Sabiki rigs ARE legal in the ocean, not in bays

3... there is no limit on the number of rods set in tidal waters

a question I am gonna submit is..." since Sabiki rigs are not baited, and sold with multiple hooks are they considerd " artificial lures" which would then make them legally an artifical lure and allowed multiple hooks.

Lets see how that stands

therefore since the alabama rig is a gang its consider one set of hooks, therefore in md, specifically the lower potomac you can throw an alabama rig with 5 hooks, since they are one set ,

That is how it reads from what he said right?? I interpret it that way.

The Law in Tennessee

When Elias first learned of the Alabama rig, he intended to use it at Lake Guntersville below the Nickajack Dam. Lucky for him, he didn't. Those are Tennessee waters, and they were put off limits by tournament officials before the event started. In Tennessee, certain umbrella rigs are illegal. Here's how that regulation — in place since 2002 — puts it: "Umbrella Rig Restriction: Umbrella rigs are defined as an array of more than 3 artificial lures or baits (with or without hooks) used by a single rod and reel combination.

If the hook size is 6 or larger, then only one lure or bait may have a hook and that hook must be a single hook." Therefore, it appears you can use an Alabama rig in Tennessee only if (1) it has three or fewer lures or baits or (2) the hooks you use on the rig are size 6 or smaller or (3) if you choose to use a bigger hook, then only one bait or lure can have a hook in it and it must be a single hook.

Another site erroneously reported that the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency had called an emergency meeting to rule on the legality of the Alabama rig and they changed the regs to allow it. Not true. After speaking with Bobby Wilson, Chief of Fisheries for TWRA, I can report that no such meeting took place and none is planned.

Tennessee's restriction on umbrella rigs stands as set forth in their fishing regulations. Violate it at your peril. Wilson expressed concern over the rig's potential for catching multiple fish at once (which, of course, is something many anglers like about it) and its propensity for foul hooking fish caught on it and adding to mortality rates. TWRA has been getting so many inquiries re the legality of the Alabama rig, they issued a clarification on Thursday.

The Law in Iowa

The relevant regulation in Iowa covers permissible hook configurations and provides as follows:

"When fishing by hook and line you cannot use more than two lines or more than two hooks on each line when still fishing or trolling.... When you are trolling and bait casting, you cannot use more than two trolling spoons or artificial baits on one line.... One hook means a single, double or treble-pointed hook, and all hooks attached as a part of an artificial bait or lure shall be counted as one hook." That seems to pretty much shut the door on using any sort of umbrella rig in Iowa.

The Law in Minnesota

The "Land of 10,000 Lakes" is also no friend to the umbrella rigger.

Their regulation regarding hooks reads like this: "Anglers may use only one hook. An artificial lure is considered one hook. A treble hook, when not part of an artificial lure, is considered three hooks and is not legal. The exception is that three artificial flies may be used when angling for trout, crappie, sunfish, and rock bass." Under Minnesota law it appears that two lures equals two hooks and that equals a big no-no.

The Law in Nebraska

Nebraska, perhaps like other states, prohibits anglers from keeping foul-hooked fish. Since the state defines a foul-hooked fish as "any fish hooked externally," and umbrella rigs have a tendency to result in a good deal of foul-hooking (even of fish that are hooked in the mouth by one of the baits), one wonders if the rig would frequently run afoul of the law in the Cornhusker State.

THE LAW IN MAINE

Wrote to the Maine Wild life and Fishery this morning and they got right back to me. It is illegal to use the Alabama Rig or Umbrella Rig in the State of Maine

Here Watch This >>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWWB3pFYCQg

From what I have heard from Maryland you cannot use the Alabama rig with more than two hooks.  Unfortunately that also applies to the Potomac River.

Virginia has no regulations against the Alabama rig but Maryland controls virtually the entire river so their law applies to everything except creeks in VA.  Unfortunately in a tournament you won't be able to prove that you threw the rig only in VA.

thats what i heard too but steve has brought upa valid point

MarcBorger at December 13, 2011 at 12:09 PM

From what I have heard from Maryland you cannot use the Alabama rig with more than two hooks.  Unfortunately that also applies to the Potomac River.

Virginia has no regulations against the Alabama rig but Maryland controls virtually the entire river so their law applies to everything except creeks in VA.  Unfortunately in a tournament you won't be able to prove that you threw the rig only in VA.

Marc that is from the DNR in maryland an email response 

now i am hearing that what steve just posted is for the bay and ocean, which is weird since its from the dnr, i now looked and saw two lures with hooks, we really need to figure this out i guess the best way is to strait contact the dnr and ask

Well, I guess I won't be buying an Alabama rig for awhile.  At least not until I fish some tournaments outside the state next fall. 

I feel sorry for all of the anglers that jumped on the the umbrella rig band wagon before looking at thier own state regulations.

Talk to the State this morning and you can Not use it here in the State of Maine !

Arizona has said that only 2 hooks on a rig. The rest can be hookless, but there can only be 2 means of hooking a fish.

Here in PA your allowed 3 hooks per line.

Waiting on a reply about using the 2 extra baits without hooks. I will post that when I get it.

Greetings Chuck Bellerby,

Thank you for contacting the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. While there are no regulations specifically against the Alabama rig, an angler is permitted a maximum of three hooks per line in Pennsylvania. They can be on one lure, such as a plug with three treble hooks, or there can be three separate hooks on the line. The Alabama rig would be considered unlawful if you exceed the three hook rule. Please feel free to contact our SE Region Law Enforcement Office at 717-626-0228 for further information.

Have a good one,

Andrew Desko

SE Regional Education Specialist

Bureau of Boating & Outreach

Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission

101 Swamp Road

Newtown, PA 18940

Office: 215-968-3631

adesko@pa.gov

I called and found out that you can have all 5 baits on the rig as long as you only have 3 hooks so 2 baits without hooks is legal in PA. 

That is also the regulation in Ohio as well Chuck. Now I just need to know which 3 the bass like the best. I would believe the middle and ones to the bottom first? What do you think?

I think I would leave top and middle without hooks to start. And let the fish decide if I have to change it up. I'll hope to know what the best set up is before I throw it in a tournament.