Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 25

Bass, not really big ones.
the rig. But following several
Furthermore, I can generally
missed strikes after fish hit
catch more Smallmouth
the dummy baits rather
Bass on other baits at this
than a hook bait, I removed
time than with the A-rig. I
the dummy baits. With just
just throw it for a change of
three baits, I caught my first
pace," said Black.
Largemouth Bass with the
Instead of the typical
rig," said Stuyvesant.
4- to 6-inch swimbaits used
However, when fishing
on A-rig frames, Black
his two favorite Pennsylvania
employs 2.8-inch swimbaits.
waters-Conneaut Lake
He points out that the
and Lake Erie-Stuyvesant
smaller baits are actually
experienced better A-rig
a better representation of
success on Smallmouth Bass
schooling baitfish in many
than Largemouth Bass. "For
Pennsylvania waters.
me, the best time to fish
His A-rig casting
an A-rig is during the early
outfit is a 7-foot heavy
spring cold water and the late
action rod spooled with
fall cold water, the very times
40-pound hollow core
suspending jerkbaits also
braid and an 8-foot,
shine for Smallmouth Bass."
20-pound fluorocarbon
His outfit for throwing
leader interlocked in the
this unusual lure is a
braid core. "You need the
specially designed 7-foot,
stiffness of a fluorocarbon
2-inch A-rig rod with a
leader attached to the bait
standard retrieve (5.1:1)
to prevent tangles. With
baitcaster spooled with
braid tied direct to the
20-pound fluorocarbon line.
rig, you are asking for line
"The secret is to run the
entanglement," said Black.
A-rig slowly. With a highspeed retrieve reel you risk
Northern anglers typically
moving the bait too fast,"
find an A-rig to be most
said Stuyvesant.
productive when water
To keep the A-rig from
temperature is in the low
rolling over during a retrieve,
40s to low 50s. In the South,
Stuyvesant employs 1/2-ounce
it is almost exclusively a
jig heads on the bottom
wintertime bait. However,
wires and 1/8- or 1/16-ounce jig
early on, I wanted to test an
heads on the upper wires.
A-rig during summer to see
Dale Black's favorite A-rig has 9 baits each on a jig head. He
Dale Black, President
if it produced.
uses swimbaits that are 2.8 inches long.
of Gamma Fishing Line,
The very first cast I made
Oil City, was met with
with an A-rig in July on Lake
immediate success when he tried the A-rig four years ago.
Wilhelm, Mercer County, over offshore structure where
"It was mid-April on Raystown Lake," said Black. "My
shad schools were observed on the depth finder yielded a
partner and I had fished all morning without a bite, so I
respectable Largemouth Bass. Then, nothing in the next
decided to try a nine-bait A-rig, which I had picked up at a
four hours.
sports show. I cast it across a point, counted it down to 15
On Conneaut Lake, Crawford County, Marilyn and I
feet and began a slow retrieve. When a Largemouth Bass
tried it on suspected Smallmouth Bass suspended off the
nailed it, I was shocked. Since then, I have used it routinely side of a mid-lake hump without success. But, we did catch
on trips to Raystown Lake in the early spring. The A-rig
a couple of small Largemouth Bass casting over grass beds,
produces one or two nice Largemouth Bass for me but
plus several White Bass. White Bass hit so hard that the rod
certainly not numbers."
was almost ripped from my hands.
In addition, Black uses an A-rig during early spring in
I now consider the A-rig with 3-inch baits one of the best
pools on the Allegheny River to catch Smallmouth Bass.
summer presentations for schooling White Bass. If you fish
"The best time is early April to early May. However, on the
a lake with White Bass, give it try, but be sure to have a firm
river, it seems to catch mostly average sized Smallmouth
grip on your fishing rod.
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * September/October 2019

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019

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