CONCORD, N.H. -- Anglers should be aware that the "Alabama rig," a lure gaining popularity in the bass fishing world, is illegal to use in New Hampshire's fresh waters, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department officials said today.
The Alabama rig generated national interest following a well-publicized win by a professional bass angler in a major bass tournament last fall.
Technically, the rig is not a lure, but an apparatus that allows an angler to attach and fish up to five lures on a single line, with the possibility of catching more than one fish at a time. It is basically a castable "umbrella" rig, consisting of a hard body with a line-tie, followed by five wire strands in a fanned out design each with a snap swivel at the end. Anglers can attach a variety of lures to each swivel for a look that is meant to mimic a school of baitfish. A photo of the rig can be seen on the N.H. Fish and Game website at
http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/alabama_rig.html.