As with anything in fishing or hunting, almost nothing is all good or all bad.
An A-rig is no different.
Darold Gleason shares his views here. The negatives outnumber the positives, but individually the positives are big ones.
Pros
• A-rigs increase the opportunity to catch big bass.
• When A-rigs are the predominant pattern, you will catch more bass. “During the shad spawn, you can catch up to four fish per catch,” Gleason said. “I have caught two 4-pounders at one time.
Cons
• A-rigs are expensive compared to other lures.
• They are strenuous to cast and retrieve.
• They are cumbersome, especially with several people fishing in the same boat. “You have to leave more line out before the cast, and casting is awkward,” Gleason said. “You have to make two-handed swing casts, and you have to provide enough time for the rig to load up the rod on the back-cast.”
• Fishing with A-rigs demands specialized equipment that you don’t use every day.
• Anglers must be skilled with baitcasting equipment. Backlashes and over-runs can easily occur when A-rigs are used.
• A-rigs are best used in lakes with deep, clear water. Some lures move water. Others rattle. Worms are sight lures, but used up close in brush. A-rigs are sight lures, so the clearer the water, the farther the fish can see it.