In 2014, FLW Tour anglers will not be allowed to cast an umbrella rig in competition.
According to the new FLW Tour rules published this afternoon at FLWOutdoors.com, Rule 12 which covers "Permitted Fishing Methods," now includes the sentence, "Alabama rigs and similar umbrella-type rigs are not permitted."
To read the 2014 FLW Tour rules, click here.
“FLW has thoughtfully studied the use of umbrella rigs for two seasons, and we’ve decided to no longer permit their use on the FLW Tour,” Kathy Fennel, FLW president of operations, said in a release announcing the new rules. “The rigs have simply evolved to a point that we can no longer wait for state-enforced restrictions to be developed. That said, umbrella rigs will be permitted in our other tournament circuits, but with restrictions that limit them to a maximum of five wires outfitted with a maximum of five spinners and five lures, only three of which can have hooks. This decision is consistent with the wishes of a majority of our anglers while heading off potential conservation concerns.”
BassFans will recall Paul Elias won the 2011 Lake Guntersville FLW Tour Open by catching schooling fish on the Alabama Rig, a five-wire apparatus, created by Andy Poss, who then licensed the product to Mann's Bait Company.
Since then, the fishing tackle market has exploded with various versions and offshoots of the multi-lure rig. Despite some vocal opposition from several anglers, the rig has been allowed at the Tour level for the last two seasons. It appears the opponents will get their wish for the coming season.
B.A.S.S. decided to ban the use of the rig in Elite Series tournaments prior to the 2012 season, but allows it in the Opens. The PAA recently announced its membership voted to stop allowing umbrella rig in future PAA events, but the board of directors will make the final decision.
Also of note for 2014 is that Tour payouts have been restructured to pay out $10,000 for places 21-60 in full-field events. First place still pays $100,000, but some money was taken from the Top 10 in order to pump up the lower-level payouts next year.
