The Versatile Umbrella Rig
Teaser rigs have been part of the offshore game plan for decades. Of late, the freshwater bassing crowd has discovered this “new” way of catching fish. However, what some in the saltwater world don’t realize is how well these rigs excel inshore.
The castable umbrella rig offers saltwater anglers the same advantages freshwater fishermen enjoy; the illusion of a natural looking cluster of baitfish swimming together. When worked through fishy water, the umbrella triggers aggressive strikes from both active, as well as inactive residents.
The versatile rigs are available in a variety of sizes and configurations. Some are equipped with multiple jigs, each equipped with its own hook. These multi-hook setups work great, however, they can be a bit of a mess when fish turn aggressive and multiple fish hang on the rig. They can also be cumbersome to throw for any length of time, as they’re physically heavy, requiring stout gear.
The best compromise is a rig equipped with multiple spinner blades and one single trailer jig. These simplified set-ups have a propensity to attract plenty of takers and they are much lighter and easier to cast on conventional gear.
Lawrence Taylor, Public Relations Manager at PRADCO (makers of YUM umbrella rigs) is an umbrella rig guru and has been throwing these with tremendous success in the salt since they first burst on the scene a couple years ago. Taylor offered these tips when channeled for some insider information.
Heavy braid. Heavy braid, in the 65-pound range is best for managing umbrella rigs. Strikes are vicious and often several fish are hooked at once. The stiff braid has little stretch and ensures hook-ups.
Slow roll. Fish the umbrella rig on long casts and work it very slowly. For some reason, a rig that is a worked too briskly doesn’t attract the strikes of a slow-rolled rig.
Inactive fish. The rig shines when the fish are lethargic following a cold front or other weather that has them shut down. The added flash and the perception of a school of bait swimming by triggers inactive fish.
Muddy and murky. Multi-bladed umbrella rigs work well in off-color water. The multiple lures put off an enormous amount of flash and vibration; helping fish locate the rig under less than ideal conditions.
