Don’t get caught fishing dirty! FHC Outdoors has compiled this list of Alabama Rig state regulations to keep
you on the water and out from behind bars. The list is constantly being updated, but remember that state laws may differ from
tournament rules. Never take the word of another person – always contact your state representative or tournament director
for absolute clarification on your specific laws. If retransmitted and copied, FHC Outdoors’ copyright requires a back-link
to this article.
Official State Laws are red and are given to clarify any misunderstanding.
Alabama
Home
of the original Alabama Rig by Mann’s Lures. Fish it with (5) hooked lures and hold on!
Alaska
There are no freshwater bass in Alaska, but
there is some great pike fishing. In that sense, I’m sure this rig works well for pike too. I have contacted ADFG for
clarification and will post the information when it becomes available.
Arizona
As current law
stands, it is advised that you do not rig more than “two” baits onto the Alabama Rig. Depending on how you interpret
“lure” from the rules, an angler should be allowed to rig (2) swimbaits on the rig with hooks and (3) teaser lures
without hooks.
Anglers may use only one line or pole with no more than two hooks. An artificial
lure is considered one hook.
Arkansas
Anglers may use the Alabama Rig according to this
email response from 1/13/2012.
Hi Daniel, yes, at this time, the umbrella rig and the Alabama
rig are legal to use for sport fishing in Arkansas waters.
Kim Cartwright
Media Specialist
California
You
may only have (3) hooks on your Alabama Rig. It has been advised to rig (2) teaser lures or spinnerbait blades onto the rig
to remain legal.
In California, “all fish may be taken only by angling with one closely
attended rod and line or one hand line with not more than three hooks nor more than three artificial lures (each lure may
have three hooks attached) attached thereto” (California Code of Regulations, section 2.00)
Colorado
From my interpretation, anglers can rig (3) lures with hooks onto the Alabama Rig. It appears that you can
rig (2) teaser lures to remain legal.
The following are legal methods of take for species
listed in this chapter. Any method of take not listed herein shall be prohibited, except as otherwise provided by statute
or these regulations:
1. One personally attended line, except as otherwise authorized
in these regulations.
a. Each line shall have no more than 3 common hooks attached.
A common hook is considered (1) lure.
Connecticut
Anglers may used the Alabama Rig with
(5) hooked lures.
Delaware
Anglers may rig (3) hooked lures onto the Alabama Rig, but may not
rig any additional hooks or teasers.
The use of more than three hooks or lures per rod
or pole is prohibited.
Florida
It is legal to use the Alabama Rig with (5) hooked lures.
Georgia
I have contacted Georgia’s Fish and Wildlife for official word on umbrella rigs and will post updated
information as soon as it becomes available.
Hawaii
The only freshwater body
of water told to have bass is the Wahiawa Reservoir Public Fishing Area, on the island of Oahu. In this case, only (2) hooked
lures are allowed on the Alabama Rig.
Response by the Division of Aquatic Resources, State
of Hawaii.
Idaho
It is legal to use the Alabama Rig with (5) hooks.
A hook is deemed to be “a bent wire device, for the catching of fish, to which one, two, or three points may
be attached to a single shank. Up to five (5) hooks per line may be used, except where specifically prohibited.”
Illinois
Anglers
are allowed to rig (2) lures with hooks. It is recommended that the angler rig (3) teaser baits or spinnerbait blades to the
remaining (3) wires.
Indiana
The Alabama Rig may be used with (2) hooked lures. It is recommended
that you use teasers or spinnerbait blades on the remaining (3) wires.
Each line is limited
to no more than two single or multi-barbed hooks, two artificial baits or two live bait harnesses.
Iowa
The Alabama Rig may be used with (2) hooked lures.
Thank you for using
the Iowa DNR website. Unfortunately the Alabama Rig as it is with the five lures is not legal. According to the Fisheries
Bureau you can remove three of the hooks and have the same principle of a line look like a school of fish to attract others.
As long as a rig only has two hooks it would be legal. Clarification provided by Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Kansas
The Alabama Rig is legal in Kansas if you rig (2) hooked lures with teasers
or spinnerbait blades on the remaining (3) wires.
Each angler is limited to two rods (three
with three-pole permit) with no more than two baited hooks (single or treble) or artificial lures per line.
Kentucky
It is legal to use (5) hooked lures with the Alabama Rig.
Clarification
provided by Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Louisiana
It appears that the fully
rigged Alabama Rig is legal to use. I have emailed Louisiana DWF for clarification and will post the answer when it becomes
available.
Maine
It is legal to use (5) hooked lures with the Alabama Rig.
The Alabama rig is legal to use in Maine with the following stipulations: there can only be a single baited hook on the line, the other lines can have artificial lures but you can only have a single baited
hook. If used strictly for artificial lures you can have as many lures on
a line as desired. Clarification provided by Maine Warden Service.
Maryland
Anglers may rig (2) hooked lures onto the Alabama Rig. It is advised to use “teaser” lures or
spinnerbait blades on the remaining (3) wires.
The Department has recently received many
questions about a type of gear called an Alabama Rig. The Department defines the Alabama Rig as an umbrella rig. The umbrella
rig, as described on page 39 of the 2012 Fishing Guide, may not have more than two baits or lures which have hooks. Additional
hooks can be removed to bring the rig into compliance with regulations.
Massachusetts
It appears that Massachusetts State Law has outlawed any lure that is designed to catch “more than one”
fish. In this case, the Alabama Rig is considered illegal.
Michigan
There is some conflicting
information regarding the Alabama Rig in Michigan. Interpreting the rules would make the rig legal with up to (6) hooks. I
have notified Michigan and will post the response when it becomes available.
No more than
three lines per person (including tip-ups) nor more than six hooks or lures may be used. All hooks attached to an artificial
bait or “night crawler harness” are counted as one hook. Hooks must be baited or attached to an artificial bait.
Minnesota
The Alabama Rig is considered illegal in Minnesota.
The Alabama rig would generally not be legal to use in Minnesota. Minnesota does have some newer, more flexible tackle
regulations. But the maximum number of hooks on a single tackle configuration is 3, they must all be on a single line in a
row, and the hooks cannot measure more than 9 inches from the first hook to the last hook. The Alabama rig is not considered
an artificial bait/lure in Minnesota. Clarification provided by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Mississippi
It is legal to use the Alabama Rig in some waters, but is illegal in some waters. Always check the regulations
for each lake and river before fishing.
Game fish may be taken only by hook and line with
one or more hooks (including rod and reel with artificial bait), trolls or trotlines. Each person having a valid fishing license
may use no more than 100 hooks per person.
Missouri
It is legal to
fish the Alabama Rig with (3) hooked lures. It is recommended that the angler use spinnerbait blades on the remaining (2)
wires to remain legal.
Montana
I have written Montana DFW for clarification
on the Alabama Rig. Updated information will be posted as soon as it is received.
Nebraska
It is illegal to fish the Alabama Rig in Nebraska. Pay attention to the details in your laws. This is confirmed.
Nevada
It is legal to use the Alabama Rig with (2) hooked lures attached. It is recommended that the angler use spinnerbait
blades to the remaining (3) wires to remain legal.
No more than three baited hooks, nor
more than three fly hooks, or two lures or plugs irrespective of the number of hooks or attractor blades attached thereto,
may be attached to the line. Some waters have further restrictions.
New Hampshire
It
is illegal to use the Alabama Rig in New Hampshire.
As you can see, the term “an” precedes the words “artificial
bait”. “An” is singular and therefore the fact that the Alabama rig has multiple artificial baits that are
interchangeable on the wires would make it illegal in the state of New Hampshire. Clarification provided by New Hampshire
Fish & Game.
I. Angling: The taking of fish by line in hand, or rod in hand to which
is attached a cast of artificial flies, or an artificial bait, or hooks or other devices for the attachment of bait. A person
may have in use not more than 2 such lines at one time. Nothing in this title shall prohibit the use of a rod-holder in a
boat.
New Jersey
I have contacted New Jersey Fish & Wildlife for clarification and
will post the results as soon as it becomes available.
New Mexico
It is legal to use (5) hooked
lures with the Alabama Rig.
It is legal in our state expect in our Special Trout Waters
and cannot be used for snagging outside of our snagging season. Clarification provided by New Mexico Department of Game and
Fish.
New York
It is legal to fish the Alabama Rig in New York with (5) hooked lures.
…each line is limited to not more than five lures or baits or a combination of both; and in
addition, each line shall not exceed fifteen hook points in any combination of single, double or treble hooks.
North
Carolina
I have contacted North Carolina Wildlife for clarification and will post the results as soon as it
becomes available.
North Dakota
It appears that the Alabama Rig is legal to use if you have
(3) hooked lures and (2) spinnerbait blades or attractors on the remaining (2) wires.
A
lure is defined as any man-made object comprised of metal, plastic, wood and/or other non-edible materials made or used to
catch fish. A lure may not contain more than three hooks and the maximum distance between any hooks on a lure may not exceed
10 inches. A single hook may not include more than three points, barbed or otherwise. Spinners and other live bait rigs and
harnesses are considered a lure and are legal. Hookless dodgers or attractors used ahead of a lure or bait are legal.
Ohio
The Alabama Rig may be used with (3) hooked lures.
An Alabama Rig or Umbrella
Rig, using 5 leaders, is not legal in Ohio. Anglers may only use up to three hooks on each line. The Alabama Rig allows for
5 items to be attached. If a fisherman were to use only 3 of the leaders on the rig, using only 3 hooks in total for the entire
rig, then, they could use the rig, but would be using only part of it. Clarification provided by Ohio’s Division of
Wildlife.
Oklahoma
The Alabama Rig is legal to use with (5) hooked lures.
Oregon
The Alabama Rig is legal to use with (3) hooked lures. It is recommended that the angler use “teaser”
baits without hooks or spinnerbait blades on the remaining (2) wires.
No more than two
hooks may be used while angling for Pacific halibut and no more than three hooks may be used while angling for other
species except herring jigs may be used for marine food fish species. A single, double or treble point hook is classified
as one hook.
Pennsylvania
The Alabama Rig is legal to use with (3) hooked lures. It is
recommended that the angler use spinnerbait blades on the remaining (2) wires to remain legal.
No
more than three hooks shall be attached to a line used in fishing (one hook having two or three points is considered a “single
hook”). All rods, lines and hooks shall be under the immediate control of the person using them.
Rhode
Island
The Alabama Rig is legal to use with (3) hooked lures. It is recommended that the angler use spinnerbait
blades on the remaining (2) wires to remain legal.
Unless otherwise specified, only a rod
and reel or other hand-held and hand-operated device shall be used to catch fish in the fresh waters of the state. At no time
shall a person place, operate, or superintend more than two (2) of these devices for the purpose of catching fish, except
as noted below, and no more than three (3) hooks may be attached to each device.
South Carolina
I
have contacted S.C. DNR and will post updated information as it becomes available.
South Dakota
The
Alabama Rig may be fshed with (3) hooked lures. It is recommended that the angler use spinnerbait blades on the remaining
(2) wires to remain legal.
Two lines and three hooks per line may be used for fishing.
Tennessee
The Alabama Rig may be fished with (3) hooked lures. Anglers may NOT use teaser baits or spinnerbait blades
because Tennessee considers this illegal.
Tennessee defines an illegal umbrella rig as
an array of more than 3 artificial lures or baits (with or without hooks) used by a single rod and reel combination.
Texas
It is legal to fish the Alabama Rig in Texas with (5) hooked baits.
Utah
It
is legal to use the Alabama Rig with (2) hooked lures. I have written Utah DWR for clarification on teaser baits and attractors
for the remaining (3) wires. Result will be posted once it becomes available.
No line may
have attached to it more than two baited hooks, two artificial flies or two artificial lures.
Vermont
It is legal to use the Alabama Rig in Vermont with only (2) hooked lures.
A
person may take fish only by using not more than two lines of which he or she has immediate control. Each line may not have more than two baited hooks, or three artificial flies or two lures with or without bait.
Virginia
It is legal to fish the Alabama Rig with (5) hooked lures.
Washington
It
is legal to fish the Alabama Rig with (3) hooked lures. It is recommended that the angler use “teasers” or spinnerbait
blades on the remaining (2) wires.
Hook and line angling only. Barbed or barbless hooks
may be used, and a hook may be single-point, double, or treble, but not more than one line with up to three hooks per angler
may be used”.
West Virginia
It is legal to use (5) hooked
baits on the Alabama Rig.
While trout fishing in special regulation waters, multiple hook
lures must have barbless hooks. There are no other limits on hooks. Clarification provided by West Virginia Department of
Natural Resources.
Wisconsin
It is legal to use the Alabama Rig with (3) hooked lures.
It is unclear if “teasers” or spinnerbait blades on the remaining (2) wires would be considered illegal. I have
contacted the state for more information.
It is illegal to fish with more than three hooks,
baits, or lures.
Wyoming
It is legal to use the Alabama Rig with (3)
hooked lures. It is unclear if “teaser” baits or spinnerbait blades can be used on the remaining (2) wires. Updated
information will be posted here once it becomes available.
No line may have more than three
(3) single hooked devices attached.
A hook is described as being “a single
hooked device or bait regardless of the number of prongs”.
