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Throwing the A-Rig in Louisiana’s Cold Snap
When a rare February snowstorm blanketed Southeast Louisiana, most anglers stayed huddled by the fireplace. But for Jason Pittman of Covington, those bone-chilling conditions presented an opportunity to put one of bass fishing’s most effective techniques to work – the Alabama Rig.
“It doesn’t get cold often here in South Louisiana, but when it does, I like to find those deep holes where I know the bass will be grouped,” Pittman said. With water temperatures plummeting to 43 degrees in the Tchefuncte River, his approach proved deadly effective, producing a ton of bass in just two hours.
Pittman is a professional bass fisherman who lives in Covington, LA. I had a chance to make a trip with him in an attempt to pick his brain and watch how he uses his A-Rig to catch winter bass.
For those fishing along the Gulf Coast in February, here are a few tips that will hopefully help you catch those cold-water toads.
1. Light Heads for Shallow Waters
Unlike the deep reservoirs up north where the Alabama Rig first made its mark, our Louisiana waters rarely reach 30 feet. “The water just doesn’t get deep enough around here to use heavy jigheads,” Pittman explained. “In 20 feet of water or less, I usually use 1/16-ounce heads with solid hooks.” This lighter approach allows the rig to stay in the strike zone longer without constantly dragging bottom.
2. The Right Tools for the Trade
When you’re throwing what amounts to a small baitfish party at the end of your line, proper equipment becomes crucial. Pittman relies on a 7.3′ heavy rod paired with a KastKing MegaJaws baitcasting reel spooled with 20-pound Covert Fluorocarbon line. This combination provides enough backbone to handle the rig’s weight while maintaining the sensitivity needed to detect those subtle winter bites.
3. Finding the Sweet Spots
In southern river systems, success often comes down to finding the deepest hole in the river. Do a little research ahead of time in order to find the deepest sections of the river. The deepest holes will most likely be found near bends in the river or where deeper channels meet shallow flats. On this trip, Pittman’s success came from positioning his boat along the shoreline and making long casts toward the river’s center, where pre-spawn bass often stage before moving into the canals and creeks.
4. The Cold Water Crawl
When water temperatures drop into the 40s, slow and steady wins the race. “They were grouped up pretty good down there,” Pittman notes, but getting them to bite required a methodical approach. Let the rig pendulum down to the proper depth, then retrieve just fast enough to keep the swimbaits kicking. Those lethargic winter bass aren’t looking to chase, but they can’t resist what appears to be an easy meal passing right by their faces.
5. Match the River Hatch
While the traditional A-rig setup calls for five identical baits, don’t be afraid to mix it up. While Pittman’s success came on five white 4-inch swimbaits, our waters often hold multiple bait species at once. Consider running slightly smaller baits on the outer arms with a larger swimbait down the middle, mimicking a pod of bait fish protecting their larger cousin.
Whether you’re fishing the Tchefuncte, Pearl, or any other Louisiana river system, the A-rig has proven itself as a cold-weather producer. Just remember – when those rare winter cold fronts push through and drop the water temperature into the 40s, that’s when this technique really shines. As Pittman says with a knowing smile, “That A-Rig fools them every time.”
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