A friend who called earlier this week to complain about a decision by B.A.S.S. to ban the Alabama rig from its Bassmaster Classic and the Bassmaster Elite Series was upset to say the least.

He was downright livid that the bait developed by the Shoals’ own Andy Poss would be off limits to anglers in the Classic and the upcoming Elite Series season.

“I bet if one of those fancy boy pros had invented the A-rig instead of Andy, it wouldn’t have been banned,” my hot-under-the collar friend quipped. “The pros can’t believe that a good ol’ boy from Alabama and not one of them developed the hottest bass bait to hit the market in years.”

The Alabama rig has taken bass fishing by storm. The rig consists of a metal head with five wires that allow swim baits or other small baits to be attached. Poss developed it through years of trial and error.

Striped bass anglers have used similar rigs for years. Poss’ invention resembles a down-sized version of the umbrella rigs used to catch striped bass.

Numerous tournaments have been won in recent months by anglers using Alabama rigs.

In banning the Alabama rig in its top competitions, B.A.S.S. officials said the organization’s Elite Series Rules Committee had determined that it took away much of the skill needed to catch bass in top-level competitions.

Anglers in other divisions of B.A.S.S. are still allowed to use the Alabama rig in tournaments. FLW Outdoors allows anglers in all levels of its competitions to use the rig.

Once my friend stopped talking long enough for me to get a word in edge-wise, I told him that the B.A.S.S. ban could actually boost sales of the bait Poss created.

I can see late night infomercials on TV with Alabama rigs being touted as the bait so good that top-level professional anglers

are not allowed to use it in tournaments because it gives them an unfair advantage. Weekend anglers all over the country would be dialing the toll-free number to order Alabama rigs so they too could catch boat loads of bass.

I find it interesting that some of the anglers screaming the loudest for the A-rig ban were getting beat consitantly long before Poss’ invention hit the market.

Alabama rigs are awesome, but they are not miracle baits. There are some days you can’t catch a fish on one, no matter how hard you try.

All baits work great on some days and won’t produce a single bite on others.

Instead of complaining about Alabama rigs, perhaps the whiners need to find another occupation.

If you can’t stand the heat in the kitchen, don’t complain about the stove the better chef is using.

Dennis Sherer can be reached at 256-740-5746 or dennis.sherer@TimesDaily.com.