Mini Umbrella Rigs

Mini Umbrella Rigs By Lee Kelly
There is nothing in the sea that triggers the predatory response in fish more than a passing school of baitfish, and there is nothing that more accurately emulates a school of baitfish than an umbrella rig, period! If umbrellas are set up correctly, they are the most effective lure you can use in your quest for trophy Stripers. Umbrellas are typically four-arm rigs with a single arm length of eight to nine inches shown in illustration 1.
	Standard Umbrella Rig - Illustration 1 However, there is a new kid in town…a short arm version! It is only 12 inches across. This new umbrella rig can be fished at all depths in the water column, but where it really shines is at mid and shallow depths or when there is a strong current or on windy days. If used in combination with full-sized umbrellas, you have one of the most deadly spreads imaginable to entice trophy-sized stripers!
The reason these are so effective is because they trigger the instinctive predatory response in fish. They almost can't help themselves when one of these rigs passes near them. Think of it, stripers migrate to this area with only two things in mind... one is fattening up for the winter. The other? Well, we won't get into that. The umbrella looks and acts like a small group of baitfish (6-inch shad) separated from the large group making them vulnerable. Right behind them is a larger fish (9 or 12-inch shad) focused on and seconds away from a meal. When a striper sees the trailing fish it just has to have it. This is the food chain at its best, and the reason this rig will out fish just about everything else! Constructing your own: The rig I am referring to is shown in illustration 2. Although these can be purchased pre-rigged (for about $20 to $24 dollars), rigging them is simple and you can build your own for less than half the pre rigged cost.
	Materials used to construct an umbrella rig - Illustration 2 What you'll need: To construct an umbrella rig, you'll need a blank four-arm umbrella made out of stainless steel wire, four straight wire 2/0 or 3/0 snap swivels used to securely hold the teaser shads in place, four 6-inch shad bodies of your favorite color, one 9 or 12-inch shad body with at least a 12/0 hook and lastly, 60-80 lb mono to attach the large shad body to the weighted center post.
The pre rigged shad shown here is a Chesapeake Bay Lure product. Larry Demerle is the owner of this company and he lives right here in Virginia Beach. The last item is an inline sinker type weight and split ring. Last fall I found this is a very effective way to add some weight directly to the center post of the umbrella rig. Your favorite local tackle shop will have the other items available and while you are at it, pick up enough tackle to make at least two or three rigs. The three top shad body colors I recommend are chartreuse, pearl and either pure white or gold color. The only place I have been able to locate the short arm stainless umbrellas so far is from CAPT Bob Reed (Bob-A-Long Charters). Bob can be reached at (804) 435-9785. If you mention to him you read this article in the Chesapeake Angler, I believe he will sell you these same short arm umbrella blanks for about $3.00 The easiest and the most secure method of attaching the teaser 6 inch shad is to insert a straight snap swivel into the head of a six-inch the shad body (See illustration 3). Insert the pin into the center of the shad head all the way to the bend in the wire. Twist the swivel so the point comes out of the top of the shad body, and then close the swivel. There are several ways of attaching shad bodies to swivels. I've found that this method is the strongest and most secure. Thread the eye of the swivel onto the arm of the umbrella rig and repeat this process on the remaining arms.
	Illustration 3 Rigging the center post: This is the most important step in putting these rigs together…GO BIG! On the center post use a two to three foot long 60-80 lb mono leader attached to either a large bucktail, parachute or large nine or twelve inch soft plastic shad body. The goal here is to present a very large profile to those huge fish you'll be targeting. When using a bucktail or parachute combined with a shad body, insert a large 8/0 to 10/0 hook into the shad so the hook eye is just outside of the shad.
Pass the eye of this hook over the hook on the parachute. It might be necessary to squeeze the barb down slightly to get the shad hook over the other one. The other end of the leader can be tied directly to the center post or tied to a top-quality snaplock type swivel. My preference is a ball bearing swivel with at least an 80 lb test rating. A completed umbrella rig is shown in illustration 4.
	Illustration 4 This rig presents less drag in the water and is easier on your fishing tackle than standard sized umbrellas. When the water is rough or the current is strong, normal umbrellas are more difficult to use. These smaller versions are just as effective in catching fish but much easier to fish use. These are best fished with a small inline sinker (2-4 OZ) and kept near the surface and fairly far back in your spread. A six-ounce inline sinker is just about the perfect weight to cause this rig to easily be fished in the middle of the water column.
My preference is to use this from the side rod holders while my heaviest lures are directly off the stern. Doing this will keep the baits free from potential tangles! Enjoy! Get the umbrella advantage! These rigs will be putting quality fish in your boat, even when other lures are not attracting fish. Good luck and…don't catch em' all!

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	Nov. 2005