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 re-transmitted and copied, FHC Outdoors’ copyright requires a back-link to this article. This list has been updated as of March 1st, 2018.

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 but did not receive a response. It is my understanding that you can fish the umbrella rig in Georgia without restrictions.

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

The Alabama Rig is both legal and not legal depending on the body of water being fished. Please read the clarification in red for official state information.

The IDNR legal staff, working with the Divisions of Fisheries and Law Enforcement, have determined that the Alabama rig IS legal in those waters in the state that do NOT have the “2 poles only with no more than 2 hooks or lures per pole regulation.”

Indiana

The Alabama Rig may be used with up to (3) hooked lures.

You may use an umbrella rig (sometimes referred to as an Alabama rig), but hooks or lures can be attached to only three arms. Any additional arms must be left empty or can be fitted with a spinner blade or other hookless attractor.



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.

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 allows two hooks to be used on the umbrella rig.

Massachusetts law prohibits more than two hooks for fishing open water or more than five hooks when ice fishing. A hook is defined as an angling device attached to a fishing line that is designed to take one fish at a time but is not limited to devices commonly called spinners, spoons, bait harnesses, jigs, or plugs.

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 can be fished in Minnesota with ONE hooked lure. The other remaining wires and baits must not have hooks.

An Alabama (Umbrella/Yumbrella) would be legal if not more than one hook or artificial lure/bait is attached. An angler could place a single bait/lure with a hook on one of the wires and attach hookless spinners or plastic baits to the other wires.

Mississippi

The Alabama Rig is legal to use in almost all public waters in Mississippi. The exceptions are the following, where anglers are restricted to by the number of lures and/or hooks per pole that can be used:

Grenada, Arkabutla, Sardis, and Enid Lakes

Spillways of Ross Barnett and Okatibbee Reservoirs

Spillways of Grenada, Enid, Sardis, and Arkabutla Lakes from spillway outlets to the end of the riprap

Bluff Lake spillway in Noxubee County

Lowhead dam on Ross Barnett Reservoir from the dam to the end of the Idle Speed Only/No Wake Zone area downstream of the dam.

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

Pay close attention to the variety in rules for the State of Montana. You can find Montana’s 2018 Fishing Regulations online. Montana allows Alabama Rigs only if they are modified to reflect the Hook and Line limits specific to each of the 3 fishing districts in Montana. It is also important to check each district for exceptions to the general rule by waterbody. The exceptions are found in the regs and by district. If there is an exception, the water body will be listed at the end of each District section. If the waterbody is not listed in the exceptions part of each district, then the anglers must use the general hook and line limits.

Nebraska

It is legal to fish the Alabama Rig in Nebraska with TWO or less hooks. The others may be rigged with hookless teasers.

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.

Not allowed: Bass fishing websites and magazines have abounded with stories touting the Alabama rig, but anglers should be aware that the use of the Alabama rig, with multiple hooked baits attached, is not allowed in New Hampshire fresh waters.

New Jersey

The Alabama rig and umbrella rigs are allowed in New Jersey with the exception of the Delaware River, which has a restriction of three hooks per line.

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

It is legal to use The Alabama Rig in North Carolina.

The use of a multiple bait lure such as the Alabama rig is not restricted in North Carolina inland fishing waters with two exceptions: (1) in inland waters on the Roanoke River upstream of the U.S. 258 bridge only a single barbless hook or lure may be used from April 1 to June 30; and, (2) in Public Mountain Trout Waters there are bait and lure restrictions depending upon the type of waters being fished. Otherwise, an Alabama rig or similar umbrella-type rig with multiple hooks is legal to use. Provided by Bob Curry, Division of Inland Fisheries.

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 an unlimited number of hooks.

There is no restriction on the number of hooks used on each fishing line. 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.

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

It appears that South Carolina allows (5) hooks to be used with Alabama rigs and umbrella rigs.

South Dakota

The Alabama Rig may be fished 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 a maximum of (3) hooked lures.

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. No teasers are allowed.

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”.