Stowing the Umbrella rig
The umbrella rig explosion has taken us all by storm! So many different options for baits, rigs, rods, reels and line, the list goes on and on. After you get all this gear, gain confidence in the tactic and began using it in tournament competition, now you have to figure out how to keep the dang thing from getting all tangled up inside your rod lockers after you have just rigged them up for the next day’s tournament.
The folks over at VRX fishing, builders of the rod glove have made a very simple system that will keep your umbrella rig from getting tangled with other rods while being placed in your rod lockers or when your U-rig rod is just being stored.
The system is very simple. First, after you have tied your rig up just slip one of the hooks through the bait keeper that is fixed to the rod its self. Next take whichever rod glove rod sleeve that fits the rod you are using and slide it over the rod as you normally would but this time when you pull the rod glove down towards the reel and it bumps into the head of the umbrella rig simply use one hand to close the wires on the rig and slip the rod glove over the rig till it is at max length and covering the rig all the way to the baits themselves. Now you have the rod glove holding the rig and wires in place and all that is left out are the swim bait heads or whatever baits you decide to use. The last step is simply hold all of your rigged baits against the rod and cover them up using a bait glove lure wrap. Now you can place your umbrella rig safely in the rod locker all tied up and ready to go for the morning.
What makes this system really cool is that not only are you keeping your umbrella rig from becoming a mess in the rod locker but you are protecting your rod and rod guides at the same time. The rod gloves tapered tip design is perfect for this because its fits the rod snuggly to protect and still opens at the bottom allowing it to cover the head and wires of the umbrella rig and the bait glove with its wrap and Velcro design, it opens big enough to wrap around all the baits plus rod blank and then snug up tight to keep them out of harm’s way. This system will make it a lot easier to fish and store the umbrella rig!
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