An umbrella rig works because it looks like a school of bait instead of a single lure — five profiles moving together, and a fish that ignores one swimbait will run down a group of them.
Short version: this is the rig itself — painted nose head, stamped Kicker blades, five heavy-gauge arms, and a quick clip on the end of each one. Jig heads and swimbaits are sold separately. You supply five of each.
What You're Buying
The PK-Rig is the frame that carries the school. A painted baitfish head leads the rig, a ball bearing swivel at the nose cuts line twist on the retrieve, a cluster of stamped Kicker willow blades on the shaft adds flash, and every arm ends in a quick clip.
The clips are the reason the rig lasts. On most A-rigs, changing baits means re-threading or re-tying an arm, and every time you work the wire you shorten the rig's life. With clips, you set the arms once at the start of the season and leave them alone. Calicos today on 5" baits, spotties tomorrow on 3" — clip off, clip on, arms untouched.
The rig ships with the arms collapsed flat. That's normal and it isn't damage. Bending the arms to shape is the first step of setup, not a repair.
Setting It Up Before the First Cast
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Bend each arm so it exits the head straight, then flares outward from about an inch past the head. An arm that leaves the head and immediately bends down is a stress point, and stress points are where wire fails.
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Go wider than looks right — close to 90 degrees off the head at full spread. The arms flex inward once five weighted baits are hanging on them, so a conservative bend collapses in the water.
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Work the arms out in stages, check the spread from the front, and only then commit to the final bend.
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Weight it like a keel — your two heaviest jig heads on the bottom two arms, lighter heads on the top three. Even weight across all five gives the rig nothing holding its orientation, so it rolls, spins, and twists your line.
First umbrella rig? We'll walk you through the whole setup.
Our crew put together a photo-by-photo guide covering the arm bend, keel weighting, bait sizing by location, and the rod-holder trick that keeps five arms of hooks out of every other rod in the rack. Ten minutes of reading and you'll rig it right the first time.
Read the full umbrella rig setup guide →
Key Features
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Stamped Kicker willow blades — flash and vibration built into the rig itself.
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Painted baitfish nose head — leading profile finished to match the rig color.
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Quick clip on every arm — swap all five baits without touching the wire.
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Ball bearing nose swivel — reduces line twist on the retrieve.
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Five heavy-gauge arms — hold a bend under five weighted baits.
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Two colors — EnlightenMint (light blue/silver) and I'm Saury (white/blue/teal).
Best Species and Conditions
Calico bass, spotted bay bass, striped bass, and yellowtail. Fished to boiler rocks and structure at Catalina and the outer islands, over schooling bait in open water, and inside harbors and bays with a downsized profile.
Head Weight and Bait Size by Situation
| Where you're fishing |
Bait size |
Bottom two arms |
Top three arms |
| Boiler rocks / outer islands |
5" |
1/2 oz |
1/4 oz |
| Harbor, bay, small bait |
3" |
1/2 oz |
1/4 oz |
| Bigger presentation |
7" |
3/4 oz |
1/2 oz |
| Deeper water or current |
5" |
1 oz |
1/2 oz |
Pro Tips from the Tackle Express Crew
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Bend it wider than feels right. Every rig that comes back to the counter spinning was bent too conservatively.
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Use swing heads, not fixed jig heads. A swinging hook lets each bait move independently of its weight, which is what keeps five baits moving at the same speed from looking like they're being towed.
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Strap the baits before the boat runs. Gather all five baits at the bottom of the rig and bungee them together before it goes in the rod holder. Five arms of hooks will find every other rod in the rack.
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Check a rig that's been in storage. Confirm the arms still exit the head straight and your heaviest heads are still on the bottom pair before you cast.
Common Mistakes
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Even head weight across all five arms. The number one cause of a rig that helicopters and corkscrews your line.
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Bending the arm right where it exits the head. Creates a stress point that fails after a season of fish.
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Fishing it on a rod that can't load it. Five weighted baits is a heavy package — match the rod to the total weight, not to one swimbait.
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Mismatching bait size to the bait in the water. Five of the wrong-size profile is still the wrong profile.
Specifications
PK-Rig EnlightenMint
SKU: PK-RIG-ENLIGHTENMINT
TypeUmbrella rig / A-rig
Arms5
Arm attachmentQuick clip, each arm
BladesStamped Kicker willow,
shaft mounted
NosePainted head with
ball bearing swivel
ColorLight blue / silver
Sold separatelyJig heads, swimbaits
PK-Rig I'm Saury
SKU: PK-RIG-IMSAURY
TypeUmbrella rig / A-rig
Arms5
Arm attachmentQuick clip, each arm
BladesStamped Kicker willow,
shaft mounted
NosePainted head with
ball bearing swivel
ColorWhite / blue / teal
Sold separatelyJig heads, swimbaits
Kicker does not publish arm length, spread width, wire gauge, rig weight, or clip test rating for the PK-Rig. Call the shop and we'll measure the one on the rack for you.
What's Included
One Kicker PK-Rig umbrella rig in the color selected, with the painted nose head, blade cluster, five arms, and five quick clips attached. Jig heads and swimbaits are not included. A complete setup takes five jig heads and five swimbaits in addition to this rig.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the PK-Rig come with swimbaits or jig heads?
No. The rig includes the head, blades, arms, and quick clips. You supply five jig heads and five swimbaits.
Why did my rig arrive with the arms folded flat?
That's how it ships. The arms are meant to be bent to shape by the angler — each one straight out of the head, then flaring outward, close to 90 degrees at full spread. Our step-by-step umbrella rig setup guide shows the bend with photos.
How far should I bend the arms?
Close to 90 degrees off the head. It looks like too much on the bench, but the arms flex inward once five weighted baits are loaded, so a conservative bend collapses in the water.
What jig head weights should I use?
Heavier on the bottom two arms, lighter on the top three. With 5" baits, 1/2 oz on the bottom pair and 1/4 oz on the other three is a solid starting point. Scale up for depth or current but keep the ratio.
Why does an umbrella rig spin on the retrieve?
Almost always even weight across all five arms. The rig has no bottom, so nothing holds its orientation. Move your heaviest heads to the bottom two arms.
Why use a swing head instead of a fixed jig head?
A swing head lets the bait pivot independently of the weight. When five baits are moving at the same speed, that independent motion is what keeps each one looking like it's swimming rather than being towed.
Can I use 3-inch swimbaits on it?
Yes. Inside harbors and bays it's often the better choice — a smaller profile matches the bait and lightens the whole rig.
How do I keep it from tangling my other rods?
Gather all five baits at the bottom of the rig and strap them together with a rod strap or bungee before it goes in the holder. The arms are set and won't move.
Are umbrella rigs legal where I fish?
Hook and lure restrictions vary by state and by individual water body, and multi-hook rigs are specifically regulated in a number of places. Check current regulations for the water you're fishing before you throw one.
Gear That Goes With It
Buy It From People Who Fish It
We sell Southern California saltwater tackle from our shop on Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita, and we fish these rigs on the same water you do. If you're setting one up for the first time and want a second set of eyes on the arm bend or the head weights, bring it in — we'd rather spend ten minutes with you at the counter than have you find out on the water. Ordering online? Call us and we'll talk through the whole setup before you buy.
