Ned Rig Fishing Tips: How To Fish The Ned Rig
The"Ned Rig" (AKA the"Midwest finesse rig"), has taken the bass world by storm. In many parts of the country, it's rapidly become a go-to presentation for anglers fishing tough conditions or pressured waters. The ned rig excels when it gets tough because it has a small profile, a subtle action, and can be used to mimic a number of bass food sources.
Even though the ned rig is quickly becoming a major tool in many anglers' arsenals, the vast majority of bass heads still don't know what it is and how to rig it.
Rigging the Ned Rig
It doesn't get any simpler. The ned rig is just a small chunk of a soft plastic stick bait threaded onto a light 1/16 to 1/4 ounce jighead. While any stick bait will work effectively, there are few better ned rig baits than the 10,000 Fish Sukoshi Bug
That's it. However, to save anglers rigging hassles, Z-Man fishing has recently come out with products specifically designed for the ned rig – the Finesse T.R.D paired to the Finesse ShroomZ jighead.
The idea is that the super light jighead imparts a really slow, gliding fall that big bass can't resist, and the Finesse TRD provides the salt and softness that will make them hold on once they've bitten.
So, to review – Grab a light, 1/16 or 1/8 ounce lead head jig like the Z-Man Finesse ShroomZ, cut a 5" stick bait in half (or grab the Z-Man Finesse TRD) and thread it on.
Fishing the Ned Rig
Once you've got the ned rigged, the rest is easy as it can be effectively fished in almost any hard cover situation, as long as it's fished on slack line.
Dynamite spots to fish the ned are around points, bluff banks, boat docks, rip rap, and anywhere bass tend to hang out.
Once you've found a likely spot, just throw the ned out there and let it sink on a slack line. Watch as it falls for the telltale ‘tick' that indicates a fish. Often you won't see any indication of a fish biting, but when you reel up to move the bait, there will be a fish on.
Despite its ease to fish, there is one thing that anglers should know when fishing the ned rig, and it's that you shouldn't set the hook traditionally. The tiny gap on the hook has a tendency to pull out of the bass' mouth if you really jerk on it. Instead, just lean in and start reeling once you feel the bite. It seems crazy, but the fish will hook themselves.
Updated March 22nd, 2021 at 9:26 AM CT