Ned Rig

[Bluebasser86]

If you ever get bored and want to see lots of pictures of Ned Rig fish, check out from about page 50 of the 327 (and counting), pages of the KC area guys thread. Lots of reports on there are of fish that were caught on it which is fitting considering it's the same area that Ned Kedhe resides (the video of Ned on the first page of this thread is filmed at the ramp at Gardner Lake, 4 miles from my front door). It is a scary effective way to catch fish, especially smallmouth. I easily catch more smallmouth on it than any other rig each year, and not just little ones, I'm positive that I catch more keeper sized smallmouth (18+ inches), on a Ned Rig than anything else, maybe more than all other techniques combined. It isn't a big fish technique, but it certainly isn't the dink catcher I expected it to be. 

and my largest Ned rig smallmouth of 4.80 pounds, caught during our spring get together for KC area members, that was also big bass of the day.

 

I've spent some time in the boat with some of the guys that helped perfect the rig and techniques and have spent a good deal of time molding it into the vital tool it's become for me. As far as gear goes, most dropshot rods make excellent Ned Rig rods. I use a 6' 10" ML/XF LTB with a 25 size Pfluegar Supreme XT and 2lb diameter/10lb test super slick braid with a 8 or 10lb fluoro leader, tied to a 3/32oz mushroom style head. For me the braid is a vital part of the setup. I feel I get far more bites, that it presents the bait better, and I hook way more fish. While the regular plastic stickworms do work, they Zman Zinkerz or TRDs and similar baits like the Strike King Zeros work best on this rig, especially once they start to get worn out (in?) and float really well. The biggest downside is you have to glue them to the jighead or they'll constantly slide down the hook on you. I find that a smaller hook seems to work best also. Longer hooks will work but make the bait more rigid and limit the ever so subtle wobble and wiggle that the bait has with the smaller hook. Set your drag fairly loose and use a similar hookset to a dropshot (a quick lift or just reel into them), and you can another site on the small hooks. The heads that I pour have a #1 size hook.

 

I think one of the biggest issues that most bass anglers have with this rig (myself included), is the constant need to feel your bait or be in contact with the bottom. A lot of times with all the wind we have I feel very little during my retrieve. In fact, a lot of times, when I start to feel something it's time to set the hook. The bait is often hovering just above the bottom and scooting along slowly like a small craw or baitfish meandering along. 

 

I'm far from an expert on this rig, but as I'm sure you all can tell, it's earned a special place with me. I tried to keep it a secret at first, even from my fellow KC area guys (who I normally share everything with), but now the proverbial cat has been let out of the bag so thought I'd share my experience with it. This rig is a terrific equalizer too. If you're a non-boater, beginner, or if you take your wife/kids fishing with you, this is an excellent rig for them. They don't even have to know what a bite feels like or how to set the hook because they can just reel into them. Plus, when they lose one, and you're going to lose them, it cost less than $1 each time. My wife has become pretty proficient with a Ned Rig and I've had many days fishing with her that I spent more time unhooking her fish than I did fishing myself.

 

 

This is a terrific little rig, and it doesn't just catch smallmouth (or just bass for that matter). It pains me a bit to see it getting the attention it is now but I knew it wouldn't stay a secret forever. Give it a try if you haven't, I think you may just be surprised how many fish, and how big of fish you can catch on this boring little rig.