Neko rig

[Bill Kowalski]

So being the down time for us northern folk.  Thought I'd ask about your success/experience with the Neko rig.  Will this replace my Shaky heads and my Wacky approaches?  Just looking for your input.

[riverbasser]

I'm also curious after reading the latest bassmaster magazine. I don't fully understand its appeal. Seems like just a power wacky rig. I've never fished it or seen it in the water though.

[Bill Kowalski]

I agree.  The article makes it out as the new go to thing.   Sounds good.

[Fisher-O-men]

I've been using it for several years.  Go to for me.  I think it resembles the ned rig to the fish, but it is more weedless.

[bigturtle]

I prefer the neko rig when fishing bare bottom or mushy bottoms. The hook stays out of any garbage on the bottom and I do prefer it over a shakyhead in those situations

[scaleface]

I'm late to the party again . neko Rig ? Off to the search function I go .

[Fishin' Fool]

9 hours ago, Bill Kowalski said:

So being the down time for us northern folk.  Thought I'd ask about your success/experience with the Neko rig.  Will this replace my Shaky heads and my Wacky approaches?  Just looking for your input.

 

I played around with it a bit last year prior to the catch and keep season starting but I didn't have the confidence to use it during the tournament season. Last weekend I hooked one up and filled the jacuzzi tub. It was very helpful to see the action of the bait. I would stick with your shakey head in rocky bottoms but like mentioned above in soft bottoms or slight weeds that Neko rig should shine. I'm anxious to give it another shot.

I don't think it will change your wacky approaches at all.

[Airman4754]

I really like it when I am picking apart a grass/weed area. It doesn't fish anything like a wacky rig for me. It can be a lot easier to fish in wood than a drop shot too. I've always used the weedless finesse hooks from Gammy. It's a great presentation for bed fishing as well. 

 

At least for me it isn't a game changer, but just another tool. Get some sheet metal screws and it's a really cheap way to fish.

[WRB]

The Neko rig is nothing new, it's the nail rig using lead or tungsten nail weights.

Worm with 1/4" cut off the nose end or a Senko, 1/16 to 3/32 nail weight inserted into the nose end of the worm and wacky hooked about 1" to 1 1/2" back from the nose end.

I use 6" to 7" straight tail worms that float tail end up when sitting on the bottom, sometimes splitting the tail. Line 7# to 8#  FC or mono, size 1 or 1/0 weedless wacky hook.

Ideal post spawn rig but works anytime a drop shot rig is effective.

Cast and watch for bites during the fall, let sit on the bottom then jiggle and slide a foot or so and repeat the sit, jiggle hop and slide.

Been using this rig since the '70's, with a sealy squid hook back then.

Tom

[Rodney Smith]

If you have been fishing this rig since the 70's, I thought you would be the man to ask. I fish a resivour with big bass. It also gets a good bit of pressure and the bottom is mostly grass. Would I light Neko rig with one the new Yamamoto/Diawa Neko worms work or is just going to bury down in the grass? Everybody fishes the Senko and drop shot. I do as well and also use the Mojo rig to keep the bait above the grass. I would like to try something maybe the fish haven't seen.

[jr231]

4 minutes ago, Rodney Smith said:

If you have been fishing this rig since the 70's, I thought you would be the man to ask. I fish a resivour with big bass. It also gets a good bit of pressure and the bottom is mostly grass. Would I light Neko rig with one the new Yamamoto/Diawa Neko worms work or is just going to bury down in the grass? Everybody fishes the Senko and drop shot. I do as well and also use the Mojo rig to keep the bait above the grass. I would like to try something maybe the fish haven't seen.

 

The nail wait rig is like wacky, dropshot and shaky head all in one... And in my opinion is best in sandy bottoms or sparse rock.. letting the worm sit on the bottom is when I get a lot of my bites using this rig. I avoid this rig in weedy bottoms... 

 

I'd try something totally different if the crowd is using senkos and dropshot... 

 

J-rigged structure bug has been hot for me in a muck bottom situation.. keeps the bait just off the bottom and my most effective retrieve is similar to what you'd use with a swing head... Nice n steady.