Two Struggles with Ned Rigs

[gilkeybr]

Hello,

 

I have been trying, with decent success surprisingly, the Ned rig a fair amount lately.  I have run into two problems that are happening often enough to be frustrating:

 

1)  I am breaking the lure retainer off the Shroomz head hooks.  I am using specifically the 1/15oz heads and have had most of my failures on the black colored head.  I have had the lure retainer break off of 3 black ned heads so far.  One broke on the very first fish.  Others last 5-6 fish before breaking.  I also have packages of the white and green.  So far I have only broken one white and no greens (this could be because I have fished them less than the black heads so far).  This is frustrating because it results in the TRD sliding off the back of the hook on each cast after its broken.

 

My plan, in order to not have to throw out the hooks, is to use superglue to hold the TRD on for these "used hooks".  But I wonder if anyone has experienced this premature failure of the shroomz hooks?

 

2) This one is more of an annoyance:  During casts the TRD will flop around and sometimes rehook itself resulting in it no longer being straight.  This doesn't always result in the fish losing interest, but I do think it impacts the number of bites I get.  Is there something that can be done to keep the bait from getting rehooked during the cast?

 

Thanks in advance.  Never would have thought to try something like the Ned rig until reading this forum and it has been my primary fish catcher so far this year!

 

[MIbassyaker]

1. Yup. Known issue with the Shroomz heads. I resorted to adding a dab of glue to keep the TRD on, which worked pretty well (I tend to lose the head to a snag before I wear out the body).  And then I tried Siebert Morel heads, and haven't had the same problem with those:

http://www.siebertoutdoors.com/Morel-Jig-Head-1022.htm

 

2. Yup. I get this very frequently with smaller fish...I think the TRD is balling up in their mouths, and then rehooks itself on the hookset. I just deal with it and take it as an unavoidable cost of being irresistible.

[moguy1973]

I always break the bait keeper off of my Shroomz heads.  It's nothing but a PITA anyways.  It grabs the bait where you don't want it to and causes it to get all bunched up on it.  I snap that thing off with a pair of pliers and do what was said above and put a dab of gel super glue between the back of the head and the half of a Zinker.  It'll usually last well over 100 fish like that before I have to replace it.

 

As for the hook getting all entwined in the plastic I try the half Zinker.  It's a little shorter than the TRDs are, and they are cheaper since you get 12 to a pack (6 full ones cut in half) compared to the 8 you get in the TRD pack.

[gilkeybr]

2 hours ago, MIbassyaker said:

"I think the TRD is balling up in their mouths, and then rehooks itself on the hookset."

 

I have definitely experienced this, where a small fish balls the bait up.  Even happened on a pretty decent fish the other night.  I do agree thats just part of the deal.

 

But I have noticed similar balling up, even on casts where I don't get a bite.  I suspect it must be happening during the cast

[Quarry Man]

2 hours ago, gilkeybr said:

 

But I have noticed similar balling up, even on casts where I don't get a bite.  I suspect it must be happening during the cast

 

the zman bait is stretchy, it will move around while airborne

[NYWayfarer]

 

This image is getting a lot of use today. Here is an example of the "balling up" of the TRD. I have noticed it balls up on cast as well when I was trying for 100 yard cast from shore. That is solved by not casting as hard.

 

I use the Z-man Shroomz but I like the VMC finesse half moon jig heads better, that's whats in the picture.

 

 

 

[tander]

Use Loctite Super Gel glue, forget the keeper.

[Subaqua Adinterim]

Just use your needle nose pliers and squeeze the keeper (in the direction it is facing, i.e. toward the jig head) down flat against the hook shaft (actually, against the part of the keeper wire that is parallel and on top of the hook shaft).  This leaves just a little bump that secures the plastic, yet allows you to untwist and straighten it out easier after a fish.

I can imagine that the super gel glue is helpful too, however, I have not needed it so far.

[boostr]

Never had either problem so far, but good info for the future.

[punch]

FYI, Zman has a new 'upgraded' shroomz head that's just hitting stores now. My local tackle shop just got them in last week. 

 

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Z_Man_Ned_Lockz_HD_Jig_Heads_5pk/descpage-ZNLHD.html

 

Has a better hook and a new, much better plastic keeper. It's only $1 more than the normal heads. I picked up a pack to try out.