Best spinning combo for ned rig

[Luke Barnes]

Under $100. I know, I know. For $120 or $150 I could get a more amazing combo. $100 is this tippy top only if it's the be all end all of combos. More like under $75. Stimulus check has to be saved but I have to get a better spinning setup for the ned rig. I keep a combo solely for it. But my current one is garbage. I'm partial to Lews and Abu Garcia but if something is just plain better I dont care. 

 

Looking in the 6'6 - 7' M/F area. I just started throwing the ned this year and was so skeptical for so long, but it flat out catches fish when nothing else will. So I want a dedicated combo for it. 

 

Thanks!!

[Bluebasser86]

Doesn't need to be fancy. Ned himself uses decade old Cardinals with Shakespeare rods from Walmart. I'd look more towards the ML/F side than M/F for a Ned specific rod though.

[Luke Barnes]

3 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Doesn't need to be fancy. Ned himself uses decade old Cardinals with Shakespeare rods from Walmart. I'd look more towards the ML/F side than M/F for a Ned specific rod though.

Currently I use a Shakespeare Crusader reel and a H2O Express Angler rod. Talk about cheap!! 1 bearing and total setup cost me $20! 

 

But I dont like the sensitivity or flex of the rod and the reel is ungodly slow at I think 4.5. Plus ita only got one bearing so it's nowhere near smooth and has a very rough spot in the turn of the handle. So I want something better. 

[DitchPanda]

Bluebasser is right...Ned rig is one place where budget gear is perfectly acceptable and some would argue almost beneficial. So for under 75 you can still get a decent setup..if it was me if go with a 6ft6in Berkley lightning rod medium light moderate fast...for reel id go shimano sienna fg in 1000 or 2000 size...$70 bucks maybe even less at wal world

[DitchPanda]

I bought a baitcast lightning rod this winter and will say for feel and build quality it's maybe the best generation of the rod this far...as far as the sienna goes I've got some smaller ones I use for panfish and my dad has 1 or 2 of the 1000 size he uses for walleye and bass and we both like them fine...no issues with them but they are at the end of the day a $30 reel so take from that what you will

 

If you could swing 10 more bucks though I would get a pflueger trion over the shimano

[browne762]

The Daiwa Arid-X 7' ML is what I would get, $40.

 

If you want to get a matching brand of reel, the Daiwa Revros is a good one, $50.

[tander]

If I had to stay around $100,I would go with a Pflueger President 30 reel and a Lews Hank Parker spinning rod.

[ChrisD46]

36 minutes ago, browne762 said:

The Daiwa Arid-X 7' ML is what I would get, $40.

 

If you want to get a matching brand of reel, the Daiwa Revros is a good one, $50.

^^This^^ You can't find a better spinning rod under $50 and ditto for the Daiwa Revros 200 / 2500 series as well … Such a great Ned set up in fact I may buy this combo myself (even though I already have a dedicated Ned set up !) … Buy this set up from TW and pair with Power Pro #8 lb. or #10 lb. braid main line , Maxima #6 lb. co poly for the leader and 1/16th oz. ZMan Finesse ShroomZ Ned jig heads (black , green Pumpkin colors  and after the spawn - red color) . You can use other Ned Head jigs but stay with a small #2 or #1 size hook (too many makers offer hooks of 1/0 or larger which is too large a hook) . Next , use cheap mono for backing (WM Zebco brand in #8 lb. on your reel (50% mono backing  then add the braid main line with a double uni and spool it tight - to finish be sure to set your drag light … A simple reel set technique will hook bass and keep them pined every time ! Finally , just get a few colors (Green Pumpkin , June Bug and Mud Minnow) of the Zman Finesse TRD and you will be set .

[Luke Barnes]

I've got the heads and lures. I'm just looking for a better rod/reel to use them with. Currently on my cheapo setup I've got 15lb hi vis braid to a 12lb fluoro leader, but will probably step down to 10lb braid. I've got a 700 yard spool of the cheap zebco mono already and that's exactly what I do with it!!! About all it's good for is backing!!! 

 

I'm hoping to find a combo over buying separately but I've heard from alot of people in the crappie world about the pflueger president being a great reel. I see they make pflueger trion and president combos too. 

[Armtx77]

Ned rig is all about the rod IMO. I would check your local Bass Clubs to see if they have anyone selling rods on the cheap. I agree with others ML/F 7ft is what you are looking for. 

 

The Revos are pretty good at the 50ish price point and you might be surprised at what comes your way on a good used rod.

[Luke Barnes]

17 minutes ago, Armtx77 said:

Ned rig is all about the rod IMO. I would check your local Bass Clubs to see if they have anyone selling rods on the cheap. I agree with others ML/F 7ft is what you are looking for. 

 

The Revos are pretty good at the 50ish price point and you might be surprised at what comes your way on a good used rod.

And the rod I have is junk. I lost a fish right by the bank. I set the hook and it tried to jet and snap!! My drag hadn't even started  screaming and the rod I realized didnt do its job of absorbing the weight. 

[Luke Barnes]

I see on DSG website they have a Lews American Hero spinning combo, not the camo or black and blue, its white. It's only $25 and is 6'6 M. I have the american hero baitcaster and love it. Bottom of the line or not, I still love it. 

 

Anybody know anything about these? Sounds to me it would be suitable for a ned rig setup. 

[Fishes in trees]

I use a short 5'4" Fenwick HMG, don't remember where I got it or what I paid, but most of my spinning rigs were close outs/off the sale rack.   I wish it had a Tennessee handle, but it don't.  For a reel I have a 2000 size Spirex, the one with the rear drag, twin paddle. handles and the Quickfire feature.   I like everything about that reel.   Those few times a year, when you get a decent fish on, is when you really appreciate the rear drag AND the anti-reverse.    I have some light braid on it, forget the brand and use a short 8 or 10 lb fluorocarbon leader.   This rig throws a 1/16 oz jig head and a TRD great, and that's about the only ned bait that I throw.   I can see the advantage of having a 6'6" or 7' rod, but I don't see any real disadvantage to going shorter and when I go on Missouri smallmouth streams like the Gasconade, the  shorter rod is just easier to deal with in the float boat.   I ain't so into the Ned rig that I need 3 or 4 different ones for different boats or different weights.

[Luke Barnes]

Read another thread almost identical to this one. Seems ML is preferred. I found a Bass Pro Crappie Maxx combo on sale for I think $30. 6'6 ML and its tempting me. I looked at the Lews Wally Marshall speed shooter but its twice the price. I have the money to buy a more expensive setup but I am a cheap skate sometimes. 

[JS Patterson]

I am partial to the Fenwick Eagle m/l 7ft for the Ned. Pair it with a reel with a reliable smooth drag. 

[Luke Barnes]

I guess I ought to mention, I have a 7' M Diawa Procaster that I use for catfishing that I've been tempted to use for the ned and get a different cat rod. 

[Allen Der]

16 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

I guess I ought to mention, I have a 7' M Diawa Procaster that I use for catfishing that I've been tempted to use for the ned and get a different cat rod. 

medium is really too heavy for a true ned rig.  If you can swing a little extra, this looks like a killer deal for $129. 6'9" ML rod and 2000 reel

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-johnny-morris-signature-seriesfenwick-hmg-spinning-combo

 

or pflueger president and fenwick eagle combo under $100. 7' ML rod and 30 size reel

https://www.pfluegerfishing.com/pflueger-combos-spinning-combos/pflueger-president-spinning-combo/1513173.html#specifications

[NYWayfarer]

21 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

I see on DSG website they have a Lews American Hero spinning combo, not the camo or black and blue, its white. It's only $25 and is 6'6 M. I have the american hero baitcaster and love it. Bottom of the line or not, I still love it. 

 

Anybody know anything about these? Sounds to me it would be suitable for a ned rig setup. 

That combo is trash. It was the original version of the American hero. The black and blue and Camo ones are infinitely better. 
 

For rods, since you mentioned DSG, I would suggest the Lew’s Carbon Fire in medium light. On sale until 4/18 for $49 bucks. I would suggest the matching size 200 Carbon Fire reel which is on sale for $59 but that would put you a little over budget.

 

Get the rod though. It is a great Ned rig and finesse rod.

[Luke Barnes]

Ok so really try and stay on the ML side. I can see that. I think it would help for sure. 

[Quarry Man]

On 4/15/2020 at 12:25 AM, DitchPanda said:

Bluebasser is right...Ned rig is one place where budget gear is perfectly acceptable and some would argue almost beneficial. So for under 75 you can still get a decent setup..if it was me if go with a 6ft6in Berkley lightning rod medium light moderate fast...for reel id go shimano sienna fg in 1000 or 2000 size...$70 bucks maybe even less at wal world

I have a 6;6" ML Berkley Lighnting Shock and a 20 size Flueger President in my boat for beginners. its my trout/ ned rig rod also. It works great, 10 lb braid or 6l mono and boom.

[Luke Barnes]

I decided on a Bass Pro Crappie Maxx combo. 6'6 ML. I cant remember the wize of the reel. I have 10lb hi vis braid on it with a fluoro leader so I can see the line better to watch it for bites. I'll try it out tomorrow for the first time. 

[DogBone_384]

26 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

I decided on a Bass Pro Crappie Maxx combo

Congratulations on your new Ned rig, rig...  Now go get your new PB on it!

[Luke Barnes]

Just now, DogBone_384 said:

Congratulations on your new Ned rig, rig...  Now go get your new PB on it!

Thanks!! That's the game plan!! Got some new lures to throw on the ned heads too, so hopefully it all works out good!