New to the Neko rig

[5by3]

Looking to try the neko rig for the first time this weekend. Going to be fishing scattered rock and grass in about 10-12 fow. Any suggestions for rigging or favorite worms and hooks?

[plawren53202]

I don't really fish a Neko rig specifically, because most of the time I am bank fishing ponds where just an unweighted wacky rigged worm sinks quickly enough to reach the depths I need. But I do fish a wacky rig a lot, probably my #1 bait. As far as hooks, I have been having really good luck with the VMC Neko Finesse hooks. I recently switched to these because I had been using the VMC Ike Approved Wacky weedless hooks and having a lot of problems with missing fish and not getting good hookups. Members on this forum suggested the VMC Neko Finesse and it has seemed to hook up much better.

 

As far as baits, for my highly pressured public ponds I fish a lot I usually use the 4" Yum Dinger. "Bream" color, which is green pumpkin on one side and blue on the other, has been working well for me in a range of water clarity, from pretty clear to fairly stained. For waters with bigger fish I go to the 5". I would think these same baits would work well with a nail weight plugged in one end. I just recently picked up a pack of the Missile Baits Quiver Worm. I haven't tried it yet but it looks like it would work really well for a wacky/Neko rig if you want a little more action than just a straight stickbait. The Quiver worm has a flat paddle tail on one end. Other end is flat like a Senko so the nail weight would plug in perfectly there. The "Goby" color in the Quiver worm is close to "Bream," patches of green pumpkin and patches of light blue.

 

One more tip--if you can at all get ahold of one, get an O ring tool and a bunch of the little black O rings. These do such a great job of saving your worms. I used to get maybe 3 fish out of a worm if I was really lucky, more often 1 or 2. And I had a lot of fish just ripping the worm off the hook so I couldn't hook them. Since switching to the O rings I can get a lot more fish out of one worm. Last night for instance I caught 5 dinks and lost 2 or 3 more, all on the same worm. Granted it was nearly shot by the end, but still, could never have come close to that without the O ring.

[fishballer06]

A standard 5" Senko is my favorite Neko style worm. Rig it slightly off center, with the weighted end on the "shorter" side. 

[snake95]

1 hour ago, 5by3 said:

Any suggestions for rigging or favorite worms and hooks?

Maybe a little more finesse than you are looking for, but I like Zman big TRDs with the Zman Neko Shroomz, or just a broken ned jighead.  I use size 1 and 2 VMC Neko hooks for this light presentation.

 

You can rig them traditionally or insert the hook like a T-rig with the point buried in the bait.  I have no idea why the hook up ratio remains good, but it does.  Very weedless that way.

[Finessegenics]

I like the ZMan Fattyz or Zinkerz rigged with a #1 Gamakatsu B10 Stinger. I usually use a 1/32 VMC neko weight but it can be a little hard to rig into Elaztech. 

[Hook2Jaw]

I crossover almost immediately from a Wacky Rig to Neko rig when I'm getting bit on the bottom.  I slide my rubber band down the bait, normally a YUM Dinger or Money Craw, almost ⅔ down the plastic.  Considering I switch from weightless Wacky to Neko, the hook is normally a Wacky Hook.  I use Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Wacky Hooks or VMC Ike Approved Weedless Wacky Hooks, both in the 1/0 size.

 

I then shove a Big Bite Baits Neko Weight in ¹/¹⁶ for less than 10 FOW or a ⅛ for more, but I normally don't fish them past 12' or so.  I let it get to the bottom and drag it along until it gets bit, rinse and repeat.

[NHBull]

VMC Ike 1/0 NEKO hook

1/16 nail weight, 1/8 if over 10 FOW

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Daiwa_Yamamoto_Neko_Fat_Worm/descpage-YNKX.html

almost any bait will work, but I use these and out fish my partner 2 to1 

[WRB]

See July 3rd thread Neko rig for straight tail trick worms, page 2 this forum.

Tom

[Bdnoble84]

I like the berkley chigger craw with an o-ring. Rip off 2 legs to get oring on. I pour my own weight with worm head mold. I just leave the hook out. Let it hit bottom, shake it, hop or drag it, repeat.

[JustJames]

I use mostly Zman plastic (ZinkerZ, Finesse worm FattyZ) but once awhile I’ll switch to roboworm or zoom trick worm. I use Mustad 1 and 1/0 Neko hook. Expect to loose the worm and weight in just one fish. I go cheaper route by using Crappie jig weight from 1-4 grams depend on depth. I like this because it easier to use with Elaztech plastic and it make some noise when shaking on rock bottom.

[waymont]

5” Stik-o, ZinkerZ both work great. Use an “o” ring your worm will last for quite a few fish.