Weedless Ned Rig

[fishwizzard]

On 7/10/2020 at 12:53 PM, casterus60 said:

These are working good for me. 

Adam

 

I bought dozens of different heads a few years ago when I was fully in the grip of MWF mania and the Nail Bombs are by far the best one I found.  Nice thin hook, enough gap w/o it being too big where it will snag on stuff, and the #1 size is the perfect length for a TRD.

 

But sadly, even the Nail Bomb gives far worse hookups then a normal light head/small hook jighead.  I only really use them now when fishing in current too fast to wade, which is usually the point where open hooked jigs start snagging too much and it becomes more of a "let the current do it's thing while I take up slack and pop it a bit" deal. 

 

On 7/10/2020 at 5:07 PM, Heartland said:

When you start using hardware like this to rig the TRD, you are no longer fish a "Ned Rig".  It looks much closer to a shakey head.  Spend some time learning the actual "Ned Rig" technique  - Midwest Finesse, learn the different retrieves that make is very successful,  listen to an interview with Ned himself while he talks retrieves, tackle and hardware.  

 

Probably my OCD but I dislike hearing someone say Ned Rig and look at it and the only thing it has in common with a Ned Rig usually is a TRD.

Preaching to the choir, but it's a lost cause.  Just replace "Ned Rig" with "MWF" and people who know will know.  

 

Youtube is currently doing the same thing with Bait Finesse System where it's being conflated with any and all UL/L casting.  

[Team9nine]

I know you already mentioned it, but I spent the past few days using the 1/16 oz VMC Finesse Rugby Jighead on some local ponds and had no issues either catching or hooking/landing bass. I used it on both M baitcast as well as my usual ML Midwest Finesse spinning outfit with equal success. Might consider giving it another try.

[Junk Fisherman]

20 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

Ive done some research. I have a dedicated Ned Rig combo, usually use 1/10th Shroomz and a variety of the TRD plastics. I do very small short hops then reel up slack or do a big pop and let it pendulum down. Not sure if this is what Ned himself does, but its what I do. I just want to do it weedless. 

I use a 6'6 ML with 10lb braid and a fluoro leader. Weeds and alot of the time rocks is what really gets me. Ive broken the hook off one and bent many a light wire hook on rocks.

I use a longer rod but ML action with 10 lb braid/fluoro is the way to go.  You will definitely bend and break Z-Man hooks which is why I make my own with either Owner or Mustad hooks.  I can still bend them but I haven't broken any of them.  In terms of the weight, I notice a significant difference in getting weeds using 1/15th oz instead of 1/10.  A lot more weeds with 1/10th oz.  My standard is 1/15 but I like to use 1/10 if I am dragging and hopping it over rocks especially for smallies.  

 

In terms of the retrieves, there are a lot of different styles of retrieves.  I do lots of hops and falls, shake it, and swim it a little.  It's a do-nothing bait so just having it fall and glide is very effective.  

[fishwizzard]

34 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

I know you already mentioned it, but I spent the past few days using the 1/16 oz VMC Finesse Rugby Jighead on some local ponds and had no issues either catching or hooking/landing bass. I used it on both M baitcast as well as my usual ML Midwest Finesse spinning outfit with equal success. Might consider giving it another try.

What knot and line are you using?  I am a Trilene knot guy and I cannot get that second pass through the recessed eye with anything but like 6-8lb mono/fluoro. Everything else is either too thick or too limp and it’s a pain even when it does work. 
 

I do like them aside from that, just wish the eye was a bit more exposed.  

[Team9nine]

1 hour ago, fishwizzard said:

What knot and line are you using?  I am a Trilene knot guy and I cannot get that second pass through the recessed eye with anything but like 6-8lb mono/fluoro. Everything else is either too thick or too limp and it’s a pain even when it does work. 
 

I do like them aside from that, just wish the eye was a bit more exposed.  

Lol, that is my only gripe with them, though some individual heads are much easier than others. I take an old worm hook and make the eye as open as possible. Using a Pitzen knot, which is just a SDJ knot minus the lower through the loop crossing. Have used both 8# mono (as braid leader) and 12# fluoro without issue, both lines falling in the 0.011-0.012 range.