Ned head preference

[DitchPanda]

What head do you guys prefer for ned? They seem very expensive for what they are...so I'm looking for some suggestions

[LargeMarge]

Berkley Half Head jigs

[waymont]

The Seibert heads are excellent and reasonably priced.

There is also some people selling big lots on eBay for really great prices. Take a look

[Jig Man]

They sure are expensive.  I bought some from a guy in KS.  They cost more than a dollar each.  I found out about the Midwest Finesse jig mold.  I bought it.  Now I am only out the cost of the hooks.

[Cgolf]

Berkley half head jigs work well for me even though to the purists the hooks are too big. Of the reasonable over the counter options these seemed to have the smallest hook. 
 

I did get some mini morels which have the proper sized hook, but the last time I looked @Siebert Outdoors was no longer offering them. I still have a decent stash of them that should last me a bit. 
 

I think the problem is the general Fishing public wants bigger hooks and the much smaller number of Ned purists want the smaller hooks. I straddle the line and take what I can get. A #1 is the biggest hook I will buy. 

[TnRiver46]

10 pack for $1.99

[PourMyOwn]

I'm with @Jig Man, I pour with the Midwest Finesse mold. I couldn't justify buying them. 

 

If I did buy them, @Siebert Outdoors makes some great looking jigs. I've been pouring since the mid 90s and it's obvious that his stuff is top shelf. 

[LargeMarge]

3 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

10 pack for $1.99

What brand are those? Most standard ball head jigs I see have a huge gap in the eye of the hook. That looks like the eye is reasonably closed off. I use straight light braid and have had issues with the line slipping through.

 

Also, is that a full size trick worm or a finesse worm? Perfect size for that jig.

[RoLo]

Gamakatsu Round Jighead:  1/16 oz - 1/0 Hook

 

Roger

[TnRiver46]

17 minutes ago, LargeMarge said:

What brand are those? Most standard ball head jigs I see have a huge gap in the eye of the hook. That looks like the eye is reasonably closed off. I use straight light braid and have had issues with the line slipping through.

 

Also, is that a full size trick worm or a finesse worm? Perfect size for that jig.

I think it’s arkies, I got some similar big bite baits ones as well. That’s the tail portion of a trick worm, I can’t mentally, or sometimes physically, pay full price for half worms (TRDs). I just find ripped ones on the floor of the boat 

[TOXIC]

Actual Ned heads are not ball headed jigs.  Can they be used.....sure but they are not Ned heads.  I get mine from a friend who had some specs from the master himself.  I don’t know why they work so well but they do.  Trout hook and 6lb test is all I throw.  I also attached the biggest fish I ever caught on a Ned.  30+lb cat on that exact rig I posted.  

[TnRiver46]

41 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

Actual Ned heads are not ball headed jigs.  Can they be used.....sure but they are not Ned heads.  

 

 

Yes, and a true ned rig is supposed to use elaztech z man baits but I know you! You’re slapping a yamamoto on it. I was just offering a cheaper suggestion for the OP, I don’t think the fish care what shape the jig head is. Especially when swimming it, which is also apparently the proper ned method as opposed to bottom dragging 

[RoLo]

7 hours ago, TOXIC said:

Actual Ned heads are not ball headed jigs.  Can they be used.....sure but they are not Ned heads.  

 

Many moons ago, Ned Kedhe of midwestern United States allegedly introduced the Ned Rig.

If the response to this thread were limited to the original Ned Rig, all the posts

would look pretty much the same: Gopher Mushroom Head: 1/16 oz - Gamakatsu #2

 

Goes without saying, I fished with the original Ned Head, along with many other versions.

In Florida at least, my most effective Ned-type head is a Gamakatsu Round Jighead.

Okay, so I'm not a copycat  ? 

 

Roger

[DitchPanda]

I'm currently using the siebert morel heads and like them very much...I'm not a purist so a larger hook does not bother me as long is it's not way to big. Looking on tackle warehouse I see the Berkley half heads are reasonable by comparison with virtually everything else being over a dollar. I will try those and also stick to the sieberts.

[ChrisD46]

*The #1 Owner size hook Siebert uses is highly regarded on a Ned Head Jig . I also like the Eagle Claw 'Lil Nasty in a size #2 and even in a #4 size (1/16th oz. jig head) .

[galyonj]

Whatever I find cheapest between 1/32 and 1/16, because I snag and have to break off like 90% of them.

 

I don't even care about the head shape at this point.

[gim]

I would recommend against using the standard Zman mushroom head jigs. The hooks are very chinsy light wire and the keeper sucks too. I’ve had much better success using the nedlockz jig heads instead.

[Russ E]

6 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I would recommend against using the standard Zman mushroom head jigs. The hooks are very chinsy light wire and the keeper sucks too. I’ve had much better success using the nedlockz jig heads instead.

^^^ This.

I do put a drop of super glue on the bait before sliding it on the keeper. The bait will slide off of the nedlockz keeper after a few fish. The hooks are much better than the standard shroomz.

[TnRiver46]

2 hours ago, galyonj said:

Whatever I find cheapest between 1/32 and 1/16, because I snag and have to break off like 90% of them.

 

I don't even care about the head shape at this point.

Where you and I fish, rigging it with open hook is quite problematic haha. Any weedless option is good, I can only swim the open hook setup off the bottom 

[galyonj]

19 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Where you and I fish, rigging it with open hook is quite problematic haha. Any weedless option is good, I can only swim the open hook setup off the bottom 

Yeah, you ain't kidding between the rocks and the garbage.

[TnRiver46]

59 minutes ago, galyonj said:

Yeah, you ain't kidding between the rocks and the garbage.

@Jermination gave me a ned style head with a weedguard that looked like strips of bicycle brake cable in February and I still have it. Dragged it all through the Norris rocks and a few other places, it was pretty good. He did say a big fish broke the hook off it though

[ww2farmer]

I gave up on the z-man heads, very poorly made.

 

I have been using Swagger Tungsten heads this year and have been catching them just the same.

 

I have also gave up on Elaztec baits. I didn't like having to keep them segregated from my normal plastic baits, out of the sun, out of the heat, and a host of other "issues" with them....One of which, at least for me, is rigging them straight and perfect in a time crunch, like during a tournament, rarely when I'm in hurry could I ever get them perfect enough to satisfy me on the first try, and when every second spent rigging is a second a bait is not in the water my angst and frustration with them grew .  I have switched to the Roboworm Ned worms, and they have been BETTER fish catchers for me than the TRD's, plus go on straight and perfect the first time, every time.

 

Ned purists might scoff, but I'm catching fish, and that's all that matters.

[Bluebasser86]

Pour my own, cost somewhere around $.10-$.15 a head to make with an Eagle Claw Lil Nasty #2.

 

If I didn't make my own, I'd be getting them from Siebert's. I've watched so many people break the hooks on the Zman heads, no way I'd trust those things.

[waymont]

I have these, and they are excellent quality for a buck ea.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/24-NED-RIG-JIG-HEADS-XSTRONG-OWNER-HOOKS-CHOOSE-COLOR-WEIGHT-HOOK-SIZE/303515701259?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=602764092039&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Owner hooks, good paint.

[Steelhead]

https://m.facebook.com/ZManFishingProducts/photos/a.10157854786793051/10157854786898051/?type=3&source=54

 

This is what I'm looking forward too. It's available in December. I sent Zman an email a few years back wishing that they would come out with a mushroom head with a size #1 EWG hook. I guess wishes come true... haha. They never had before. 

 

Anyways, I've used many different rigging options for the Ned Rig over the years. I prefer hooks sizes 1 to 4. I use the Zman Finesse Shroomz in 1/15 and 1/10oz. for more open water fishing. Never had a problem with the hook bending or breaking. Landed both Largemouth and Smallmouth up to 6 pounds. Light hook set and light drag setting. 

 

When fishing cover I have two different options I go with. One is the Decoy Nail Bomb VJ-71 jighead in 1/16 and 3/32oz. and both are a #2 EWG hook.  The other is a Texas rigged EWG #1 Owner Rig'N Hook with a 1/16oz. pegged tungsten bullet wieght. 

 

Definitely going to place an order in the very near future for the Zman OG Mushroom head. 

 

I've used other EWG mushroom heads but the #1/0 hook is too large. Some people are ok with that size hook and by all means.  

 

BTW, I'm hoping Zman comes out with a 4" lizard.