Ned rig jig head with 3/0 or 4/0 hook?

[wasabi_VA]

All the ned jig heads at my local tackle store have surprisingly small hooks. Does anybody sell one with a decent size hook?

[Junk Fisherman]

Why do you want a big hook?  What weight jig are you looking for?

 

My preferred setup is a 1/16th oz jig with a #2 hook.  I started making some jigs with #4 hooks but haven't fished them enough to have a real strong opinion yet.  The advantage to the smaller hook is a more subtle presentation, slower fall rate, and more snag-resistant.  Ned Kehde has often talked about the benefit of using smaller hooks.  Many people would be surprised how big of a fish you can catch on small hooks.  

 

 

[wasabi_VA]

That's just what I'm used to throwing. My go-to jig head is a 1/16 ball with a 3/0 hook which works well for me. I don't feel like there is a reason to go with a smaller hook just because I'm using a standup style jig head.

[MN Fisher]

Owner Shakey Ultrahead - standup jig with a 4/0 hook. I think that's about the best you'll find as Ned heads typically come with smaller hooks for the 'finesse' aspect.

[Jig Man]

If you are using the traditional size baits for Ned rigs you can get a hook that is too large for the bait to function well.

 

 I have been doing this type of fishing for many years.  I make my own jig heads in various sizes and shapes.  I have used hooks from #4 to 4/0.  I have found with hooks from 2/0 and larger that I get a lot fewer bites.  I have caught lots of fish on the #4 hooks but I can’t get real comfortable with them.

 

 I have 5 setups for Ned rigging and have done a lot of experimenting with hook sizes and head weights.

 

 I have settled on 2 sizes for my Ned rigs, #2 and 1/0.  I don’t make the other sizes at all any more.  I you are concerned about the smaller hook pulling out, use light line and at least medium light rods with a loose drag setting.

[Fishes in trees]

Ned has written extensively about why the smaller hooks are the way to go.  I haven't drank the Kool aid as far as Ned rig fishing goes, but in my experiences messing with the Ned rig, the smaller hook doesn't get stuck as often as a 1/16 oz shakey head with a 2/0 or 3/0 open hook does.

 

I don't like fishing the Ned rig around vegetation at all, so I think that for the waters that I fish and the way that I like to fish, a 4 to 5 inch straight tail or paddle tail worm, tx rigged, on a Brewer Slider jig head works better for me.  Brewer does market jig head variations that are designed to be an open hook presentation, the only success that I've had with this style is fishing around bridge pilings

5 to 15 feet down in 20 to 40 feet of water, where the fish are suspended.

[NHBull]

There is a mag Ned rig that uses 2/0 but it really a rounded shaker head

2 minutes ago, NHBull said:

There is a mag Ned rig that uses 2/0 but it really a rounded shakey head

 

[Boomstick]

I'm not sure that I can help you, but I am curious what you are doing where you want a large hook.

[TOXIC]

Here is an accidental catch on a Ned rig with a trout hook and 6lb test mono.?

I’ve also caught 4lb smallness on that same rig.  Learn to trust it and use good gear. 
 

 

[Darth-Baiter]

I thought the small and thin hook were part of the program.  It allows the Ned to float and the hook to penetrate easily. 

[wasabi_VA]

I'm surprised that folks are questioning my wanting a 3/0 hook. I predominately run a 1/16 or 1/8 oz ball jig head with a 3/0 hook so what's the harm in using a similar size hook for a ned jig? That hook size doesn't seem too big for the smallies I catch with my ball jig/curly tail grubs

[Jig Man]

1 hour ago, wasabi_VA said:

I'm surprised that folks are questioning my wanting a 3/0 hook. I predominately run a 1/16 or 1/8 oz ball jig head with a 3/0 hook so what's the harm in using a similar size hook for a ned jig? That hook size doesn't seem too big for the smallies I catch with my ball jig/curly tail grubs

So put one on a TRD and see how it works for you.  It was not a good producer for me so I went with smaller hooks.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I’ve got some offset ones in my Tungsten Button. 

[Junk Fisherman]

2 hours ago, wasabi_VA said:

I'm surprised that folks are questioning my wanting a 3/0 hook. I predominately run a 1/16 or 1/8 oz ball jig head with a 3/0 hook so what's the harm in using a similar size hook for a ned jig? That hook size doesn't seem too big for the smallies I catch with my ball jig/curly tail grubs

 

I use a 3/0 or 2/0 with my small swimbaits and tubes so I am not opposed to bigger hooks in principle.  Experiment and use what works for you.  After using the original Zman jigs, I started making my Ned jigs with a 1/0 hook thinking that the bigger hook would be better for hooksets.  I did catch fish on them but when I went back down in size to a #1 and then a #2, my success rate went up.   This matches with what Ned Kehde and some of the other Ned rig experts say about the presentation.  

[Sphynx]

I think the reason you are having such a hard time finding a large hook on a jig head for this technique is because the influential folks involved in developing it designed it as a finesse technique, honestly your best bet is probably to pour your own, because not too many folks are going to be buying 4/0 finesse presentations...not saying it won't work, just that the market is demanding smaller hooks.

 

As to not wanting to fish the Ned around vegetation, I used to abandon this technique after the salad got prolific in the year, but the new EWG heads have made it bearable again. 

[Bluebasser86]

9 hours ago, wasabi_VA said:

I'm surprised that folks are questioning my wanting a 3/0 hook. I predominately run a 1/16 or 1/8 oz ball jig head with a 3/0 hook so what's the harm in using a similar size hook for a ned jig? That hook size doesn't seem too big for the smallies I catch with my ball jig/curly tail grubs

It's not about it being too big for the fish, it's too big for the bait. For a bait to function correctly, it needs to be rigged correctly. By threading that tiny bait on a big hook, you're taking away a lot of it's subtle action that makes it so appealing to the fish. The Elaztec baits are so soft that they collapse out of the way when a fish bites down, leaving plenty of hook gap to stick a fish. The big hook gets snagged a ton more also. The #2 hooks I use are basically weedless once you get the feel for finessing them through cover.

 

I think it's less people questioning you, and more a matter of people who have used a bait making a suggestion. Likely all have tried what you're wanting to do and all experienced the same results, and trying to save you the hassle of going down the same road.

 

If you're set on doing it, just use your regular ball head jigs, they'll work just fine. There's no rule that says it has to be a mushroom head jig to work.

[Sphynx]

6 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

It's not about it being too big for the fish, it's too big for the bait. For a bait to function correctly, it needs to be rigged correctly. By threading that tiny bait on a big hook, you're taking away a lot of it's subtle action that makes it so appealing to the fish. The Elaztec baits are so soft that they collapse out of the way when a fish bites down, leaving plenty of hook gap to stick a fish. The big hook gets snagged a ton more also. The #2 hooks I use are basically weedless once you get the feel for finessing them through cover.

 

I think it's less people questioning you, and more a matter of people who have used a bait making a suggestion. Likely all have tried what you're wanting to do and all experienced the same results, and trying to save you the hassle of going down the same road.

 

If you're set on doing it, just use your regular ball head jigs, they'll work just fine. There's no rule that says it has to be a mushroom head jig to work.

I have caught some shockingly little smallmouth on the 190 size (I think it's the 190, the gigantic one anyway) Whopper Plopper and while I haven't checked the hook size on them, they are enormous hooks, you'd have to try very hard to find a hook marketed for freshwater fishing that even average size fish couldn't easily fit in their mouths I bet...probably a fair percentage of the saltwater offerings too...I have had much better success with most presentations when I stopped trying to match hooks to fish, and started focusing more on the relationship between hook/bait, line, and rod/reel instead. 

[ajschn06]

On 12/13/2020 at 8:41 AM, wasabi_VA said:

All the ned jig heads at my local tackle store have surprisingly small hooks. Does anybody sell one with a decent size hook?

ZMan has the "power finesse" ned head that comes with a 3/0 hook and the Mag Shroomz head that comes in a 6/0

[Junk Fisherman]

11 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

 The #2 hooks I use are basically weedless once you get the feel for finessing them through cover.

 

 

This is so true.  Using braid and a high quality rod, you get the feel of the bait and develop the ability to work it through cover.  You know when you have the smallest weed on.  A lot of time you can shake off weeds.   

[Darth-Baiter]

I like the small hooks on a Ned.  It requires very little hook set. I think the fish just turning with the bait will pin the needle hook. 
 

I sometimes “roll my own”.  I’ll rig it Texas style with a worm sinker pegged. It fishes just like a Ned head. I can work it thru weeds.  It kills at a local bank fishing lake near me. 
 

I think a 3/0 would work but it will sink your Ned somewhat from the extra weight and you’re gonna have to set that hook harder.  But nothing more fun than an enthusiastic hook set. 
 

please keep us posted. 

[Munkin]

On 12/13/2020 at 9:41 AM, wasabi_VA said:

All the ned jig heads at my local tackle store have surprisingly small hooks. Does anybody sell one with a decent size hook?

 

If you really need some I can make them. Not sure how well a 4/0 hook is going to fit in a 1/16oz head though?

 

Allen

[Munkin]

Let me clarify above: If you cannot find someone to make you some I will try. Not trying to sell things and steal business on here just willing to help out other fishermen. 

 

Allen

[OkobojiEagle]

On 12/13/2020 at 8:41 AM, wasabi_VA said:

 Does anybody sell one with a decent size hook?

Look for a mushroom head or worm nose head. There was life before the Ned rig...

 

oe

[Jig Man]

6 hours ago, Munkin said:

 

If you really need some I can make them. Not sure how well a 4/0 hook is going to fit in a 1/16oz head though?

 

Allen

Not very well for me.  I pour some for Arigs to keep the overall weight down.  They are what you might call sketchy.

[DogBone_384]

On 12/13/2020 at 9:50 AM, Junk Fisherman said:

Many people would be surprised how big of a fish you can catch on small hooks.  

My biggest Ned fish were a 3+ pound LMB and a nearly 4 pound chain pickerel. Both are good fish for Massachusetts.