Ned rig to the rescue...

[DitchPanda]

So today started out slow...went to a cold water favorite and couldn't buy a bite. Went to my local pond and was able to put something together. It was bright sun and very warm today so I found a North shore and it also happened to have a nice south wind blowing into it. I caught a nice 18inch walleye on an x-rap but it was a Ned rig TRD in mud bug color that did the heavy lifting. Took a while to realize they wanted me to drag it on the bottom with occasional short hops instead of my normal straight swim or swim glide shake- but once I figured that out it saved my day. Ended up getting 2 20in walleye, 3 largemouth between 2.5-3lbs and finally got a 5.05lb bass...my first of the year over 5.

[The Bassman]

Ned is skunk insurance even though not the most glamorous technique.

[Jig Man]

I have found that some days there is nothing better.  I now carry more TRDs and Ned setups than anything else.

[DitchPanda]

4 hours ago, The Bassman said:

Ned is skunk insurance even though not the most glamorous technique.

Yep its pretty basic but I like the simplicity..not every bait needs a technique specific rod, upgraded hooks, a special knot and a 20 page instructions manual on how to use it. Best part is the multi species aspect...this year alone I've caught bass, walleye, drum, catfish, crappie, big bluegill,white bass and I believe a pike.

[Team9nine]

I get the impression many people think the 6 retrieve styles of Midwest Finesse are a little hokey, or gimmicky, or you just do whatever you see on some ‘new to the party’ YouTuber video and you’ll be fine, but they are there for a reason ? As my geometry teacher always said, “That do make a difference.”

[DitchPanda]

6 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

I get the impression many people think the 6 retrieve styles of Midwest Finesse are a little hokey, or gimmicky, or you just do whatever you see on some ‘new to the party’ YouTuber video and you’ll be fine, but they are there for a reason ? As my geometry teacher always said, “That do make a difference.”

I don't believe they are hokey...I believe they were purpose built by a guy and his fishing buddies that have spent decades dialing in a technique. 

[rtwvumtneer6]

It works.  Humble pie doesn't taste so bad if you're catching fish.  I've got the drop shot with me and it works.  Would be a Ned but my bottom composition better suits a bait that is suspended slightly.  I've got to do what I can before the water gets hard.  

[DitchPanda]

Thats me to...just trying to get a few bass before the water hardens. My water temps are already in the mid to upper 40s and we routinely have ice by thanksgiving..a few years back we had ice by November 12th.

[Team9nine]

Exactly - wasn’t in reference to you at all, just a general observation based on comments, articles and videos of all things Ned that are now flooding the media distribution channels.

[DitchPanda]

Oh no I know you weren't talking about me..was just stating my understanding and appreciation of the facets of the technique.

[CrashVector]

Ned rigs, or my modified version thereof, are a staple in my arsenal, and I always have one ready to go.

[Bluebasser86]

I'll never understand the "Ned rig is a last resort", frame of mind. So you have a bait that works very well in a lot of situations, catches all sizes of fish, it's cheap and easy to fish, but save it for a last resort?? Fishermen are a weird bunch. Spend all this time searching for a "Silver Bullet", find something that's about as close as you can get, then refuse to use it unless nothing else is working. 

 

A Ned rig was responsible for at least 1 fish in every one of the tournaments I won this year, 1 of them it caught all 5, and numerous big fish over 5 pounds, despite the whole "It only catches little fish", rumor. 

[Holetail]

I’ve only recently played around with the Ned, but have had a good amount of success with it. Mostly numbers without any real size yet, but that will change I’m sure. I was skeptical I could use it much due to mucky bottom and weeds in most ponds I fish, but trying the 1/20 oz heads changed all that. The lighter weight keeps the rig on top and doesn’t bury into the muck. I’m now a believer and have confidence I’m not going to zero as long as I have one rigged and ready to go. 

[CrashVector]

13 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I'll never understand the "Ned rig is a last resort", frame of mind. So you have a bait that works very well in a lot of situations, catches all sizes of fish, it's cheap and easy to fish, but save it for a last resort?? Fishermen are a weird bunch. Spend all this time searching for a "Silver Bullet", find something that's about as close as you can get, then refuse to use it unless nothing else is working. 

 

A Ned rig was responsible for at least 1 fish in every one of the tournaments I won this year, 1 of them it caught all 5, and numerous big fish over 5 pounds, despite the whole "It only catches little fish", rumor. 

 

I don't get it either.  If there is ONE lure that seems to catch fish no matter where you are and no matter what time of year...it's the Ned rig.

 

It definitely catches big fish too.

 

I have one suggestion though that has actually increased my catch rate and mitigates many of the problems of snags...I call it the average fisherman rig lol

 

I take a Ned head, clip off the hook right behind the keeper barb.  I insert the weight and keeper into either a finesse TRD or big TRD, and secure it with a tiny drop of super glue.  Then, on a finesse TRD, I use a 1/0 Owner rigging hook and Texas rig it from the other side.  It stands straight up in the water, and fish absolutely SMASH it.

 

For the big TRD's, I use a standard 1/0 worm hook rigged the same way.

 

No matter where or when I'm fishing, I always have one of these rigged up on a spinning reel.

[moguy1973]

Kind of Neko Rig style?

[CrashVector]

Like this.

 

Makes it's much more weedless and ensures it stands upright.  Weight glued into one end, rigging hook on the other.

 

This catches fish when literally nothing else will, and fully 80% of the big fish I've caught this year were caught on one of these.

 

The big TRD works best with a standard shanked 1/0 worm hook.

[CrashVector]

I was sitting on my sofa looking at my ned lures going "I KNOW there's gotta be a better way to do this..." and just kinda pieced it together.

 

Oh well...I'll keep trying ?  However, I'm not exaggerating when I say it'll catch fish when literally nothing else will.

 

Edit: I just googled "tiny child rig" and I'll be d**n...

[Bluebasser86]

10 hours ago, CrashVector said:

 

I don't get it either.  If there is ONE lure that seems to catch fish no matter where you are and no matter what time of year...it's the Ned rig.

 

It definitely catches big fish too.

 

I have one suggestion though that has actually increased my catch rate and mitigates many of the problems of snags...I call it the average fisherman rig lol

 

I take a Ned head, clip off the hook right behind the keeper barb.  I insert the weight and keeper into either a finesse TRD or big TRD, and secure it with a tiny drop of super glue.  Then, on a finesse TRD, I use a 1/0 Owner rigging hook and Texas rig it from the other side.  It stands straight up in the water, and fish absolutely SMASH it.

 

For the big TRD's, I use a standard 1/0 worm hook rigged the same way.

 

No matter where or when I'm fishing, I always have one of these rigged up on a spinning reel.

I'm sure this rig probably works, but it wouldn't be effective for how I fish a Ned rig 90% of the time. Snags aren't an issue and my bait rarely stops moving or hits bottom other than the initial fall. 

[moguy1973]

Definitely gives it a different look but it does kill the action the traditional Ned is supposed to have.  That little tail wiggle. 

[islandbass]

10 hours ago, CrashVector said:

Like this.

 

Makes it's much more weedless and ensures it stands upright.  Weight glued into one end, rigging hook on the other.

 

This catches fish when literally nothing else will, and fully 80% of the big fish I've caught this year were caught on one of these.

 

The big TRD works best with a standard shanked 1/0 worm hook.

Crash,

what’s that nut head looking thing at the bottom? It kind of looks like a jig head but I don’t see a hook with it. Thanks. 

[Bluebasser86]

It's a ned rig jighead with the hook cut off. It's what these were designed for, but maybe a little cheaper?

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Z-Man_Neko_Shroomz_Wacky_Rig_Nose_Weight_4pk/descpage-ZMNS.html

[islandbass]

6 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

It's a ned rig jighead with the hook cut off. It's what these were designed for, but maybe a little cheaper?

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Z-Man_Neko_Shroomz_Wacky_Rig_Nose_Weight_4pk/descpage-ZMNS.html

Thanks! When I looked at it, I was thinking there’s the jig head, but where’s the hook? I didn’t know they made such a thing but it makes sense now. 
 

I tried the ned rig once quite a perhaps in 2019 just to try it, and I actually caught a bass in the first cast and a hop. It was awesome. However, I put it back burner because I was focusing on another technique. 
 

 

[CrashVector]

Yep.  I just snipped off the hook.  It looks like a nut bc it's so beat up lol

[islandbass]

@CrashVector Thanks. 

[Gera]

22 hours ago, CrashVector said:

Like this.

 

Makes it's much more weedless and ensures it stands upright.  Weight glued into one end, rigging hook on the other.

 

This catches fish when literally nothing else will, and fully 80% of the big fish I've caught this year were caught on one of these.

 

The big TRD works best with a standard shanked 1/0 worm hook.

 

This is very interesting, I try it next time... in April ?