Ned rig snags - am I doing something wrong?

[Dash Riprock]

I recently started using a Ned rig but I keep getting snagged on the bottom. Rocks, I think but maybe debris. This is an old rock quarry with a generally sandy bottom but occasional patches of "stuff". I'm fishing from the bank so I'm not sure what's out there. 

 

Is there a trick to this that I'm not aware of? I don't have this problem with weighted Texas rigs.

 

I'm thinking about switching to that "tiny child" rig to hopefully avoid the snags, but it seems like that will affect the action of the bait. Thoughts? 

[Ben77]

Get yourself some owner blockhead offset weedless ned heads problem solved! 

[Big Swimbait]

You might try the football head Ned heads.

[Dash Riprock]

21 hours ago, Ben77 said:

Get yourself some owner blockhead offset weedless ned heads problem solved! 

I believe I have some of those, I'll give it a try. Right now I'm using the standard Z-man shroom heads, I think.

 

But, I don't think the problem is with the hook grabbing something. I think the jig head is getting wedged between large rocks. 

21 hours ago, Big Swimbait said:

You might try the football head Ned heads.

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I don't think I have any football heads but I did buy some Morel heads from Seibert's a while back, basically a flatter, wider head as compared to the "shroom". Would those work also? That was going to be my next step before switching to the "tiny child". 

[Ben77]

6 minutes ago, Dash Riprock said:

I believe I have some of those, I'll give it a try. Right now I'm using the standard Z-man shroom heads, I think.

 

But, I don't think the problem is with the hook grabbing something. I think the jig head is getting wedged between large rocks. 

Then stick with a round or a football head they work better around rock check ebay.

[Jig Man]

You never said what weight you are using, the lighter the better.

 

You don’t even have to let the Ned rig touch the bottom and if it does, it needn’t stay there very long.

 

I have found that a light EWG doesn’t get hung as bad.

[waymont]

Try fishing a lighter head, and not dragging it. 1/16oz can kind of dance through a lot of snags.

[TOXIC]

You have options.  We fish a structure covered river that is notorious for stealing Ned rigs.  Part of that is to be expected, it’s the nature of the beast.  You can change the head style to a football or round head, you can change the hook style to an offset gap so you can rig it weedless, you can change the head weight to lighter or you can change your retrieve.  Sometimes I use a steady retrieve, sometimes I hop it and sometimes I drag it.  You’ll loose some no matter what you do.  

[CrashVector]

In my experiences with a ned, it's the weight more often than the hook that gets hung up.

 

Ironically, I've found a bigger weight gets snagged less.

 

I prefer the 1/10 oz, but if I'm in a snaggy spot, I go to the 1/5th.

[gim]

The ned is a bottom contact presentation for me, so inevitably its going to get hung up at times.  Just part of how I fish it.

 

The issue I primarily have is when I try to fish it in more weedier habitat.  Since it has an exposed hook, it tends to get hung up.  If the weeds are thick, you can forget about it.  And don't tell me to try the one with the chinsy weed guard either because they are useless!

[Dash Riprock]

1 hour ago, Jig Man said:

You never said what weight you are using, the lighter the better.

 

You don’t even have to let the Ned rig touch the bottom and if it does, it needn’t stay there very long.

 

I have found that a light EWG doesn’t get hung as bad.

I think they were 1/10. Not 100% sure but they were pretty small. 

[Dash Riprock]

3 hours ago, gimruis said:

The ned is a bottom contact presentation for me, so inevitably its going to get hung up at times.  Just part of how I fish it.

 

The issue I primarily have is when I try to fish it in more weedier habitat.  Since it has an exposed hook, it tends to get hung up.  If the weeds are thick, you can forget about it.  And don't tell me to try the one with the chinsy weed guard either because they are useless!

As best as I can tell, there aren't many weeds in this lake. I know weeds - the reason I haven't fished the Ned much until now is that the creeks I usually fish are super mucked up and I have to keep everything off the bottom. I know what a weed snag feels like, and this isn't that. 

 

And I agree with you about weed guards. Those have never really worked for me on other presentations. 

 

 

[Darth-Baiter]

i rig Ned rig bait as a tiny Texas rig.

 

1/0 wire hooks, light bullets weights.  does really well, and they just dont snag.  

[ATA]

If I was in your situation, I would:

1-use weedless ned head(I prefer not).

2-use lighter ned heads.

 

[Cdn Angler]

I used to have that happen more often (still happens), but I stopped dragging it and happens less. I hop it and or swim it if relatively sure it's near the bottom. 

[TnRiver46]

Just keep using the Texas rig . I see a lot of guys around here force the Ned rig and lose tons of lead and elaztech. It’s supposedly a “50 fish per bait” kind of thing but everyone brings 20 bags of them and a 20 pack of jigheads for a 3 hour trip. And they run out of TRD and jig heads before dark 

 

I think the ned rig excels in the northern Midwest in round bowl shaped lakes without rocks 

[JustJames]

It is really undeniable dragging weight uphill is calling for snag. If you don’t have problem with Texas rig, stay with it. Zman plastic float and should give similar action as on jig head. You mentioned tiny child rig, why don’t give it a try, you might be surprised the rate of fish you catch versus jig head you lost. I have some success with tiny child rig in the past as well.

For Ned Rig, a lot ppl already mentioned the way to fish with less snagged. Believe it or not at same spot some day I catch 10 other days I loose 4-5 rigs without fish. When I fish Ned rig, the most important for me is tight line so I can feel the weight every moment. Popping Ned on slack line often time calling for snag. Sometimes you have to fish fast just swim it slowly and let the weight ticking bottom sometimes. Once I feel the jig head on top of pebble rock that when I slow down and do the shaking.

Dont force it Ned rig not the only way to catch fish. I hate carry too many stuffs why I fish weightless most of the time.

[Bluebasser86]

Don't let it hit bottom and it won't get snagged nearly as often. The swim/shake/glide retrieve is what I use most and it rarely touches bottom then. 

[padon]

13 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Don't let it hit bottom and it won't get snagged nearly as often. The swim/shake/glide retrieve is what I use most and it rarely touches bottom then. 

i would try a lighter head and a more swimming retrieve. the swim glide shake catches a lot of fish for me. as far as fishing in weeds i catch a ton of fish in weeds on neds. i dont know why guys struggle so much. i guess it depends on the grass.mifoil, hydrilla , and coontail are easy to fish. use a light head jiggle it through the grass. when it gets hung pop it off and swim glide it down...bass eats it, repeat. my go to technique when it tough.

[BlakeMolone]

Didn’t have the time to read all replies but get the lightest weight head possible, I like 1/16th and never go heavier. After it’s hit the bottom on the initial fall I try to not let it hit bottom again while keeping it near the bottom or just down lower in the water column. If you’re fishing from the bank you will loose heads, no exposed hook is going to last forever in the places I fish.

[MN Fisher]

If you still get snagged - MWO just today posted about how to un-snag your lure...jump to 2:37 for the 'How To'.

 

[Deephaven]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

If you still get snagged - MWO just today posted about how to un-snag your lure...jump to 2:37 for the 'How To'.

 

NO WAY, no how am I spearing my rod into the water when there is a lure knocker on my boat at all times.  For me I always pluck the bow, come from reverse, then lure knocker in that order.

[MN Fisher]

44 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

when there is a lure knocker on my boat

Well ya - that kinda negates the need for this technique...but not all of us have lure-knockers.

[El jefe]

11 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

If you still get snagged - MWO just today posted about how to un-snag your lure...jump to 2:37 for the 'How To'.

 

I wouldn't do that to an ugly stik ??‍♂️

[roadwarrior]

Ridiculous...I would NEVER use my rod as a spear!