Ned Jigging

[snowplow]

I was hearing about guys putting large Ned style trailers on 1/2 oz jigs and fishing them like a Ned rig dragging or hopping them.

 

Ned baits all have that flat or mushroom shape head. 

 

Why do neds have that shape head? Would a 'ned jig' be better off with that mushroom style, football, or ballhead?

 

Thanks guys

[RipzLipz]

@snowplow From what I gather, the flat and/or mushroom head shape on a ned rig is shaped as such so it can stand upright easier without toppling over & its ability to be snapped off of sparse weeds (think coontail & cabbage).

 

I’ve read other anglers using longer senkos as skirted jig trailers & expect this jig trailer you’re describing to be essentially the same thing rather than more like a ned rig unless they were using them on jig heads specifically (non-skirted). Ned is a lightweight presentation so it can lay on top of weeds rather than fall through them & potentially get snagged with the typical open hook. Also can be fished around rocks. 1/2oz weight doesn’t lend to sitting on top of sparse weed patches. Type & weight of head labeled as best would depend around which type of cover being fished, I’d tend to think.

[Susky River Rat]

Couldn’t you just use a stand up shakey head jig for this?

[softwateronly]

I've had some luck with the gambler power ned and Nichols magnum ned, if you're looking for a heavier ned to mix in with a jig/stickworm and regular ned.  Works well on a medium power rod.  Deeper water, faster fall, current, larger profile have been my reasons to upsize.

 

scott

[MickD]

I would think that under the right conditions you could use any type of head with a jig and catch fish.  However, you asked why do neds have a mushroom style head.  The original ned, made of a bouyant material, when coupled with a mushroom style head, will land upright on the bottom most of the time.  That is part of its effectiveness.  Other materials with other head shapes will not do this, but will land more horizontal.  

[Jig Man]

I can’t say why it is better.  All I know is that I have tried ball head, minnow head and aspirin head jigs.  They didn’t get me as many bites.  I’ve never tried football as my mold only goes down to 1/8 oz and uses hooks that are too large for me on a TRD.

[Team9nine]

Neds have that head shape because Ned Kehde defined the rig and presentation, and that head shape was at the center of it. Ned referred to it as “the most unbeatable jig in the history of the world.” 😎
 

But “Ned jigs,” half ounce heads, and ‘Ned style trailers’ are just capitalism and necessity at work, and have nothing to do with Ned rigging (“Midwest Finesse”), so don’t feel obligated to use a mushroom head in those cases - use whatever will present the bait best in the cover/depths you’re fishing.

[snowplow]

Got it thanks guys

[Bluebasser86]

Just selling a hot name at that point imo. When you're fishing something like that, it's just the old school jigworm with a new name. Ned rig fishing isn't just the bait, it's the tackle and presentation/s as well. None of the heavy duty "Ned Jigging", falls into that category. 

[Frezzy]

Don't sleep on putting your favorite 3" Ned bait on the back of a 1/2 or 3/4oz football jig fellas.  Especially dragging jigs in deeper cold water (40's).  I tried it for the first time a few weeks ago up here in Mass and have been absolutely smashing bass ever since.  I have tried switching back to my typical cold water jig trailers including pork and the Ned trailer is out fishing the normal stuff by a noticeable amount.  Just trim that jig skirt up so it's a little more finessey.  I find "ned jigging" way more enjoyable (and effective) than fishing those super light ned heads on spinning gear.  Especially if your fishing deeper water or if long casts are needed (bank guys trying to reach deep water)...      

[warefisher]

12 hours ago, Frezzy said:

Don't sleep on putting your favorite 3" Ned bait on the back of a 1/2 or 3/4oz football jig fellas.  

Thanks for the technique tip.  What size hook do you have on these heavier jigs and the 3” bait?

[Creek Pirate]

My most productive bait of quality  fish in winter in clear water is on a 7/16 finesse jig with half a dinger as trailer.green pumpkin.

 

Instead of a ned rig this past winter in clear water I used micro jigs with a small piece of finesse worm.In my opinion  it outperformed the ned in my immediate area.

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

On 11/29/2023 at 5:42 AM, Frezzy said:

Don't sleep on putting your favorite 3" Ned bait on the back of a 1/2 or 3/4oz football jig fellas.  Especially dragging jigs in deeper cold water (40's).  I tried it for the first time a few weeks ago up here in Mass and have been absolutely smashing bass ever since.  I have tried switching back to my typical cold water jig trailers including pork and the Ned trailer is out fishing the normal stuff by a noticeable amount.  Just trim that jig skirt up so it's a little more finessey.  I find "ned jigging" way more enjoyable (and effective) than fishing those super light ned heads on spinning gear.  Especially if your fishing deeper water or if long casts are needed (bank guys trying to reach deep water)...      

They make a killer trailer, as well as an entire 4 or 5 inch stickworm. Not a profile fish see often either. 

[TOXIC]

Buckeye lures make a Ned (mushroom head) skirted jig in multiple colors.  I got a bunch to try.  
 

[RipzLipz]

3 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

They make a killer trailer, as well as an entire 4 or 5 inch stickworm. Not a profile fish see often either. 

I might be mistaken but didn’t @A-Jay mention catching some monsters in MX on skirted jig with longer Senkos (or similar soft stick bait) as trailers on one of his trips?

[A-Jay]

16 minutes ago, RipzLipz said:

I might be mistaken but didn’t @A-Jay mention catching some monsters in MX on skirted jig with longer Senkos (or similar soft stick bait) as trailers on one of his trips?

Yes he did ~ 

 7 inch senko as a jig trailer has been catching giants down south for years.

When I first saw it, I thought it was crazy.

Turns out, I'm the Crazy. 

https://youtu.be/1to6ti-tlZY?feature=shared&t=697

A-Jay

 

[RipzLipz]

@A-Jay Thank you. I was hoping my memory wasn’t depreciating like my bank account as of late.

[A-Jay]

29 minutes ago, RipzLipz said:

@A-Jay Thank you. I was hoping my memory wasn’t depreciating like my bank account as of late.

You're welcome.

But but when I think about the $$ in the boat, motor, trailer tackle & now new truck,

I'm trying to forget . . . 

🤓

A-Jay

[RipzLipz]

13 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

You're welcome.

But but when I think about the $$ in the boat, motor, trailer tackle & now new truck,

I'm trying to forget . . . 

🤓

A-Jay

I smell what you’re steppin in - fuel rails & air/fuel injectors in Texas waiting in line to be looked at……in January 😣

[papajoe222]

 

On 11/27/2023 at 4:14 AM, Susky River Rat said:

Couldn’t you just use a stand up shakey head jig for this?

Exactly my thought.

I stopped using Ned style jig heads. Last fall (2022) I was shore fishing and lost the only Ned jig I had with me. I put a ball head jig and the tail section of a floating finesse worm and tied it on using a snap. That combo stood tail up every time and I was able to continue catching fish.  Not exactly ideal, but a lot cheaper than Ned jigs..