Ned/Neko/Wacky

[Drew03cmc]

Let's discuss these three "finesse" techniques. Specifically, where and when do you determine which to throw? I'm looking at lakes with rock bottoms, water between 70 and 79 this month, docks, lay downs, long gravel points, etc. These lakes hold either largemouth and smallmouth, or those two plus spots. I'm equipped for all 3, but wanted to hear your choices and why. I, personally like a wacky rig around isolated targets and specifically those targets. In open water, I don't get the love on it like I do on cover. The Neko, I find to be a happy medium in that I can use a 4" Senko and a 1/16 or 7/64 nail weight to creep or hop it through open water imitating a crayfish or whatever have you. The Ned, I view as a day-saver. Am I wrong? Do you do it differently? Should I rig these up to go along with my buzzbaits and cranks this time of year?

[MickD]

Ned is very reliable and versatile, so generally I start with it.  If no action, change color. If still no action go with something entirely different, like a crank or Keitech swim bait.  I will now and then use wacky if not in depths over 8-10, but generally, if they don't want a Ned, they don't want finesse.  At least that's how I see it where I fish.  

[DaubsNU1]

I really like the NED and wacky. Never really fished Neko. 

 

In general, I start with a buzz-bait and spinnerbait to start the day. I always have a squarebill tied on and ready to throw. I'm initially looking for aggressive, active LMB's (sorry, no SMB's in the lakes I fish). If the bite is on, I will stick with power-fishing. If the bite is slow, I'll throw a t-rigged worm, NED, or weighless t-rigged Senko. Sometimes a wacky senko. 

 

If the wind is calm, or relatively calm (rare here in Nebraska), I will continue to toss NED and Senko, and mix in drop-shot. Those three will usually put fish in the boat. 

 

If the wind is a blow'in...it's back to power fishing, or pitching a jig-n-trailer. 

 

Good luck!

[Bird]

I throw the wacky rig more than any other technique here in clear water.

1/16 VMC head with single wire guard, skipped under docks, steep banks, grass edges and around cover.

 

I do throw Ned and drop-shot also but much prefer wacky.

[padon]

i like wacky or lightly weighted wacky down to about 10 feet. after that i like neko. even with the same light weight it will fall faster and stay n bottom better. i havent fished a true ned much lately but i do use a 4 inch senko or dinger on a jig head in lighter cover or grass.

[FryDog62]

I skip Nekos under docks and overhangs. The lead is buried so if you hit anything it doesn’t make any noise and spook the fish or tick off the homeowner.
 

I get a lot of reaction bites on the fall, if not, I use worms with floating tails that stick straight up versus a wacky worm that just rests on the bottom.  If there is a bass there that sees the vertical Neko tail they will usually slurp it up.  

 

It's kind of like flippin' the bird at the bully on the playground... the bigger alpha bass can't be passive when provoked. 

[casts_by_fly]

I struggle to slow down enough to truly fish finesse baits.  So for me, a ned is the first one I pick up when its tough.  It's still an active retrieve for me.  I'm swimming it, popping it, almost fishing it like a swim jig.  A wacky rig for me is cast it out, let it hit the bottom, wait a bit, little pop, hit the bottom, retrieve.  That's an isolate cover technique for me.  And I hate it.

[gim]

Wacky - skipping docks and fishing in water 5 feet or less because of the slower fall rate

Neko - deeper weedlines at least 5+ feet deep because of the faster fall rate

Ned - more of an open-water tactic for me because of the exposed hook.  Tends to get hung up in thicker weeds.

 

Just the other day I was using a ned outside the weed line (the small version) and catching some bass but they were all on the smaller to medium size.  I upsized to a bigger worm and immediately caught 3 bigger bass.

[Drew03cmc]

2 hours ago, Bird said:

I throw the wacky rig more than any other technique here in clear water.

1/16 VMC head with single wire guard, skipped under docks, steep banks, grass edges and around cover.

 

I do throw Ned and drop-shot also but much prefer wacky.

So, you prefer the weighted wacky with the jighead? I've never used it with a Senko, but Flick Shake is deadly, so I don't see why it wouldn't work. 

 

[gim]

3 minutes ago, Drew03cmc said:

So, you prefer the weighted wacky with the jighead?

 

The problem with a jig head around docks is that it has exposed hard material.  If you bump into another hard surface, you announce to half the lake you're there.  Which includes lake shore owners.

 

As @FryDog62 stated, if you bury the weight inside the stick bait or plastic, the noise is eliminated.  Whether you think noise is a factor, that's up to you.  But I prefer to reduce my noise.

[Drew03cmc]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

 

The problem with a jig head around docks is that it has exposed hard material.  If you bump into another hard surface, you announce to half the lake you're there.  Which includes lake shore owners.

 

As @FryDog62 stated, if you bury the weight inside the stick bait or plastic, the noise is eliminated.  Whether you think noise is a factor, that's up to you.  But I prefer to reduce my noise.

True. I wouldn't use the jighead around these docks with high end boats. I'd use them around vertical structure, trees, bluffs, etc.

[Bird]

2 hours ago, Drew03cmc said:

So, you prefer the weighted wacky with the jighead? I've never used it with a Senko, but Flick Shake is deadly, so I don't see why it wouldn't work. 

 

Yes the flick shake 4.8 is mainly what I throw GPC.

VMC crossover rings in .003 will allow a single worm to last hours, not kidding.

Oh, the reason I prefer the 1/16 head is once the Senkos and Zman Zinkerz lose all their salt, they float on the surface.

[Team9nine]

Ned - always rigged and carried…and thrown - everywhere.

 

Neko - not a fan. 

 

Wacky - Use it a lot, usually as a slower option to Ned, especially from the bank. Just pull the Ned bait off and use the same jig head with a Finesse WormZ. Minimizes tackle purchases and storage issues.

[WRB]

2 hours ago, Team9nine said:

Ned - always rigged and carried…and thrown - everywhere.

 

Neko - not a fan. 

 

Wacky - Use it a lot, usually as a slower option to Ned, especially from the bank. Just pull the Ned bait off and use the same jig head with a Finesse WormZ. Minimizes tackle purchases and storage issues.

Yamamoto new 2 1/2” Hula grub would work good on a Ned jig.

Tom

[bowhunter63]

Love the Wacky rig. I use the rings on baby Rage Craw with a Neko weight. It always sets claws up . Even the Zoom uv craw will work. Gives them a new look. Doing really well on it right now 

[RHuff]

For me, if I think bass are holding on cover I will throw a wacky, if I think they are out in deeper water or feeding on bottom I will switch to a ned… 

[RRocket]

I prefer the "improved Ned rig"....the Jika Rig when that's what I'm throwing.

 

I prefer the Flick Shake in Cola if using a worm.

 

And in lieu of Wacky, I prefer Cover Scat.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I really only use wacky rigs in shallow water when little else works.  Its really effective, but its not my favorite way to fish.

A neko to me is kind of like a wacky rig and shakey head combined, it does a little better on the bottom, it all depends on weight and how you fish it.  I prefer a shakey head, but a neko has some advantages.  A neko will stay a little cleaner in slimy bottomed lakes.  In rocks it more resistant to snags and the knot doesnt take as much of beating compared to a SH.

A ned is almost too versatile to pin down.  There may be more efficient ways of using them, but IMHO I don't think there is a wrong way.  Personally, most of the time when I fish a ned, Im fishing it on or near the bottom most of the time.  If I'm not likely to be dragging the bottom, I generally use a small swimbait over a ned.  

[ChrisD46]

I’ll add the Tiny Child Rig to this conversation - use with standard size TRD (#2 VMC Finesse Neko , 1/16th oz. nail weight )  , Hula Stick (#2 VMC Finesse Neko , 1/16th nail weight) Big TRD (#1 VMC Finesse Neko hook , 1/8th oz. nail weight). 

[Pumpkin Lizard]

Ned Rigs are fantastic. There is a wrong way to fish it, but that way still catches fish and I am probably doing it wrong.

 

I use three retrieves. Dragging on the bottom, with some hops. Big Hops off the bottom with some pauses and an active retrieve with brief pauses.

 

I have more luck with Crush City NED BLTs than I do with the Z Man TRDs.

 

 

 

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

I never use a Ned but love a whacky and still use a traditional neko rig quite often.

 

That said after Taku Ito's win on Smith Lake at the end of June, I've been going down the sneaky JDM finesse rabbit hole, and those baits fill the same roles as the Ned/Whacky/Neko for the most part.   

 

The 'pancake' neko rig using the Nories Flap Gill 3.2 was Taku's winning bait, the other baits below are ones I put together using inspiration from Taku.  They are all a combo of the concepts behind a whacky and neko rig, and the last one shown is a combo of a neko and ned at least in my mind. 

 

Taku's pancake neko rig along with a Geecrack CueBomb rig using a Cuebomb, Hayabusa Spin Muscle 1/0 hook, Owner CPS in medium, and a 1/8th nail weight.

 

Then this is a neko/ned thingy using a Geecrack Imo Kemushi 60 Elastomer with 1/8th screw in nail weight, Owner CPS in medium, and a Gamakatsu G Finesse weedless whacky in 1/0.   You can either work it slowly dragging like a ned or lift and drop like a neko/whacky.  

 

** CPSs are used to crimp around the hook before being screwed into the bait, this saves you lots of baits especially with Geecrack non elastomer stuff.    Kind of like another form of a neko hack like the Geecrack Neko Hack that is used in that pancake neko rig bait above.   

 

[bp_fowler]

When I first started bass fishing I used the wacky rigged senko  a lot.  I liked to fish it around isolated shallow cover or skip it under overhanging vegetation.

 

If I was fishing a new body of water it was the first bait I’d throw just to see if there were any fish present.  Cast it out, give it a hop or two or three, and reel it back in. Repeat as needed.  
 

The Neko for me, was just a wacky rig for deeper water.

 

Both presentations have been pretty much replaced by the Ned rig in my arsenal.  It can do everything the others can do in one (smaller and cheaper) package.  
 

If I’m concerned about snags I’m not throwing any of the above.  The shaky head gets the call there.