When we first started talking about the Ned Rig back in 2012, it was a very niche technique that was not well known.
Now, everybody’s jumped on the Ned Rig bandwagon and the technique has been refined over the last few years. Now we have some very specific products that make the technique more effective and easier to implement.
When I first started experimenting with this type of fishing, I would just basically cut a Senko in half stick it on a ball head jig and throw it out there. Recently I have switched my Ned Rig set up to the Z-Man TRD bait with the Z-man mushroom jig heads.
There is a keeper on the jighead that holds the bait on nicely and comes in a variety of sizes that allow for that slow fall. They are easy to use and super effective both in rivers and lakes.
The basics
Really, the basics are all there is to it.
Think of this truly as a finesse technique. Think light line, light jighead and a light touch on the hookset because you should be using light gauge wire hooks.
To make this technique successful, all you need is a light mushroom head jig head – maybe a 16th ounce or 10th ounce jig and a small piece of plastic such as a Senko or other stick bait. You can also use a Z-man TRD worm or other similar short stubby worm. Make a long cast on light line with a spinning reel and a 7 ft medium action rod and let it float down to the bottom.
From there you can employ several different techniques such as hopping the bait or raising it up and letting it fall, waiting for a strike.
The key is to use that light jig head because if the bait falls too quickly, you’re going to lose the effectiveness of fishing the Ned Rig.
Next time you are out, take some time and give this technique a try. You’ll be glad you did!
I’ve included some videos below that have some of the most current information about fishing the Ned Rig.
.Enjoy!
For a great little summary of the technique, click here to download or view a PDF put out by Z-Man Fishing.
Ned Rig Teaching Videos
Z-Man with Luke Clausen
Brian Latimer
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