Ned Rig for Bass Fishing – It’s about the Allure

Ned Rig

Ned Rig Lures are bottom contact known for light weight, low profile, slow fishing, catch on the fall and for its typically using small vertical worm soft plastic.

Anatomy: Ned Rig lures are soft bait lures which typically feature a 2″ to 4″ worm soft plastic on a mushroom shaped jig head.

Variants & Other Names:

Midwest Finesse Rig: Some suggest the original name.

Lure Action. Small worm-like action either sitting on the bottom or hoping slowly across the bottom.

Search Bait: Not common.

Pros’ Choice: Common.

When to Fish a Ned Rig

Ned Rigs are bottom contact lures typically selected when:

Targeted Depth is:
- Shallow: Common in mid-depth some suggest 5 ft and deeper.
- Deep(Offshore): Common especially in the mid-depth ranges and less common very deep.
  - Suspended: Not applicable.
Fishing Speed is:
- Slow: Common
- Fast: Not common to be fished fast due to its lightweight. Slightly faster with a heavier jig head.
  - Focus on the Fall: Some suggest to focus on fall to attract fish and thus make a lot of casts. In some cases they will try for multiple falls on the single presentation by reeling the lure quickly after the lure hits the bottom to simulate multiple casts.
Lure Visibility is:
- High Lure Visibility: Common, especially in low wind/waves.
- Low Lure Visibility: Not common, as it is a subtle presentation.
  - Engaging Lateral Line: None.
  - Engaging Hearing: Slight noise of the light jig head hitting hard bottom or cover.
  - Engaging Sense of Smell and or Taste: The soft plastics often have odor and taste.
Targeting Cover: Some suggest all lures are good near cover where ned rig lures are used when contacting:
- Grass: Less common but some suggest in scattered grass, grass lines, with the weedless Ned Rig Jig Head. If snagged on grass a quick pop often dislodges the grass.
  - Weedless: There are ned rig jig heads that have weed guards.
- Rock: Common, as the line is tied to the head of the hook helping avoid snags. Typical in rip rap.
- Wood: Not common, but some suggest in logs and stumps/trees with a weedless ned rig jig head. Edges/transitions are good.
- Dock: Less common, but the ned rig can be skipped.
- Off Cover: Common and some suggest drag retrieve across hard bottom.
Soft Bottom vs Hard Bottom: Common for hard bottom and not common with soft bottom as it requires a hop retrieve to keep the small lure out of the silt/muck. ing

Specific Ned Rig Lure Selection

Selecting the Ned Rig Lure Type, as a soft bait lure type, there are the following key decisions:

Soft Plastics:
- Common:
  - Worm: Common for using specific worm soft plastics designed for ned rig. There is a wide variety including worms with multi appendix tips.
- Less Common:
  - Craw:
  - Goby:
  - Jerkbait Soft Plastic: Not to be confused with a soft jerkbait lure, but using the same soft plastic, also called a Fluke.
  - Swimbait Soft Plastic: Not to be confused with a soft swimbait lure, but using the same soft plastic.
Size:
- Small: 2″ to 2.5″
- Common: 3″ to 4″
- Large: 4.5″ to 5″

Lure Color: As lure color selection is mostly tied to the lure visibility download the Acute Lure Color Breakdown™ Infographic.
- Forage: Mimics a worm, some suggest a goby.

Rigging Decisions

As a soft bait lure type, the common rigging considerations includes:

Jig Head:
- Options and Attributes:
  - Standard Ned Rig Jig: Rounded head, mushroom head, with a flat back that presses up the soft plastic.
    - Less Common: Football head swivel head ned rig jig head.
  - Weedless:
    - Wire Weedguard: Wire weed guards on the jig head.
    - EWG: Less common is Ned Rigs with EWG hooks that enable weedless.
    - Skirted: Not common, but skirted Ned Rig Jig Heads are available.
- Hook Size: Most manufactures do not include the hook size for a Ned Rig jig head and only a few manufacturers produce multiple hook sizes for the same weight, for example the Hard Hat Jigs Dead Bolt.
  - Small: #1
  - Common: 1/O and 2/O
  - Large: N/A
- Weight:
  - Light: 1/16th oz. For slow descend rate.
  - Common: 1/8 oz, 3/16 oz, 1/4 oz
  - Heavy: A couple manufactures make 3/8 oz.

Main Line: Common for braid,
- Light: 10 lb test to 15 lb test
- Common: 15 lb test to 20 lb test
- Heavy: 20 lb test plus.
Leader: Common for a 6 lb or 10lb fluorocarbon.
Rod:
- Spinning Rod: Common with Power = Medium Light (some suggest Medium ) and Action(Taper) = Extra Fast (some suggest Fast).
  - Reel: Some suggest 2500 braid or 3000 size if fluorocarbon or monofilament.
- Baitcaster Rod: Not common.

Ned Rig Presentations

Presentations for Ned Rig are commonly considered a horizontal presentation which starts with a a slack line but is mostly a tight line presentation with the following considerations:

Cast Techniques:
- Common:
  - Overhand: Common, for longer distances.
  - Roll Cast: Common, for when casting to or near targeted cover.
- Less Common:
Initial Lure Action: Natural fall on a slack line. Some suggest the fall is the most important and thus suggest making high frequency casts to maximize the number of falls.
Retrieve Techniques:
- Common:
  - Drag Retrieve: Some suggest a rod retrieve which provides built-in pauses.
  - Hop Retrieve: Some suggest to get the bass’ attention. Some suggest focus on the drop and thus only hop it once or twice and then return it back to the boat and cast again.
- Less Common:
  - Straight Retrieve: A reel retrieve similar to a slow-roll essentially swimming the lure near the bottom.
  - Twitch Retrieve:
Secondary Action: Common to add a pause either to trigger following fish to bite or to to get the lure back to the bottom. Some suggest adding a dead-stick.
Hook Set: Typically reel and rod hook set after identifying fish on followed by landing the bass.
Repetition at Spots: Less common

Additional Considerations

Seasons: Some suggest summer and winter when it is best to fish slow and on the bottom.
Sight Fishing: Less common.
- Spawning: Less common albeit some suggest effective for smallmouth bass.
Suspended Bass: Not common, as it is mostly a bottom lure.
Follow Up Bait: Less common albeit possible similar to a wacky rig.
Targeting Wolf Packs: Less common, possibly with a light weight jig head such that the lure drops slowly as the bass travel past.

MLF Videos and Articles by Experts

Major League Fishing (MLF) produces videos and articles including:

Randall Tharp’s Finesse Secret: He Loves the Ned Rig MLF Article
Tackle Warehouse Double Down – Mike Iaconelli has a lot to like about Ned rigs and drop-shots MLF Video
1 Bait, 5 Reasons: Clausen’s Finesse Stickbait for Ned Rig MLF Article
How to Fish Ned Rigs Year-Round MLF Video
How B. Lat Ned Rigs a TicklerZ MLF Video
Where and How to Use a Ned Rig MLF Video
Major League Lesson: Mark Rose’s Ned Rig MLF Video

Videos by Experts

The 3 Best Ways to Fish a Ned Rig – Bass Fishing Flukemaster
My Ned Rig Set Up Explained – ( Beginner’s Guide) Brian Latimer
MASTER Ned Rig Fishing with Ott DeFoe Wired2Fish
90% Of Anglers Fish A Ned Rig Wrong! Try These Retrieves! Matt Stefan
5 SIMPLE Spring Ned Rig TIPS (CATCH MORE FEESH!) Debo’s Fishing
NED RIGS… Learn From My Big Mistake BassFishingHQ

Articles by Experts

Ned Rigs: The Complete Guide to Ned Rig Fishing Wired2Fish
3 Steps to Catching Bass on a Ned Rig Outdoor Life
SIMPLE NED RIG TRICKS FOR SUMMER BASS FISHING! Tactical Bassin
Stop Fishing A NED RIG Like This (3 Ned Rig Mistakes) BassFishingHQ
A History of Midwest Finesse Fishing and the So-called Ned rig In-Fisherman