The Ned Rig: Is It a Good Choice for Bass Fishing?

The Ned rig is a compact finesse presentation: a short soft-plastic stickbait on a light jighead. Popularized by Midwest angler Ned Kehde, it is especially useful for pressured bass, rocky bottoms and situations where a subtle lure draws more strikes than a larger presentation.

The Ned rig, named after its designer, grabbed center stage in the elegant fishing industry and has yet to surrender that position, firmly establishing itself alongside other finesse fishing stalwarts such as the shaky head, drop shot, and wacky rig.

The Ned rig, a very simple lure, and presentation at its heart, is the most nothing-looking item we’ve ever seen. Still, it’s also one of the most potent fish catchers. We were suspicious when we first saw the lure and listened to all the buzz, and we dismissed it as the new shaky head.

However, we saw hardcore fishermen utilizing a Ned rig in tournaments, so we succumbed and gave it a chance.

This article will provide some crucial tips on utilizing a Ned rig for bass, why to choose it, and how to fish with one.

What Is a Ned Rig for Bass Fishing?

The most significant element of a Ned rig for bass is the jig head, often known as the Ned head. A flat surface on a Ned head lets the bait rise when dragged over the bottom. A mushroom-shaped jighead can help a buoyant plastic stand or glide, but the presentation depends on the head, plastic, line angle and bottom. No single knot angle guarantees that the bait stands upright.

From there, you have many soft plastic alternatives to pair with the Ned head, but that’s not how it was. In the early stages of the Ned rig, the most typical method was to cut a conventional size soft plastic worm in half and use the tail end to finish the rig. Again, it doesn’t appear to be much.

Still, we quickly discovered that it’s an exceptionally efficient small bait for being bit. The fact that it doesn’t look like much implies that it seems a bit like everything. And it’s the dimensions that make it so practical. It’s not a scary bait for bass but a simple morsel to scrape up from the bottom.

Why Choose a Ned Rig for Bass?

You should consider a Ned rig for bass because it is incredibly adaptable, used year-round, and successfully catches all species of bass in a mixture of fisheries. In selecting when and where to cast a bass fishing Ned rig, there are two crucial factors to consider. The presentation generally works best when bass are feeding near the bottom and the bottom is relatively clean. Weedless jigheads can help around sparse grass or light cover.

Neither of these is an absolute must; instead, they are excellent general guidelines.

The classic Ned rig comprises an open hook, making it the polar opposite of weedless. Surprisingly, the bait swims well over pebbles and other tiny covers. The key reasons are the shape of the lure’s head and the hook’s position, which is up and away from the cover.

However, if you want to get a bit deeper into the cover, several firms now sell Ned heads with weed protectors. These weedless versions let you fish more and denser cover, which makes them perfect for beginners and recreational fishermen.

To summarize, here’s a list of reasons why the Ned rig for bass is so effective:

• Subtle action: This fishing rig has a restrained fall and small profile. Despite its appearance outside the water, its calm, gliding fall particularly appeals to bass.
• Small profile: Compact baits can be useful for pressured or less aggressive bass, although larger baits can also be effective.
• Finesse versatility: The Ned rig can be slowly dragged, hopped, swum or paused, depending on fish position and bottom conditions.
• Superb imitation: The rig’s small, stubby form lends it a craw-like appearance and presence, particularly while sitting on the bottom.
• Superb bass attractor: The appealing falling movement and size on the bottom will frequently pique the interest of bass, and the only way for them to learn more is to bite.

How to Fish a Ned Rig for Bass?

After you’ve rigged the Ned, the rest is simple since you can efficiently fish it in nearly any hard cover condition if you cast it on a slack line. Fantastic places to fish the Ned include points, bluff banks, boat docks, and any place bass prefer to congregate.

Once you’ve located a likely location, cast the Ned out and allow it to sink on a slack line. Keep an eye out for the ‘tick’ that denotes a fish. Often, there will be no indications of a fish striking, but bass will be on when you reel up to reposition the lure.

With a small exposed Ned hook, avoid an unnecessarily violent hookset. Reel up slack and apply firm, steady pressure; the appropriate hookset still depends on hook style, rod action, line and drag.

TACKLE USED

• SOFT PLASTIC – a compact 2.5–3-inch stickbait or buoyant finesse plastic
• HOOK – light mushroom-style Ned jighead; choose hook size and weight to match the plastic and depth
• ROD – light- or medium-light-power spinning rod with a sensitive tip, matched to the jighead weight
• REEL – 2000–3000 size spinning reel, balanced with the rod
• MAIN LINE – approximately 8–15 lb braid for sensitivity, or suitable light fluorocarbon/monofilament
• LEADER – around 6–10 lb fluorocarbon where water clarity and cover call for it; adjust to conditions

Ned Rigs for Bass: Final Words

The Ned rig for bass is perhaps one of the simplest and most effective finesse rigs for hooking bass. It elicits bites simply by being trailed down the bottom. Although it is not necessarily the largest, this Ned rig setup for bass will get the interest of bass and has the potential to capture lunkers.

It is an excellent bait for novices. However, its efficiency is necessary for tournament fishermen and other seasoned bass-fishing veterans. With so many boats on the lake, a sound bite scorer like this benefits all fishermen when planning their next bass fishing trips.

If you’re interested in finesse fishing, the Ned rig is one of the tactics you should have on hand. It’s a bait that could work when nothing else does.

Lake Erie Smallmouth Example

The Ned rig is especially useful for Lake Erie smallmouth when bronzebacks are holding on rock but will not chase faster presentations. Fish it around rock-to-sand transitions, points, isolated boulders and reef edges with enough weight to maintain contact without making the bait look unnatural.

In clear Great Lakes water, compact natural colors are a strong starting point. Slow drags, short hops and long pauses often outperform constant shaking. When fish are deeper or directly beneath the boat, compare the Ned rig with a drop-shot presentation. For the complete Lake Erie pattern, use our Lake Erie smallmouth guide.