Midwest Finesse Rig (Ned Rig)

[Guest]

Well my wife's a staff accountant as well.

Anyway I get stuck in a rut and use the same lures all the time. This looks like one of the good "do nothing" type baits that may pass the test of time. It's a little like the Charlie Brewer slider worm, a little like a senko, and a little like a single tail grub. Definitely finesse all the way. I like it and will try it!

You're on the right path.

The versatility of this bait is equal to that of a good jig.

[Guest]

What the crap kind of forage is this supposed to imitate? Baitfish feeding in the rocks on the bottom?

Crawfish and small sunfish.

Hence the orange/green pumpkin color.

I was hesitant about trying a bait so small and light weight, until I forced myself to adapt.

Its one of those deals where you only take a box of Zman rigs and a spinning rod.

Leave everything else at home. That will force you to learn all its nuances.

I started out fishing it in May on post spawn bass at Bella Vista lakes.

It was lights out, so I carried it to the creek and it out fished anything in my arsenal.

[Mitch f]

If you noticed the little jig that Old Crowbar uses to catch those big smallies on the South Fork, it's not too different than that.

[Guest]

If you're after numbers it's the best game in town. For bigger Smallmouth - yes, it can work - but often I fish behind people throwing small grubs, tubes, and plastic worms and absolutely clean up on bigger fish throwing bigger, more aggressive presentations.

You are exactly right.

My handle is trophyfishr for a reason,

I typically fish with power baits and a baitcaster, just looking for a couple of bites from big bass.

This year I was in a serious car wreck and spent several days in the hospital.

My injuries prevented me from using a bait caster.

So, I turned to the Ned Rig as a way to go all out ultra finesse.

Its a different mind set when fishing for numbers versus size.

Hopefully I can go back to power fishing this fall.

Buzzbaits, square bills, flippin jigs, frogs, etc.

I can assure you that a Zman rig is ALWAYS going to be tied on a spinning rod for sheer numbers.

[Guest]

I used that kind if thing on streams and creeks 50 yrs ago. its is not new. About the earliest lure used in that manner was a Bettie Spin or a 4 inch plastic worm. I have not used Z-MAN bait much but I do not want anything to do with them in any way,shape or form. They are real good at preventing hook ups and the bouncy changed in the trick type baits I used.

Plug, you're correct.

Its not new, but the zman bait on that little jighead is new to me.

Its redefined the way that I approach finesse fishing.

There's no arguing its effectiveness on small bass.

I was looking for a way to catch everything that bites.

That's been achieved with a 90% hookup ratio.

[Guest]

If you noticed the little jig that Old Crowbar uses to catch those big smallies on the South Fork, it's not too different than that.

Crowbar!

I know about those little grubs.

I liken this rig to a bitsy tube, but much better.

I don't have to re-tie every time I catch a bass.

The efficiency is what allows me to blow up the numbers game.

All that time spent fixing your finesse worm is wasted,

I'm catching fish while most are fiddling with their baits.

[Al Agnew]

I think that we often get too hung up on action of the lure. This is a classic do-nothing bait...basically nothing moves on it by itself, and whatever action it has is provided by the way you fish it. And often the less action the better.

I've gotten into fishing Senko types with enough extra weight to get them to the bottom a lot quicker than they would weightless, and using them pretty much like you'd ordinarily fish a typical plastic worm, especially in colder weather. I like the fatter profile compared to a normal worm, and that they have much less action than a thin worm. Although I don't like using them on jigheads (I've tried it), I don't see why a little longer portion of Senko on a jig head wouldn't perhaps catch a better average size.

By the way, don't get hung up on what the Ned Rig is trying to imitate. It doesn't imitate much of anything, and it doesn't matter. Bass aren't usually picky about what they're eating. Evidently this looks edible to them and that's all that matters.

[Guest]

By the way, don't get hung up on what the Ned Rig is trying to imitate. It doesn't imitate much of anything, and it doesn't matter. Bass aren't usually picky about what they're eating. Evidently this looks edible to them and that's all that matters.

No doubt,

It loos like something small and edible.

Most critters that small bass eat are much smaller than 2.5"

[Guest]

My Dad hated it at first.

He's the best worm fisherman that I've been around. Especially dead sticking.

He likes to dead stick like most fishermen pause a jerkbait in cold water.

He laughed when he saw that I actually had one tied on at Bella Vista.

So, I converted him in a matter of hours of catching keeper largemouth.

It's not for catching big bass, they're icing on the cake. If you can land one of them.

My goal is to land a master angler fish this year.

[joeD]

Amazing. I lose count after 10. I would find counting every 3 minutes for 4 hours straight boring and mind-numbing. Sounds like a great day of catching fish in any event. Cheers.