Ned Rig Gopher Tackle

[Guest]

I will run the elaztech up on the hook several times until it's straight.

It's got to lay flat without any sign of dog legging.

I lay the hook along the bait to align it properly.

Then I try to pin point which flake of glitter is the exit point.

If the bait is cut uneven, I will rotate it around so it lays right.

Sometimes the blunt end will curl slightly.

In this case, I want the curl facing opposite the hook bend. Similar to hooking a grub.

Here's the deal, you might only need 2-3 baits in 6hrs of fishing.

So they better be anatomically correct or I'm setting them aside.

I doubt many people go this extreme, but I would rather tie Alberto knots in the wind vs trying to glue down a jig head.

[bluebasser86]

A common reaction. One of the reasons I try not to be as specific as Ned on numbers. Folks just can't believe it. You are not supposed to have 50-100 fish days on Table Rock.

A couple years ago I decided to keep count of every bass I caught throughout the year. I had one day fishing for smallmouth during the summer that I boated north of 150 fish by myself. When I'd cross paths with other boats and they'd ask how I was doing, I didn't have to see their eyes rolling to know it was happening. The guy that taught me how to fish the Ned fishes with his wife a majority of the time and they had a day over 300 fish in just over 4 hours, more than 1.25 fish per minute.

I know there's plenty of non-believers and skeptics out there still, but I'm fine with that. They can struggle through the post frontal, flat calm days while I'm hauling them in one after the other

[Guest]

BlueBasser those are very impressive numbers!

[kjackson]

I don't think it does in clear water. Most of my heads are brown or green pumpkin-ish, with an occasional purple thrown in. I paint them for other reasons than color.

Ned uses a variety of colors, and in stained water it might make a difference. Especially the red and chartreuse heads. Not something we have to worry about very often. Have caught them on the same color heads in 2012 in brown water and last year with 15' (and more) visibility.

I have talked with folks from the KC area who know Ned and use the little rig that use those bright heads at Table Rock and do well.

[dtrs5kprs]

Yep. They were used for snapping and ripping plastics in MN. Did it at Pelican and other lakes myself. The little head and hook would rip through cabbage leaves and trigger fish. Also used the flat bottomed, pointed nose stand up heads for this. There were a lot of pike types that used a big reaper on those heads and did well.

Oops, my Yankee roots are showing again. Best go get some greasy B & G.

[jerry241]

Alright I promise this will be the last silly question on this subject for a while .... What knot do you use to tie on the jig head when using a floro leader???

[dtrs5kprs]

Alright I promise this will be the last silly question on this subject for a while .... What knot do you use to tie on the jig head when using a floro leader???

I use the Trilene knot at the head. Have used palomar, uni, etc., and can't see much real world difference. One may test better in a lab, but the Trilene knot works fine for me on the water.

[jerry241]

Thanks for all the input guys.... I'll post results as soon as I get a chance to put all the good advice to use.... Hopefully next weekend. For now though it's back to Chicago.

[Old plug]

that is another thing makes me skeptical. 100 fish day a day. !!!!! i bet a awful lot of them are dinks.

[dtrs5kprs]

that is another thing makes me skeptical. 100 fish day a day. !!!!! i bet a awful lot of them are dinks.

Some days yes, others no. It does a real job on keepers, and good ones at times. I tend to catch more true "dinks" in hot weather...12-13" fish, but that is in grass lakes, not TR.