Ned Rig - Need A Source For Head With Cable Guard

[RSBreth]

just do not be making you twin guards on two separate points. take a look at trademark 3443116.

bo

Jeez.

Let him try to go after someone making lures for personal use and sharing - not for profit.

Anyway I need to post a double wire weedgaurd jighead I've been making but it's not a round or mushroom head - maore of a bullet just for swimming through heavier stuff. Maybe tonight.

[dtrs5kprs]

just do not be making you twin guards on two separate points. take a look at trademark 3443116.

bo

I think we are talking apples and oranges Bo. The twin heads in this thread are traditional twin wires, like a y guard but made from wire. The covered jig is a completely different animal.

RSBreth...would be cool to see that head. Have been thinking of running wires on a dart head for smaller swimbaits, have been using them on 1/2oz and bigger heads for 5" and hollow body swimmers.

[Old plug]

i agree with Merc primarily because i about bet within a year somebody on here will be selling all sorts of stuff made for use on the Ned rig plus bodies for it. I just rigged one and played with it a litle around the dock. As I watched the sinking action and so forth it brought to mind something I seen many years ago maybe before some of you were even born. It was Virgil Ward's Bass Buster Beetle. At one time it came in different sizes and colors. That was close to 50 yrs ago. No miracle here that I can see.

[dtrs5kprs]

Plug...it definitely goes back to the beetle. Ned has written extensively about the beetle, Chuck Woods (who designed it), and the beginnings of Midwest Finesse. The concepts are similar, the bait is like a TV from 1960 compared to a 3D flat screen. Elaztech is the difference maker, along with the required change in mindset to throw it. Give it a chance these next two months.

Ned sent this history of things a month or so ago:

" Dear Dave:

A Finesse News Network member reported today that you were part of a forum about the origins of Midwest finesse tactics. Here's a short history of it, which you can post if you want to.

It started in the 1950s. Its place of origin was in and around Kansas City . The primary anglers were Chuck Woods, Ray Fincke, Harold Ensley, Ted Green, Virgil Ward, Bill Ward, Drew Reese, Dwight Keefer and Guido Hibdon. In essence, it is a northeastern Kansas and a north-central and northwestern Missouri phenomenon, but across the years, we have discovered that it works at other waterways across the U.S. and Canada .

Essentially, the genesis of the baits that we use commenced when Chuck Woods used a tattered Creme Worm and created the first Beetle, which in our historical eyes was the first Senko-style bait. Woods affixed his Beetle to a jig. Although we occasionally used a split-shot rig, a jig was our primary tool. Back then we determined that a jig was far superior to a split-shot rig or slip-sinker rig, and to this day, many Midwest finesse anglers continue to believe that.

During those days when Woods created the first Beetle, the first generation of Midwest finesse anglers used a jigworm with an exposed hook until Woods created the first Texas-style jigworm, which Keefer used to win the World Series of Sport Fishing in Wisconsin in 1967. Reese also took Woods’ Beetle, Beetle Spin and jigworm to Lake Mead to compete in the first Bassmaster Classic in 1971, which was the first time finesse tactics were used in the Western waterways.

Ensley won the first World Series of Sport Fishing in 1960 using a jigworm with an exposed hook. An exposed hook allowed us to use small jigs with little hooks, and that combination of a tiny jig and exposed hook created a presentation we call no-feel fishing, and in our eyes, it allows the baits to float and glide, and we think that floating and gliding is more alluring that a heavy bottom-bouncing presentation or a heavy-quick swimming presentation. We have found that an exposed hook works better that a Texas-rigged one or one with a weed or hook guard. In fact, Bill Ward recently said that he has stopped using a weed guard on his finesse jigs, and it is important note and Virgil and Bill Ward and their Bass Buster Tackle Company created the first fiberguard jig in the 1960s, and Ward plies a lot of snag-filled terrains.

Before Woods created the Beetle, Bill Ward created the first marabou jig, and along with the Beetle and jigworm, a small or even tiny marabou jig has played a important role in our Midwest finesse tactics – in fact, Guido Hibdon caught a 10-pound largemouth bass on a small black marabou jig at place with called Dora’s rocks in Bogue Creek in the Gravois Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks in 1969.

Besides the Beetle, Woods created the Puddle Jumper, which is a wonderful soft-plastic bait to affix to a 1/32-ounce or 1/16-Gopher Tackle Mushroom Head Jig. (By the way, Ron Lindner of Brainerd , Minnesota , introduced us to the manifold virtues of Gopher’s 1/16-ounce Mushroom Head Jig, and we have never found a better Midwest finee jig than Gopher's 1/16-ouncer.)

Ensley created the Reaper, and his small Reapers are as effective as Woods’ Puddle Jumpers when they are affixed to a 1/32- or 1/16-ounce Gopher jig.

When the Senko was created we began affixing it to our Gopher jigs. We liked the three-inch Senko best. The problem with the Senko was that it is too fragile, and it rarely can withstand the abuse that two largemouth or smallmouth bass can render, and we try to catch at least 10 bass an hour with out Midwest finesse tactics. When YUM created the three-inch Dinger, we used it instead of the Senko.

In 2006, Kevin Van Dam introduced us to Strike King Lure Company’s 4 ¾-inch Finesse Worm and five-inch Zero. Both baits were too big for our finesse taste; so, we trimmed about three-quarters of an inch off of the head of the Finesse Worm, which created a four-inch work to affix on either a 1/32- or 1/16-ounce Gopher jig, and it has been a staple ever since them. The five-inch Zero was way too big for us; so we cut it in half and started experimenting with a 2 ½-inch Zero, and it became another important bait in our Midwest finesse repertoire. Nowadays, Z-Man makes those baits for Strike King, and it also makes the Finesse WormZ and ZinkerZ.

Across the years we have discovered that the older the Finesse WormZ and ZinkerZ ( or Finesse Worm and Zero ) becomes the better they become at alluring largemouth and smallmouth bass. We found that we can often catch more than 100 bass on the same Finesse Worm, Finesse WormZ, ZinkerZ and Zero. From our perspectives, the ElaZtech material that Z-Man uses to manufacture it baits seems to allure more black bass than any soft-plastic material we have every used, but we have not scientifically proved; so it is merely an educated assumption and observation.

In 2006, Shin Fukae introduced us to the Gary Yamamoto Custom Bait’s Shad Shape Worm. Like the Senko, it’s an extremely effective finesse bait, but it is also very fragile. When Z-Man created their Finesse ShadZ a couple of years ago, they solved the fragility problem, and now we rig the Finesse ShadZ on a 1/32- or 1/16-ounce Gopher jig, and it has become our dominant Midwest finesse bait in the flatland reservoirs of northeastern Kansas – especially in the winter. From our experiences, it allures as many or even more fish as the Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm.

If folks want to know more about the history of Midwest finesse fishing, they might want to examine the stories at these links:

http://www.in-fisherman.com/2012/06/10/legends-of-the-heartland/

http://www.in-fisherman.com/2013/01/17/a-short-history-of-midwest-finesse-fishing-for-black-bass-1955-2013.

Folks can also at the thousands of the words that have been published about Midwest fiensee fishing at http://www.in-fisherman.com/midwest-finesse/

Best wishes,

Ned"

For my part, I count myself fortunate that Ned shared his system, and that I can number Dwight Keefer among the people I call friends. It is not a "miracle", but more of a "simplifier".

[fishinwrench]

Mann's 3" Stingray grub was a similar fad, on the exact same principal as the Ned rig. It worked like crazy in the clear strip pits I was fishing in the late 70's, and I'm sure that it would still do its magic today.

The old Stingray only came in 3 colors....Black, White, and Dark melon pepper. I'll give ya one guess which peg was always bare at the tackle shop.

[dtrs5kprs]

And gosh, you would think we were talking about fishing with hand grenades anytime the Ned Rig comes up.

Hard to imagine a short do-nothing worm on a tiny lead head could be so polarizing, especially among folks who already fish small due to clear water and touchy fish.

[dtrs5kprs]

Mann's 3" Stingray grub was a similar fad, on the exact same principal as the Ned rig. It worked like crazy in the clear strip pits I was fishing in the late 70's, and I'm sure that it would still do its magic today.

The old Stingray only came in 3 colors....Black, White, and Dark melon pepper. I'll give ya one guess which peg was always bare at the tackle shop.

Don't forget smoke. Still a killer grub on cold water brown fish.

[abkeenan]

Plug...it definitely goes back to the beetle. Ned has written extensively about the beetle, Chuck Woods (who designed it), and the beginnings of Midwest Finesse. The concepts are similar, the bait is like a TV from 1960 compared to a 3D flat screen. Elaztech is the difference maker, along with the required change in mindset to throw it. Give it a chance these next two months.

Ned sent this history of things a month or so ago:

" Dear Dave:

A Finesse News Network member reported today that you were part of a forum about the origins of Midwest finesse tactics. Here's a short history of it, which you can post if you want to.

It started in the 1950s. Its place of origin was in and around Kansas City . The primary anglers were Chuck Woods, Ray Fincke, Harold Ensley, Ted Green, Virgil Ward, Bill Ward, Drew Reese, Dwight Keefer and Guido Hibdon. In essence, it is a northeastern Kansas and a north-central and northwestern Missouri phenomenon, but across the years, we have discovered that it works at other waterways across the U.S. and Canada .

Essentially, the genesis of the baits that we use commenced when Chuck Woods used a tattered Creme Worm and created the first Beetle, which in our historical eyes was the first Senko-style bait. Woods affixed his Beetle to a jig. Although we occasionally used a split-shot rig, a jig was our primary tool. Back then we determined that a jig was far superior to a split-shot rig or slip-sinker rig, and to this day, many Midwest finesse anglers continue to believe that.

During those days when Woods created the first Beetle, the first generation of Midwest finesse anglers used a jigworm with an exposed hook until Woods created the first Texas-style jigworm, which Keefer used to win the World Series of Sport Fishing in Wisconsin in 1967. Reese also took Woods’ Beetle, Beetle Spin and jigworm to Lake Mead to compete in the first Bassmaster Classic in 1971, which was the first time finesse tactics were used in the Western waterways.

Ensley won the first World Series of Sport Fishing in 1960 using a jigworm with an exposed hook. An exposed hook allowed us to use small jigs with little hooks, and that combination of a tiny jig and exposed hook created a presentation we call no-feel fishing, and in our eyes, it allows the baits to float and glide, and we think that floating and gliding is more alluring that a heavy bottom-bouncing presentation or a heavy-quick swimming presentation. We have found that an exposed hook works better that a Texas-rigged one or one with a weed or hook guard. In fact, Bill Ward recently said that he has stopped using a weed guard on his finesse jigs, and it is important note and Virgil and Bill Ward and their Bass Buster Tackle Company created the first fiberguard jig in the 1960s, and Ward plies a lot of snag-filled terrains.

Before Woods created the Beetle, Bill Ward created the first marabou jig, and along with the Beetle and jigworm, a small or even tiny marabou jig has played a important role in our Midwest finesse tactics – in fact, Guido Hibdon caught a 10-pound largemouth bass on a small black marabou jig at place with called Dora’s rocks in Bogue Creek in the Gravois Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks in 1969.

Besides the Beetle, Woods created the Puddle Jumper, which is a wonderful soft-plastic bait to affix to a 1/32-ounce or 1/16-Gopher Tackle Mushroom Head Jig. (By the way, Ron Lindner of Brainerd , Minnesota , introduced us to the manifold virtues of Gopher’s 1/16-ounce Mushroom Head Jig, and we have never found a better Midwest finee jig than Gopher's 1/16-ouncer.)

Ensley created the Reaper, and his small Reapers are as effective as Woods’ Puddle Jumpers when they are affixed to a 1/32- or 1/16-ounce Gopher jig.

When the Senko was created we began affixing it to our Gopher jigs. We liked the three-inch Senko best. The problem with the Senko was that it is too fragile, and it rarely can withstand the abuse that two largemouth or smallmouth bass can render, and we try to catch at least 10 bass an hour with out Midwest finesse tactics. When YUM created the three-inch Dinger, we used it instead of the Senko.

In 2006, Kevin Van Dam introduced us to Strike King Lure Company’s 4 ¾-inch Finesse Worm and five-inch Zero. Both baits were too big for our finesse taste; so, we trimmed about three-quarters of an inch off of the head of the Finesse Worm, which created a four-inch work to affix on either a 1/32- or 1/16-ounce Gopher jig, and it has been a staple ever since them. The five-inch Zero was way too big for us; so we cut it in half and started experimenting with a 2 ½-inch Zero, and it became another important bait in our Midwest finesse repertoire. Nowadays, Z-Man makes those baits for Strike King, and it also makes the Finesse WormZ and ZinkerZ.

Across the years we have discovered that the older the Finesse WormZ and ZinkerZ ( or Finesse Worm and Zero ) becomes the better they become at alluring largemouth and smallmouth bass. We found that we can often catch more than 100 bass on the same Finesse Worm, Finesse WormZ, ZinkerZ and Zero. From our perspectives, the ElaZtech material that Z-Man uses to manufacture it baits seems to allure more black bass than any soft-plastic material we have every used, but we have not scientifically proved; so it is merely an educated assumption and observation.

In 2006, Shin Fukae introduced us to the Gary Yamamoto Custom Bait’s Shad Shape Worm. Like the Senko, it’s an extremely effective finesse bait, but it is also very fragile. When Z-Man created their Finesse ShadZ a couple of years ago, they solved the fragility problem, and now we rig the Finesse ShadZ on a 1/32- or 1/16-ounce Gopher jig, and it has become our dominant Midwest finesse bait in the flatland reservoirs of northeastern Kansas – especially in the winter. From our experiences, it allures as many or even more fish as the Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm.

If folks want to know more about the history of Midwest finesse fishing, they might want to examine the stories at these links:

http://www.in-fisherman.com/2012/06/10/legends-of-the-heartland/

http://www.in-fisherman.com/2013/01/17/a-short-history-of-midwest-finesse-fishing-for-black-bass-1955-2013.

Folks can also at the thousands of the words that have been published about Midwest fiensee fishing at http://www.in-fisherman.com/midwest-finesse/

Best wishes,

Ned"

For my part, I count myself fortunate that Ned shared his system, and that I can number Dwight Keefer among the people I call friends. It is not a "miracle", but more of a "simplifier".

Great read Dave. Thanks for posting.

[merc1997 Bo]

Bo he isn't selling these. Just for personal use or for ozark angler members.

that is ok.

bo

[dtrs5kprs]

that is ok.

bo

On a side note, I liked your use of your head as a big jigworm in one of your videos. That is really what the little rig is all about as well, just with a variety of tweaks. Except for shakey heads, too many folks south of I-80 have forgotten how easy it is to just run a worm on a leadhead and get after it.