Another Ned Rig Trick

[Ham]

maybe i missed something a long time back , but when i glue it on it melts the worm ,and they have been tearing up real easy.i'am i using the wrong type of glue.

Yes, you missed something.

I have grabbed the kool aid pitcher and drained it. I made no effort to re-invent the wheel. Dave has pointed us in the Loc Tite Gel option. Blue and gray dispenser. Less is more. Small amt of gel on target. Clean excess from tip and store bottle upright when you can.

[dblades]

I've found I need to really stretch the elaztech when I first rig up, otherwise it's not nearly as high floating.

[gitnby]

Dave is right about the action being better on the shorter/smaller hook!

I usually take any new lure and retrieve it next to the walkway on our dock, and that tail will wiggle quite a bit if enough of it is left free. I guess you could try using a longer piece of elastech with the larger hook if you wanted to?

On the rig I modified on the tube head, the tail action is less, but more erratic as it almost 'swims' as you retrieve it. Similar to scrubbing a grub.

I prefer an open hook as opposed to the wire guard, and most of my snags are not because of the hook, but because of the head.

With the modified rig, I can usually bounce it right out.

But, as Dave mentioned, I may be losing action, hence interested fish?

Next project? The NED A-Rig?

I actually did experiment with a multiple FB jig set up that could be dragged across the bottom.

snipped off all but 2 of the wires coming from the head and attached 2 small, skirted FB jigs with twin tail trailers.

It caught fish for me (had a double on my second cast), but it catches everything else, too!

Because of the swivel snap, the jig tends to roll over and that usually means trouble.

As for '"re-inventing the wheel", yes I am guilty! It's kind of my hobby.

Being semi-retired, I have way too much time on my hands.

Been fishing this pond for a little over 50 years now, and while I never get bored catching fish, I also am amazed at how seemingly smart, and how amazingly friggin' dumb these fish are!

A-rig? Ned rig? Who'd a thunk it?

[Quillback]

Seems that is how the "hot" baits are discovered. Someone modifies or plays around with an existing bait or technique and finds a new fish-catcher.

[Jim Elam]

Good idea.

Agree that the smaller hooks yield more bait action and more bites. Light floro line is important too. Lots more fish on 6# vs 8# for me.

I have learned that stretching the zinker before use really improves the bait's action in the water and will get it to float sooner.

I like the 1/16 oz jig heads at fin n feather with the weed guards for the rig. Very cheap and easy to find, easy to remove weed guard if desired, hook is the right size. Some days the fish don't seem to mind the weed guard, some days they do. Not sure the guard helps that much anyway.

If you like the bait to really move, try the fattyz cut down to 3" on a 1/16 head with a sz 6 hook. The brown and orange version should be deadly for smallies in the rivers.

Jim

[gitnby]

"everything old is new again"?

when was the last time anyone threw a jig & eel?

Remember the black jigs with the eye painted on?

may still have a rusty old jar of those Uncle Josh eels somewhere

[Quillback]

I've been thinking about a jig an eel, except using a Z-man eel or a Gulp eel. I just need to do it. Going to have to wait out this cold front before I'll get a chance to fish it.

[InPiney]

Interesting. I'll have to try that little set up, thanks for the tip. I been struggling with the Ned this fall, great luck in the spring & early summer and looking forward to see how it does in winter. I've been buying my mushroom heads from PJ's Finesse baits in Fayetteville, they even have one with a guard. You can get them online or at Southtown Sporting Goods in Fayetteville. Good fishng!

[dtrs5kprs]

I've found I need to really stretch the elaztech when I first rig up, otherwise it's not nearly as high floating.

Yes. Stretching it and roughing it up causes the salt to release, opens up little holes in the body that let water in. This makes it much softer and the loss of the salt makes it float higher. Specific to the zinkerz, TRD, or fattyz. The shadz does not have salt, and some of the other new little baits are low or no salt. No reason to stretch those.

[dtrs5kprs]

Should make a super slow fall rate with smaller head. I was fishing 18-23ft and wanted it down quick. Even with 1/8oz, it took a while. I was using Zman also. Used 6lb braid and if I hadn't have barely felt a thump and watched my rod tip, I would have missed the bite it was so subtle. If you can't feel a bite on 6lb braid on a St Croix spinning rod with extra fast action tip.......you need to start throwing c-rigs!! Lol

This was my dropshot rod and I can feel a knat fart under water on that rod. Point is, the bite was so very subtle.

Wanting it down quickly will cost you fish. Just runs contrary to the entire concept. A super slow fall is exactly what you want. It is the opposite in every way of something like a 1/2oz FB jig.

Your 1/8 is right for anything from 15' out to 35' or so. Shallower you want to stick with the 1/16.

It is well known for being a hard bite to feel, except for the spring and summer fling. If you are set up right you won't feel the bait or the fish. Just a little "something" when you lift the tip slightly. More so in cold water.