Jerkbait Vs Jig, Ned Weight For Rivers?

[Seth]

I probably spend too much time throwing a jig when I should switch to a jerkbait, especially this year. The few trips my buddy and I have made together have definitely been dominated by the jerkbait. I've stuck to throwing jigs and while I have caught several really nice fish, he has me whipped in numbers by quite a bit. Yesterday we took off work to hit the Gasconade before the nasty cold spell hits us. He threw a jerkbait most of the time and ended up with 10 fish to my five with his biggest being a fat 18" smally. I caught two on a NED, one on a hair jig, and two on a jerkbait. He threw an Eakins jig for a while just to try and catch a fish on it and never caught anything. After losing a bunch of NED's to sticks, I tried a small beaver on a shakey head and never got anything on it either. We both went to jerkbaits for the last little bit and started catching fish again. The fish seemed to eat my $8 RC STX just as well as they ate his $25 Megabass 110 for the short time we fished them together.

I was definitely impressed with how the NED rig produced a couple fish and a few misses in the short time I used it while the silicone skirt finesse jig and shakey heads didn't get squat. We spent more time throwing the jig/shakey compared to the NED as well. It's only one trip of course, but it definitely seemed to be a difference maker for my first time using it. The best part is I caught one on my very first cast before my buddy could even get his bait wet!

[Terrierman]

• The best part is I caught one on my very first cast before my buddy could even get his bait wet!

Now you're talkin'

[MOsmallies]

Nice report... Let's see the pic of the 18"!!!

[Seth]

I didnt take any pics this trip. My hands were freezing so I didn't feel like fumbling with the phone much until they thawed out in the truck. If I had caught it, I'd make sure there was a pic taken though.

[Al Agnew]

I tend to go somewhat by water temps as to whether I concentrate more on fishing jerkbaits rather than jigs; if the temp is below 40 degrees I'm definitely throwing mostly jigs, warmer than that and the jerkbaits come into play. Also, as long as the water temps are hovering close to that 40 degrees or above, if the water is really clear like it often is in the winter, I have a lot more confidence in jerkbaits than I do jigs. I've caught more big fish on jerks in ultra-clear water than on jigs. if the water has some color, I've got about equal confidence in both if it's warm enough.

As for the Ned rig, I suspect that the colder the water gets the better it gets, simply because I think that the less wiggle and wobble a lure has the better in really cold water. The fish aren't very active, and they don't want a lure that looks like it could easily get away. That's the reason I don't use curlytails on my jig trailers in the winter, nor do I use curly tailed worms. I like a slender, straight worm on a jighead, or a whole small Senko on a worm hook with a split shot up the line, which are the two things I use that come closest to the Ned rig...I've resisted using the Ned so far.

[joeD]

Yet, yet... the jerkbait still won. In the face of evidence, you still switched to something else.

In general, I believe bigger baits catch bigger fish over time.

For me, I think the Ned rig is a slump buster. Just a short slider worm. Used in emergencies. When you're panicked about wearing the collar while others enjoy catching success. There's one at almost every bar or tavern. I mean, they work (the Ned rig), but, you wouldn't want to marry, I mean, use her, no, abuse it too much. The Ned rig.

Use with caution.

[carptracker]

Great report Seth. Was going to head to the Gasconade Wednesday afternoon but when the wind kicked up I whimped out (getting old). Thanks again for the good information. Joe's interpretation (tavern terms) was a big help too.

[hoglaw]

I caught them good in my creek on a megabass 110 on Sunday. Wife caught some nice fish on a hula grub though, but my numbers were definitely better. Didn't try the ned, but had a banner day with it on SWEPCO on Tuesday. Will post that report in the Beaver Lake section.

[JustFishin4Fun]

Do pop the hula up and down on the bottom swim it or drag it.

[Gavin]

Glad you had a nice trip. The Ned works well because of its buoyancy, lack of profile, and small size. If fish are active you want to fish something else. Usually go with an 1/8oz head with a wire guard on the river. Bite me hunter ball head, or the stand up head. Great hooks, good weedguards, and they don't snag up much. Its not the T-rock preferred head but they work for me. The hooks are a bit larger so cut your worm a bit longer. Don't think that a Ned wont catch big river smallmouth...Best to date on it is 19.75" plus a couple in the 17-18.5" range. I'd rather fish a jerkbait though.