First time using a ned rig

[dtrs5kprs]

Ok. So even at that depth you'd be comfortable not feeling it and knowing how far you are moving it when you do? You'll have to bare with me on wrapping my mind around that because I'm used to throwing a football jig in that situation like most.

Absolutely. It seems like when you feel it less they feel you less, and vice versa. That is one reason I think FC will outfish braid most of the time. We would be shocked if we knew how many time a fish picked up a FB jig or shakey head and blew it out. Unless they are super touchy or feel you they don't do that with the Ned.

[dtrs5kprs]

If you fish that deep do you just vertical jig it?

Nope. You can certainly drag it that deep if you are fishing flatter stuff, or let it fall down ledge rock if fishing more vertical banks. Fishing it deep is one of the places where I veered off Ned's path a bit.

It does fish vertically very well, and will show up on a dialed in graph. Another point in the magic bullet column, just shockingly versatile.

[Mitch f]

Absolutely. It seems like when you feel it less they feel you less, and vice versa. That is one reason I think FC will outfish braid most of the time. We would be shocked if we knew how many time a fish picked up a FB jig or shakey head and blew it out. Unless they are super touchy or feel you they don't do that with the Ned.

Interesting, sounds counterintuitive to most of us jig fishermen, (losing contact) but I've learned over the years that letting a jig fall on completely slack line is most times best, and to do that correctly, you almost need to loose contact. For the most part I don't use braid, fluorocarbon. For me, too much hassle. I suppose if I fished TR I might do it.

[Ketchup]

Absolutely. It seems like when you feel it less they feel you less, and vice versa. That is one reason I think FC will outfish braid most of the time. We would be shocked if we knew how many time a fish picked up a FB jig or shakey head and blew it out. Unless they are super touchy or feel you they don't do that with the Ned.

Ive been a jig guy for years, and when i started using the Ned "ive posted my catches and experiences" it was hard for me at first to let it settle to the bottom without me wanting to feel it fall. After i got over that mindset, the bites came more often.

As Dave said, it fishes vertical well, and the bluff fish like it just as well as the shallow fish. I switched colors Saturday to see if that mattered, like other lures, and after switching from a PB&J Zero to a Watermelon colored, we caught more fish between casts.

In order to get good at anything, you have to practice, practice, practice, and on this forum, theres no-one that seems to have done that more than Dave, so his experience on this bait, in my opinion, is above everyone elses.

The limited number of hours "maybe 30" that i have used it, ive tweaked it a half dozen times, from length of plastic, size of hook, size of head, color, water depth, line size, etc. in an attempt to be a better fisherman with the bait, as i do with almost anything in life. Thats part of my obsessive brain, trying to do the best i have with what i have.

[dtrs5kprs]

Interesting, sounds counterintuitive to most of us jig fishermen, (losing contact) but I've learned over the years that letting a jig fall on completely slack line is most times best, and to do that correctly, you almost need to loose contact. For the most part I don't use braid, fluorocarbon. For me, too much hassle. I suppose if I fished TR I might do it.

Mitch you nailed it. The whole thing is counterintuitive. As I told Ham last spring, it is about unlearning all the conventional wisdom stuff from years of fishing and reading Bassmaster. Lose feel? How can I catch one? Light line? How will I get one in the boat? Once you fish it, all that mental junk sort of clears away.

It took me a few weeks to even accept the idea of it, then I did as Ketchup described, tried to tweak it to make it make more sense. Best bet is to cut the elaztech, put it on a little head and light line, and not fiddle with it.

Ive been a jig guy for years, and when i started using the Ned "ive posted my catches and experiences" it was hard for me at first to let it settle to the bottom without me wanting to feel it fall. After i got over that mindset, the bites came more often.

As Dave said, it fishes vertical well, and the bluff fish like it just as well as the shallow fish. I switched colors Saturday to see if that mattered, like other lures, and after switching from a PB&J Zero to a Watermelon colored, we caught more fish between casts.

In order to get good at anything, you have to practice, practice, practice, and on this forum, theres no-one that seems to have done that more than Dave, so his experience on this bait, in my opinion, is above everyone elses.

The limited number of hours "maybe 30" that i have used it, ive tweaked it a half dozen times, from length of plastic, size of hook, size of head, color, water depth, line size, etc. in an attempt to be a better fisherman with the bait, as i do with almost anything in life. Thats part of my obsessive brain, trying to do the best i have with what i have.

Best bet is to not experiment much. I've tried everything from TX rigging it, to shakey heads, to little swing heads, and a ton of other junk. None of it works better than the basic deal. I will at times use the tail end of a fattyz worm (cut behind the hook slot), or a chunk of a fish doctor in super cold water to kill the action. That is more of a shallow pond thing here around KC.

A recent example... We got on some big gills fishing the regular Ned at TR last week, 20' deep or so. Light bulb went off and I cut a piece down smaller, thought I had them. Wrong. They only wanted the slightly longer half stick. Some things are hard to improve.

As to stick time with it...in close to 5 weeks of straight fishing at TR I caught fewer than 15-20 fish on any other bait. Those were mostly swing head or shakey head fish, and the size was actually worse than the Ned. Keepers were way, way up, in ratio with shorts. Never caught one on a jig, tube, wacky worm, etc. Never needed to.

[DADAKOTA]

Not sure what the big argument is about. If you want to use the Ned then do it. If you don't then don't. Who cares if someone likes it or hates it? Chevy or Ford? No one wins the argument. Some of ya just have the need to believe that only your opinion matters. Ned is just another tool in the box. Use it or don't.Seems like some testosterone poisoning around here.

[5bites]

Nobody here gets as upset as you do.

Some guys here simply state it's over-hyped and a couple here seem to think you are an idiot if you don't throw the rest of your equipment away and use only the Ned.

It's only when you inject your internet badassery that the discussion always turns to a 4th grade level.

I don't know anyone that has graduated high school that still continues to use the term "butt hurt" as much as you.

Does you mother know that you like to play Keyboard Cowboy on her computer?

I find that hard to believe. I'll fully admit I think it's stupid and ironic when people gripe about how the Ned is constantly talked about yet on the other side it's constantly getting griped about and ridiculed. People like you and others would rather instigate than actually offer any substance to a conversation. You end up talking about it as much as the ones you complain about talking about it to much lol.

I seriously do not believe that anyone here is that serious about using the thing. They may enjoy it a lot and talk about it a lot. Dtrs is the main advocate for it here imo and I've seen him say many times there are other lures or presentations that are better at times. Also you have to keep in mind some people have a 90% of the time bait and that's fine. It's obviously working for him. Who can blame him? Like I've said I've hardly used the thing but I believe it works and it has a place in my boat when I dedicate enough time to get more familiar with it. It may or may not work for me. Fishing is very personal as far as what works. You can't catch others fish. It josh everyone here including the guys using the Ned a lot know that.

Finally the last comment shows I'm getting somewhere. Thank you for the conformation! Anytime comments like that are made (along with spelling and punctuation corrections) it shows the other person is really really digging for anything to get back at the other guy. Kinda like when a boxer gets his bell rung but he smiles. Everybody knows he's getting his butt kicked. So keep taking it off topic. You're just proving my point that much more

[5bites]

Not sure what the big argument is about. If you want to use the Ned then do it. If you don't then don't. Who cares if someone likes it or hates it? Chevy or Ford? No one wins the argument. Some of ya just have the need to believe that only your opinion matters. Ned is just another tool in the box. Use it or don't.Seems like some testosterone poisoning around here.

I agree with this even if I may be guilty of it. I do get fed up with the instigators and even what I'd call bullying. Some people just can't fish and it bothers them when they see others having success. What's next then ? You cut them down on a forum because of there good fishing trips apparently. one more smiley today for the road.

[Chief Grey Bear]

I agree with this even if I may be guilty of it. I do get fed up with the instigators and even what I'd call bullying. Some people just can't fish and it bothers them when they see others having success. What's next then ? You cut them down on a forum because of there good fishing trips apparently. one more smiley today for the road.

And just when we all thought you were lucid and coming around, you go and to do this.

[5bites]

Another point proven. The "we" word. Used by the insecure to help them feel like everyone is on their side. Classic stuff here. I've noticed you do this quite a bit actually. Hmmmmmm