First time using a ned rig

[NianguaMark]

I didn't realize the ned rig was so controversial when I started this thread. I am definitely not trying to generate a buzz about it just happened to see someone on here mention it and decided to google it then try it. I can't wait until I get a serious day of fishing from the boat with it . I'm good with smalls and other species of fish so I like it so far

[dtrs5kprs]

I didn't realize the ned rig was so controversial when I started this thread. I am definitely not trying to generate a buzz about it just happened to see someone on here mention it and decided to google it then try it. I can't wait until I get a serious day of fishing from the boat with it . I'm good with smalls and other species of fish so I like it so far

Mark...an open hook on the Ned will hang up a bunch. I went weedless after about one year of using it. Stacey King is using a lot of weedless heads, as are Drew Reese (designer of the TRD and head for Zman), Bill Ward, and many others who fish it a lot. Just more efficient.

Think folks need to differentiate between "hype" and telling folks about a great way to fish. The Koppers bait ball plugs are hyped. The little rig flat catches fish.

[Mitch f]

Waiting for a tow truck driver so I have time to kill. I remember reading an article in Missouri Conservationist or one of those magazines back about 20 years ago or so. The article consisted of a guy dressing up in camo and sneaking up on huge smallies in a creek with live crayfish. He said the most difficult thing to do was snatching the crayfish away from the little ones so the big one could get it.

This is how I think of the Ned Rig. A great bait for clear highland reservoirs and a fantastic numbers bait. If I wanted to catch keepers to fill a 5 fish sack on a tough no-wind day on a lake, I would go for it. But not for the kicker fish. Too many other baits that would select for bigger fish.

As for hype, I don't think people were hyping it so much as they were over analyzing it. Kind of like I did with the laser scanning of the Wiggle Wart thing. Then we hear of guys only using it and nothing else. Most people, unless you're a guide and have to satisfy a client, or fishing with a child, don't need to be pacified with small fish to be happy. Then there's the fishing with a clicker thing. There's the story of Ned not liking tournaments because it takes away for the joy of catching fish, then not letting anyone in the 110 fish club unless they catch 110 fish in 4 hours or something like that.....which takes away from the joy of fishing too and makes him seem hypocritical.

But in no way do I want to take away from Dave's ability to fish with it. I think Deave personally has helped buccooo's of people catch fish that wouldn't normally be able to on TR, Bull Shoals type lakes.

[Old plug]

Mitch ------ off the subject. But how did the thing with your dog turn out. I hope he lost.

[Mitch f]

Mitch ------ off the subject. But how did the thing with your dog turn out. I hope he lost.

A slap on the wrist and a $400 fine

[Seth]

My experience with the NED is just like what MItch said. It's a great numbers bait, but the size really is lacking. I've caught a load of fish on it in the short amount of time that I've spent using it, but only 2 or 3 have broke the 12" mark. My best is a 15" largemouth from the Bourbeuse. I love it for floats since I am usually not worried about size those days and I never have to replace the bait in a day of fishing unless I break it off. I'm not worried about perch destroying my plastic bodies now so I look forward to catching them again.

A PBJ NED has produced a lot of fish for me in dingy water. My goal with trying the NED was to find something that would work on spinning gear in dingy water for my fiance. She always used a green pumpkin grub or trick worm in the past. They work well when the water has decent visibility, but not so well if it's dirty. As long as she is catching something then she is happy and therefore I am happy.

Does anybody try using a whole ZinkerZ/TRD on a NED to try and target nicer fish?

[Old plug]

Myself I do not really care one way or another. but I do not like the shoving of something in people face to take advantage of their looking for a silver bullet. You should fish with whatever you want to and know how to fish it well. In my close to 70 yrs of fishing I have learned a few lures well used beats any majic bullet. The majic bullets I have tried are all up in the garage coated with dust.

[conorsixtakc]

I must be missing something... I've yet to hear somebody ever tout the ned rig as a silver bullet.

If anything it's just something to throw in the title of a thread on Ozark Anglers to get a bunch of opinionated anglers riled up.

[dtrs5kprs]

The real key to catching better fish with the little rig is not in making it bigger, but in fishing it slower, and in places where big fish live.

When I started posting info on it I fished it just as Ned suggests...bare banks, shallow, lots of swimming. Even then I still caught keepers, but did catch a lot of short fish (whether that is a bad thing is a completely different, and deeper question).

In the last two years I have focused less on those places, less on the dead spots between docks, etc. We are now fishing it in much deeper water, and much heavier cover on a regular basis. That helps the size bump up.

The other key is using it to pick apart subtle structural features and cover (here is the slow part), really rock by rock, and branch by branch. Things like tiny depth changes on flats, ditches from runoff, docks with a bit more water under the walkways, points on points. Basically taking it off the bank and applying regular electronics use, and stuctural concepts to the little rig. I give great credit to the late Bill Murphy for his excellent book that teaches how to overexploit cover and structure.

Back to the bigger or smaller version...I have fished the full size elaztech sticks side by side with the little rig, with no significant difference in size of fish caught. Both will catch 13" fish, both will catch 4# fish, often on the same place. Mostly what a bump in size leads to is fewer fish, though it is sometimes worthwhile as a change of pace.

Weights are down, pressure is up. A derby was won at TR with something like 14# and change while we were there. That sort of weight is very much in the wheelhouse of the little rig on any of the MO lakes, including Truman and Twain.

[dtrs5kprs]

I must be missing something... I've yet to hear somebody ever tout the ned rig as a silver bullet.

If anything it's just something to throw in the title of a thread on Ozark Anglers to get a bunch of opinionated anglers riled up.

I'll say it. It is a magic bullet. 100%.