The "Ned" fly

[XP 590]

A couple years ago, all I kept reading about on here was the ned rig.  Ned rig this, ned rig that etc.etc.   Being a fly fisherman only (preference, not snobbery.....as far as you know), I had to look it up to see what you all were talking about.  Seeing how bass fly fishermen are always snagging ideas from traditional tackle guys, I wanted to see what I could come up with.  I tried a couple different size jig heads to see what I could throw or lob with my 8wt and I can tell you from experience, they don't feel good upside the back of my head.  Ended up with this smaller head and tied some up in purple/black, brown and olive using flashy chenille.  Pulled in my first little bass on it the other day. 

I know it's not a true ned, so be kind.  I had to call it something.

[Flysmallie]

I tied some and they worked, but I just used a heavy cone head. 

[JestersHK]

I'd throw that in a heart beat.  Been beating up our pond bass in clousers, but I catch them too with small ned rigs and ultralights.  I bet being such a finesse pond they would hammer that.

What's the skinny on your line and setup?  I know you said 8wt.

[XP 590]

15 hours ago, JestersHK said:

I'd throw that in a heart beat.  Been beating up our pond bass in clousers, but I catch them too with small ned rigs and ultralights.  I bet being such a finesse pond they would hammer that.

What's the skinny on your line and setup?  I know you said 8wt.

I'm throwing Rio Outbound Short floating line and a 9' 1x leader with 1or2x tippet.    The rod is a TFO Mangrove 9'  8wt.   The line was suggested by a couple friends that fly fished bass for years.  It's definitely a big posterior front taper and it took me some getting used to after throwing 4&5 wt for years, but it will cut through the wind and throw big poppers in the summertime.  My places aren't too deep so I never mess with sinking lines.  Any of my stuff that needs to sink is heavily weighted.  This fly sinks like a rock. 

[Jadesjigs]

I don't know if I would necessarily call it fly fishing, but I love catching creek smallies with my fly rod and ned rigs. There's just something about the natural drift you can get with a fly rod and the excitement of watching a floating line. 

 

I use a 1/16 size head that is lead free - so it is approximately 20% lighter. The jigs have a light, #4 size sickle hook on them.  I also cheat and glue a plastic onto the jig as a trailer.  I often use the same baits as you would on a regular ned, but I regularly cut them in half horizontally to make them more finesse.  Trout power-worms also work well-especially when you tie a little marabou and flash around the jig-heads. 

 

Obviously, I'm not doing a lot of false casts, but this setup is deadly.  I can usually catch at least 4x as many bass with this set up as I can with traditional streamers.   I use a 7wt, tfo rod with floating line and a fluoro leader.  I've never heard of anybody else doing this so I just had to chime in. Kinda scared the true fly fishermen would not approve lol. 

[Jadesjigs]

[Jadesjigs]