Ned rods

[TrophyFishR]

Ned Swimbait is deadly around the schooling white trash (white bass), same jighead, same everything 

[top_dollar]

                It seems like most manufactures anymore make pretty good equipment.  I'm partial to the Fenwick elite tech, and the Fenwick aetos in med light.  Especially that elite tech, its got the most comfortable handle I've ever used, and its got a bit softer a tip than the Aetos.  My brother has a St. Croix Eyecon (med light exfast) that he really likes, and he has a St. Croix Triumph (med, mod fast) that i like more than the eyecon.  Generally i'm using these for swimming small swimbaits and worms through grass but not necessarily a ned rig though.  I also have 2 KastKing rods that i bought online for i think 60 or 80 bucks a pop.  One is a light power fast action, and the other is a med light mod fast.  They both work great for little 1/16th oz jigs.  I think if you're using a baitcaster for a ned rig type bait you are really forcing a square peg into a round hole.  Spinning gear with 4-6# line is the way to go.  4# trout magnet S.O.S line is strong enough to bend out a #2 owner light wire hook, so thats what i use.  That has quickly become my favorite line.  Drop to down 2# for crappie fishing, up to 6# when fishing around heavier cover.  Id also suggest using a bigger spinning reel than you think you need. I like the 4000 size.  Use Pflueger's or Diawa's, other brands are a huge gamble unless your paying 300+ for a spinning reel.

 

                

[Seth]

19 hours ago, dtrs5kprs said:

It isn't, if you just throw it here and there. If you throw it 90% of the time, regardless of depth, season, etc, the nuance matters. Quite a bit, actually.

Some ML are great, some are basically noodles. Most work ok to get into it initially.

You're right. I don't throw it that often. It's typically just a winter time deal for me on the rivers I fish as I can't seem to catch anything of quality of it once the water warms up. If I'm floating on a smaller stream then I will use it as well since you usually catch a bunch of bass along with panfish. They wear out a bait in a hurry and the ZMAN stuff is perfect for that type of fishing since it will last all day or until I break it off.

[TrophyFishR]

Last weekend, I was spot locked on a really windy Bluff end. We were catching lots of bass with a dead stick retrieve along the edge of the boulders as the waves crashed over them.

I watched a married couple as they fished past me with bait casters & big TRDs. They caught diddly squat. Moving too fast, overworking the bait, not casting shallow enough, etc.

Lesson learned 

[dtrs5kprs]

3 hours ago, Seth said:

You're right. I don't throw it that often. It's typically just a winter time deal for me on the rivers I fish as I can't seem to catch anything of quality of it once the water warms up. If I'm floating on a smaller stream then I will use it as well since you usually catch a bunch of bass along with panfish. They wear out a bait in a hurry and the ZMAN stuff is perfect for that type of fishing since it will last all day or until I break it off.

It's like anything else in that way. If you're a crankbait guy, you'll have more than one stick. Jig guy, same deal. 

[Guest]

21 hours ago, dtrs5kprs said:

Interestingly, I tried a baitcaster, but not with braid. Another gentleman on here was using one, with 6# mono, I believe. I happen to have a baitcaster built on the same 7'6" blank as two of my favorite Ned spin rods. I normally use it for letting them load up a wake bait. Gave it a whirl several years ago.

About all I can say is I tip my cap to anyone who can make a non-twirly reel work for it.

i will use one when you have to get up under stuff.  but, for me that is not often.

bo

[mixermarkb]

The nice thing about Ned specific gear, is it doesn't have to be that expensive. The rod it takes to feel a bite on a jig in 30 feet of water, or to feel a fish pick up a Crig, or for that matter to wind the deep mag crankbaits on ledges in 20+ feet of water and not have to have rotator cuff surgery at the end of a day are all way more expensive than what we are talking about for Ned specific gear.

Yes, a guy could catch bass year round with one medium action spinning rig, and two 7' medium heavy casting sticks. Just like a golfer could probably get through 18 holes with a driver and a putter. For those of us who can afford to though, having the proper tools in the shed makes it easier to overcome our shortcomings in skill. Does it get out of hand? Yep. Does it also make a difference in fish caught, absolutely. 

[dtrs5kprs]

Well put, Mark.

[rps]

22 hours ago, top_dollar said:

                It seems like most manufactures anymore make pretty good equipment.  I'm partial to the Fenwick elite tech, and the Fenwick aetos in med light.  Especially that elite tech, its got the most comfortable handle I've ever used, and its got a bit softer a tip than the Aetos.  My brother has a St. Croix Eyecon (med light exfast) that he really likes, and he has a St. Croix Triumph (med, mod fast) that i like more than the eyecon.  Generally i'm using these for swimming small swimbaits and worms through grass but not necessarily a ned rig though.  I also have 2 KastKing rods that i bought online for i think 60 or 80 bucks a pop.  One is a light power fast action, and the other is a med light mod fast.  They both work great for little 1/16th oz jigs.  I think if you're using a baitcaster for a ned rig type bait you are really forcing a square peg into a round hole.  Spinning gear with 4-6# line is the way to go.  4# trout magnet S.O.S line is strong enough to bend out a #2 owner light wire hook, so thats what i use.  That has quickly become my favorite line.  Drop to down 2# for crappie fishing, up to 6# when fishing around heavier cover.  Id also suggest using a bigger spinning reel than you think you need. I like the 4000 size.  Use Pflueger's or Diawa's, other brands are a huge gamble unless your paying 300+ for a spinning reel.

 

                

I am that square peg. I built a bait cast rod on a MHX blank, the SJ8600 model. I spiral wrapped and used micro guides. I put a Revo MGX on it and use the Maxima 5 lb line. Suits me just fine.

[Champ188]

2 hours ago, rps said:

I am that square peg. I built a bait cast rod on a MHX blank, the SJ8699 model. I spiral wrapped and used micro guides. I put a Revo MGX on it and use the Maxima 5 lb line. Suits me just fine.

I actually casted this rod several times at an OA spring tournament a few years back.. Amazing how it will zing that little varmint out there. Don't recall which reel Randy was using on it at the time but the rod was really impressive.