Ned Rig
Soft Plastics

Ned Rig

All lures

Finesse bottom bait that catches when nothing else will.

Technique

Drag and deadstick

Depth

5-20 ft

Water Clarity

Clear to stained

Best Conditions

Tough bites, cold fronts, clear water

Spring Fall

About This Lure

A short, buoyant soft-plastic stick on a light mushroom jighead. Its slow fall and stand-up posture on the bottom make it deadly for pressured or inactive fish.

How To Fish It

Cast the Ned rig to rocky transitions, points, or brush piles and allow it to hit the bottom completely. Use a slow drag technique to mimic a dying crawfish or goby, followed by long pauses where you let the bait deadstick to trigger neutral fish. Maintain a semi-slack line to ensure the bait stands up vertically on the hook.

Retrieve Cadence

Drag the bait 6 inches along the bottom, pause for 5 to 10 seconds, and give the rod tip a subtle shake before reeling in slack.

Best Colors

Green Pumpkin— Versatile all-around choice for clear to stained water.
PB&J— Excellent for crawfish imitations on rocky bottoms.
Black/Blue— Ideal for muddy water or low-light conditions.
The Deal— Superior performance in high-pressure, crystal clear water.

Sizes & When To Use

2.5 inchTargeting pressured fish or wary crappie in cold water.
2.75 inchStandard size for universal bass fishing applications.

Commonly Rigged On

Mushroom head jigOffset weedless finesse hook

Recommended Gear

6'10" to 7'2" medium-light power, extra-fast action spinning rod; 2500 series spinning reel; 8-10 lb braided main line with a 6-8 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Pro Tips

  • Always check that your bait is standing straight up in the water after casting.
  • Avoid over-working the bait; the goal is to keep it in the strike zone as long as possible.
  • If bites are light, switch to a lighter jig head to increase the flutter time.
  • Keep your rod tip low to the water to prevent excess line bow from wind interference.
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