10 Can’t-Miss Advanced Ned-Rigging Tips

Braid tied to a fluorocarbon leader isn’t the only option for Ned rigging. Six- to 8-pound Advanced Monofilament — a buoyant line with half the stretch of traditional nylon line — is a great way to give a Ned rig more hang time in the water. This can work to your advantage when fishing shallow grass flats in clear water. Mono is also perfect for new anglers getting the hang of spinning combos and Ned rigging.

Pro Tip: A quality spinning reel with a smooth drag is essential for landing big fish on light line. Good options include the 13 Fishing Axum, Aerios or Kalon C spinning reels.

There is not a clearcut, definitive answer to the common question, What is the best rod length for fishing the Ned rig? but a lot of northern anglers targeting smallmouth and largemouth bass prefer medium-light or light spinning rods measuring at least seven feet. A long rod helps cast a Ned rig far, which can be key to catching bass in clear water. Its reach also helps pick up line faster and, subsequently, deliver a better hook-set after making a long cast or when fishing deep. Added length can provide better leverage and cushioning, beneficial traits when battling big and feisty bass. You’ll find plenty of 7’ to 7’6” options within the Fate Black, Defy Gold, Meta-G and Omen Black spinning rod collections.

Note: There are master finesse anglers who Ned rig using shorts rod for a variety of reasons. If a shorter rod resonates with your fishing style, the Fate Black, Fate V3, Defy Gold, Meta-G or Omen Gold series offer 6’ to 6’10” spinning rods to consider.

Long-bombing a Ned rig is not always best. Making numerous short casts is an effective way to dissect cover and structure along shorelines and other shallow areas.

You can also make more short casts in a day than long ones. Increasing your cast count is a good strategy when bass are consistently striking a Ned rig on its initial fall.

A Ned rig’s compact size and subtle action has less drawing power than a big, rattling, flashy, fast-moving lure, like a crankbait. Thus, it’s critical to be strategic where you cast and retrieve the Ned rig. Not every cast requires a specific target (e.g., sand patch on a grass flat), but it’s important to always try to bring the bait through an area’s most fishy-looking spots.

Shaking a Ned rig is the secret many anglers use to catch more and bigger bass. This ranges from light quivers to assertive shakes. Experiment and let the biting fish tell you what they prefer.

There are a lot of jigs on the market made for Ned rigging, but none compare to the tournament-ready VMC Ned Rig Jig. This premium finesse jig has a forged hook, featuring a hybrid bend with a widened gap to maximize hook-sets and deliver extra strength.

The Ned Rig Jig’s unique beveled edge conical keeper is another key feature. It securely holds any soft-bait, and is especially effective at locking down Z-Man’s ElaZtech baits, arguably the most popular choice for Ned rigging. This results in you getting prolonged use and more hook-sets from a single plastic bait.

You’ll want to own VMC Ned Rig Jigs in all of the 1/16, 1/8, 3/16 and 1/4 ounce sizes. When bass are aggressive, using 1/8 or 1/4 ounces it may not matter, but the weight discrepancy can make a world of difference when the fishing is tough.
It’s generally best to use the lightest jig you can when Ned rigging. There are exceptions, of course, such as using a heavier jig for a fast fall rate when snap-jigging to mimic a fleeing goby and trigger reaction strikes.

Pro Tip: If you haven’t already, get yourself a RapStack 3600 Open Foam Tackle Tray. You will not find a better storage solution for protecting and organizing Ned Rig Jigs.

A green pumpkin Ned rig is the go-to for many anglers, but it’s important to have different soft-bait and jig colours for catering to fish preferences. Anglers are wise to have earthy greens and browns, blacks, purples, minnow patterns, pearl, two-tone laminates and even bright gaudy colours, like bubblegum.

Some days bass want matching jig and soft-bait colours. Other times a contrasting jig colour, like chartreuse, is the difference-maker in getting more strikes.

Since it’s arrival on the bass scene more than 15 years ago, the Ned rig has proven its worth as a potent, versatile finesse presentation. Consider that despite its exposed hook, a light Ned rig comes through cover with surprisingly minimal snags. There’s also the fact that although the presentation was originally created for shallow water bass, it’s just as effective when bass are deep. Commit to fishing the Ned rig often this season and you’ll catch plenty of big smallmouth and largemouth bass.