Ned Rig — Drag and Deadstick

The most finesse presentation in bass fishing. A tiny mushroom head jig with a short soft plastic, crawled incredibly slowly across the bottom. The buoyant plastic floats tail-up at rest, which is when most strikes happen.

When to use it

The ultimate cold-front and tough-bite technique. Dominates in late fall and early spring when water is 42–55°F. Also excels post-cold-front in summer when fish shut down and refuse other presentations.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. 1

   Cast to the target and let the Ned Rig sink fully to the bottom.

2. 2

   Keep the rod tip low and reel in most of the slack.

3. 3

   Simply drag the rod tip from 7 o'clock to 9 o'clock — extremely slowly.

4. 4

   Drop the rod back to 7 and reel slack. The tail-up posture during the pause is key.

5. 5

   Let it sit motionless for 5–15 seconds. This is when finicky fish eat.

6. 6

   Bites on the Ned are often barely detectable — a slight heaviness or the line moving sideways.

Pro Tip

The Ned Rig works when nothing else does. Post-cold front, gin clear water, heavy pressure — this is your weapon. Don't overlook it because it's small.

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