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Soft Plastic Rigging Guide: Ned Rig

What Is It?

The Ned Rig is a finesse fishing technique that involves using small plastic stickbaits, craws, or creatures paired with a light mushroom-shaped jighead with a finesse wire hook. Using a buoyant plastic bait is another primary characteristic of this presentation as this allows the bait to stand up on the bottom.

This rig was originally created by outdoor writer Ned Kehde and popularized in the Midwest – so the name Ned Rig comes from its originator, although some anglers refer to it as Midwest finesse rigging. To learn more in-depth about the Ned Rig, be sure to check out our blog posts on its origins and the latest and greatest Ned Rig baits.

 What is the ned rig?

How To Rig It

Setting up a Ned Rig is as simple as the lure and hook. All you do is tie on a mushroom head jig, thread the tail of your preferred soft plastic over the shank of the hook and you're good to go.

How to rig the ned rig

How To Fish It

Fish routinely hit the Ned Rig on the fall, and if you're using too heavy a jighead, the bait will plummet past the fish straight to the bottom. A lighter head will simply keep the bait in the strike zone for longer and will allow for that tantalizing, slow descent that makes the Ned Rig so effective.

Swim & Glide

Swim the bait by reeling slowly, then pause to allow the bait to glide to the bottom.
Ned Rig Swim & Glide

Hop & Bounce

Hop off the bottom with short snaps of the rod, reel up the slack, pause, and repeat.
 Ned Rig Hop & Bounce

Drag & Deadstick

Drag along the bottom with a long, slow sweep of the rod, then pause.
Ned Rig Drag & Deadstick

Straight Swim

Reel slowly on a straight retrieve to imitate a natural swimming action.
Ned Rig Straight Swim

Tips & Tricks

History of the Ned Rig

Ned Rig Tips

Top 6 Ned Rig Mistakes