It’s All About the Ned
Category: article
Nov 8th, 2022 by Keith Worrall
Modified Nov 8th, 2022 at 8:52 AM
It’s All About the Ned
Northland Fishing Tackle’s new Elite Series Nedster Jig and Weedless Nedster Jig further the groundbreaking Ned Rigging technique.
BEMIDJI, Minn. (November 8, 2022) – In pole-vaulting, it was Dick Fosbury who changed the sport with the Fosbury Flop. In ice skating, American Olympian Dorothy Hamill left her mark with the Hamill Camel. And, in fishing, writer and innovator Ned Kehde developed a finesse bass fishing bait that’s now a household name – the Ned Rig.
Combining a mushroom style jig head with a small, buoyant soft plastic, Kehde’s brainchild is responsible for countless catches over the last decade plus. Rather unassuming at first blush, the jig and plastic combo causes curious bass to investigate and slurp what appears to be a small baitfish, crawfish, or aquatic invertebrate.
Now, Northland comes to the table with a custom jig conceived specifically for Ned Rigging. The new Elite Series Nedster Jig and Weedless Nedster Jig feature a mushroom shaped head, designed so that when paired with the right bait, the plastic and hook stand up off the bottom to imbue realism and promote positive hooksets. Speaking of the hook, all Nedster Jigs are established on an incredibly sharp and strong 1/0 Gamakatsu hook. Northland worked with pros to select the perfect gauge wire that is thin enough for quality hooksets on spinning tackle, yet strong so it won’t disappoint when you need to fight through cover and boat a slob bass.
Rigging-wise, your preferred plastic is locked in place with the Nedster’s clever wire bait keeper. Its precision placement and supreme architecture won’t tear up your baits.
Recent history teaches that Ned Rigs succeed when others fail. Even moody fish succumb to the innocent appearance and action. More engaged fish quickly suck it to the back of their mouth. Better carry some pliers to pop that jig out…
Operating a Ned Rig is elementary, too. The simplest technique is casting, let the Nedster hit the bottom, and begin a sequence of short hops with pauses in between. It’s not unusual for Ned Rig partisans to let the bait sit still for ten seconds or longer. Speed up or slow the process depending on fish activity or how much water you need to cover. Nedsters can be fished faster than a dropshot, too, while still falling in the finesse category.
BLACK
CHARTREUSE
GREEN PUMPKIN
RUSTY CRAW
Northland’s Nedster Jig functions effectively over sand, gravel, and bounced off rocks – classic smallmouth bass habitat. The Weedless Nedster Jig takes the baton when confronting largemouth bass in vegetation, too. Its durable, titanium weed guard allow the Weedless Nedster to easily travel through short bottom grass and along weededges, not to mention navigating through timber. Note, too, that the titanium weed guard will keep its strength and perfect positioning fish after fish.
A Ned Rig is a worthy choice all year long. With that said, there are times and places it steals the show, especially when other presentations fail. The Nedster does wonders on pressured fish and in clear water where bass are suspicious of everything. Moreover, the Nedster Jig excels during cold water periods when fish are less active, as well as in the fall and winter when bass go deep and hug the bottom.
BLACK
CHARTREUSE
GREEN PUMPKIN
RUSTY CRAW
The marketplace is chockfull of plastics developed specially for Ned Rigs as well. The key to these baits is their buoyancy, diminutive size and subtle, but easily achieved action.
Nedster Jigs are best fished on spinning gear. Choose a medium-light spinning rod in the 7-foot range. Pair it with a 2000 or 2500 size reel spooled with 8- to 10-pound braid finished with a fluorocarbon leader to promote invisibility.
The new Nedster Jig and Weedless Nedster Jig are available in 4 sizes (1/8-, 3/16-, ¼-, and 5/16-ounce) and 4 colors (Black, Chartreuse, Green Pumpkin, and Rusty Craw). Nedster Jigs come 3 per pack, Nedster Weedless Jigs 2 per pack. MSRP for both is $5.99.
Both models will be available in late 2022.
