Ned Rig
Jig technique
The Ned rig is a small piece of buoyant stick-bait on a light mushroom jighead. It hops and stands on the bottom with a subtle action that gets bit by numbers of bass, smallmouth and Guadalupe when finesse is the only thing working.
Why: Tiny bait, huge numbers.
Evidence: Verified knowledge from Bryan Cotter, 26+ years guiding all 16 Central Texas lakes.
Related: Senko / Stickbait · Straight / Finesse Worm · All bass techniques
Verified Answered by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs guide · Updated Jul 12, 2026
A 2-3 inch chunk of buoyant soft plastic on a 1/10-1/6 oz mushroom jighead.
Ned Rig at a glance
- Category
- Jig
- Skill level
- ●○○○○
- Bryan's confidence
- ●●●●○
- Target depth
- 2-18 ft
Best for: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Guadalupe Bass, Spotted Bass
Gear
- Rod
- 6'10" ML (fast)
- Reel
- Spinning
- Line
- braid+leader — 8-10 lb braid, 6-8 lb fluoro leader
- Weight
- mushroom jighead — 1/10-1/6 oz
How to fish the Ned Rig
- Thread a short stick-bait chunk onto a light mushroom jighead.
- Cast and let it fall to the bottom on slack line.
- Drag or gently hop it, letting the buoyant tail rise between moves.
- Keep it slow and in contact with the bottom.
- Set on any tick or weight.
Retrieve: Slow drag-and-hop along the bottom, letting the bait stand up on pauses.
Where it shines
Cover: rock, open, gravel; structure: points, flats, riprap; clarity: clear, stained.
When to use it
Best seasons: Winter, Spring, Fall
Best conditions: Post-Frontal / Bluebird, Cold Front, Calm / Slick Conditions
When Bryan reaches for it: When I want to guarantee bites — perfect for kids and beginners, and a killer on smallmouth and Guads.
Lures to throw
Senko / Stickbait, Straight / Finesse Worm.
Common mistakes
- Using a sinking plastic instead of a buoyant one that stands up
- Fishing it too fast
- Too heavy a head for the finesse action
Pro tips
- A floating TPE-style plastic gives the signature stand-up
- Light wire hooks let you fish the lightest heads
Keep exploring
All bass fishing techniques · Shaky Head · Finesse Fishing · All bass lures · Central Texas bass fishing guide
Want to learn the Ned Rig on the water? I'll put it in your hands on a guided trip. See rates and book or call 512-762-0190.