Ned rig

What is a Ned rig?

A short stubby piece of buoyant soft plastic on a light mushroom-shaped jig head, which stands the bait up nose-down on the bottom.

Head weight: 1/16 to 1/6 oz
Head shape: Mushroom
Plastic: Buoyant; So the tail stands up off the bottom
Line: 6 to 8 lb; Spinning gear; heavy line kills the fall

What makes a Ned rig different?

The head is a small mushroom shape, usually 1/16 to 1/6 ounce, and the plastic is buoyant so the tail floats up while the head rests on bottom. The bait sits at an angle like something feeding, and the smallest twitch makes it hop and settle again.

When does a Ned rig out-fish everything else?

It is a finesse rig and it is close to unfair on pressured fish. Clear water, high sun, heavily fished lakes and cold fronts are all situations where a Ned rig catches when nothing else will. It also catches everything, not just bass.

The obvious limitation is the light head and exposed hook, which means open water and hard bottom rather than grass or wood.

What tackle does a Ned rig need?

It demands the right tackle more than most rigs. A light head on heavy line will not fall properly, so a Ned rig wants a spinning rod, light braid and a fluorocarbon leader, or straight six to eight pound line if you prefer simplicity.

Put the same head on a medium-heavy casting rod with 15 pound fluorocarbon and it will not reach the bottom the way it is supposed to, and the whole presentation stops working.

Ned rig, step by step

Tie a light mushroom-shaped jig head to six to eight pound line.
Thread a short, buoyant soft plastic onto the hook until it sits flush against the head.
Bring the hook point out through the top of the bait and leave it exposed.
Cast, let it sink to the bottom, and wait for the line to go slack.
Drag it a foot, pause, and repeat. Most bites come during the pause.

In practice

Do almost nothing with it. Drag it a foot, let it sit, repeat. Anglers lose fish on a Ned rig by working it too actively.

What this means when you’re choosing

Genuinely buoyant plastic. The rig depends on the tail standing up, and an ordinary soft plastic on the same head just lies flat.
A mushroom head with a light-wire hook, which is what lets a finesse rod drive the point home.
A spinning setup in the medium-light to medium range. This is not a rig you can bolt onto a heavy bass outfit.

The common mistake

Fishing it like a jig

The instinct is to hop and shake, because that is what every other bottom bait wants. The Ned rig's whole appeal is a small bait standing still on the bottom looking edible. Cast it, let it settle, drag it a foot, and wait. Most bites come during the pause, and most anglers move it through that pause.

Common questions

How do you fish a Ned rig?

Cast it out on light spinning gear, let it sink to the bottom, then drag it a foot at a time with long pauses between. Most bites come while it is sitting still, so resist the urge to hop and shake it.

What line should you use with a Ned rig?

Six to eight pound line, either straight fluorocarbon or light braid with a fluorocarbon leader. Heavier line stops the light head falling properly, which is the presentation the rig depends on.

Where this comes up

The guides that use ned rig and show it on real gear.

Last reviewed September 13, 2026. Ned rig is one of 222 terms in the fishing glossary.