The Ned Rig: Your Secret Weapon for December Bass

Residing alongside the Gulf Coast and fishing these waters my whole life, I’ve realized one crucial lesson: adapt to altering situations or lose!  And nowhere is that this extra true than when concentrating on bass in the course of the chilly, uncooked month of December.

For years, I used to be that man. A fisherman who stubbornly clung to summer season methods.

I used to be a spinnerbait man. Colorado, willow, and Indian blades – oh yeah! Spinnerbaits had been my favourite lures to throw. All summer season, I might work them just under the floor, the place the blade would create a ripple that may produce highly effective subsurface strikes.

However December? December calls for a special strategy.

A couple of decade in the past, I found the Ned Rig, which utterly reworked my winter bass fishing technique. This finesse approach is particularly designed for these difficult cold-water situations when bass get notoriously sluggish and hesitant to chase something.

At its core, the Ned Rig is easy. It consists of a light-weight jighead, usually 1/16 to 1/8 ounce. It’s paired with a brief, gentle plastic bait like a small stickbait or worm. I prefer to nose-hook my stickbait so it creates a novel, standing presentation. When it sinks all the way down to the underside, the bait stands upright, mimicking a struggling or injured baitfish which is an irresistible goal for cold-water bass.

Why It Works

In chilly water, bass aren’t trying to expend pointless power. Their metabolism slows down, they usually favor straightforward meals. The Ned Rig’s delicate, bottom-twitching motion completely matches this habits. By retaining the bait near the underside and transferring it with minimal, light twitches, you’re basically presenting a straightforward meal that’s laborious for a bass to disregard.

The Retrieve

Working a Ned Rig requires a special contact in comparison with extra aggressive methods. After casting and letting the lure decide on the underside, I hold my rod tip low and pointed instantly on the bait. Then, I’ll slowly carry the rod, dragging the lure throughout the underside. The bottom line is to subtly drag your lure on the underside. Keep in mind,  these fish are chilly, and your presentation must mirror that.

When retrieving, watch your line like a hawk. Winter bass bites might be so delicate that they’re virtually unnoticeable. If you happen to see the slightest sideways motion or really feel a slight stress, set the hook instantly.

The Lure

I’ve discovered Z-Man TRD baits to be notably for utilizing with a Ned Rig. It’s gentle plastic design and coloration patterns appear to set off strikes even within the coldest situations. Pair these with a lightweight jighead, and it’s lights out for December bass!

Bass fishing in December isn’t about masking lots of water so decelerate, be affected person, and belief the Ned Rig. Study its nuances, experiment with the velocity of your retrieve, and also you’ll end up selecting the chilly lake over a heat fireplace each single time.

This system isn’t only a fishing methodology—it’s a mindset. It’s about understanding the fish and adapting your strategy to match the situations. And in December, the Ned Rig is your ticket to success!

Keith Lusher

Keith Lusher is an award successful outside journalist that resides in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthshoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly outside column for the Slidell Unbiased Newspaper. He additionally writes for the St.Tammany Parish Tourism Fee’s VisitTheNorthshore.com. He’s the previous host of The Northshore Fishing Report Radio Present and is on the board of the Louisiana Out of doors Writers Affiliation. Keith contributes to quite a few publications each on-line and in print and prides himself on selling South Louisiana’s distinctive fishery. To contact Keith electronic mail: keithlusherjr@gmail.com