The Ned Rig: Your Secret Weapon for December Bass

Residing alongside the Gulf Coast and fishing these waters my complete life, I’ve realized one essential lesson: adapt to altering circumstances or lose!  And nowhere is that this extra true than when focusing 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 time 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 time, I might work them slightly below the floor, the place the blade would create a ripple that may produce highly effective subsurface strikes.

However December? December calls for a unique method.

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

At its core, the Ned Rig is straightforward. It consists of a light-weight jighead, usually 1/16 to 1/8 ounce. It’s paired with a brief, mushy 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 seeking to expend pointless vitality. Their metabolism slows down, they usually favor straightforward meals. The Ned Rig’s delicate, bottom-twitching motion completely matches this conduct. By conserving the bait near the underside and transferring it with minimal, mild twitches, you’re basically presenting a simple meal that’s arduous for a bass to disregard.

The Retrieve

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

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

The Lure

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

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

This method isn’t only a fishing technique—it’s a mindset. It’s about understanding the fish and adapting your method to match the circumstances. 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 Impartial 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 e mail: keithlusherjr@gmail.com