The Ned rig is a finesse fishing technique where you fish a floating softbait on a flat jig head (mushroom head), so that the bait stands upright on the bottom. This provides a natural presentation that even shy or pressured predatory fish are tempted to bite.
The Ned rig is the technique to catch passive or pressured predatory fish such as perch and zander. Thanks to the upright presentation and subtle action, your bait resembles a fleeing fish or crayfish, resulting in more bites.
What is a Ned rig?
The Ned rig is a simple but extremely effective finesse rig, originating from the USA. You combine:
- A mushroom jighead (flat lead head)
- A floating softbait
This combination keeps your bait upright on the bottom, imitating a natural and irresistible posture.
Why does the Ned rig work so well?
- Natural behavior (crayfish or fleeing fish)
- Slow sinking = more time in the “strike zone”
- Less suspicion from pressured fish
- Ideal for tough days
When do you use a Ned rig?
The Ned rig excels in situations where other techniques fail:
Perfect moments:
- Under pressure (heavily fished waters)
- When fish are passive
- In cold water
- In clear waters
Suitable spots:
- Hard bottoms
- Harbors and canals
- Slopes and drop-offs
- Between obstacles (possible with offset)
What materials do you need?
1. Jigheads (mushroom heads)
Choose as light as possible to maintain bottom contact:
- 1.8 g – 3.5 g: shallow, little current
- 5 g – 7 g: all-round
- 7 g – 10 g: deeper water or wind
Tip: Lighter = more natural presentation
2. Softbaits for Ned rig
Always use floating softbaits, so they stay upright.
Popular choices:
- Stickbaits (such as TRD models)
- Creature baits (crayfish imitations)
- Finesse shads
Note:
- Compact size (5–8 cm)
- Lots of action with minimal movement
3. Rod, reel and line
Rod:
- 1.90 – 2.20 m
- Casting weight: 1–10 g or 3–15 g
- Sensitive tip (for bite detection)
Reel:
- Size 1000 – 2500
Line:
- Braided line: ± 0.06 – 0.10 mm
- Fluorocarbon leader: 0.20 – 0.30 mm
How do you rig a Ned rig?
Setting it up is simple:
Steps:
- Attach fluorocarbon leader to your main line (e.g., Albright knot)
- Tie your jighead to the leader
- Slide the softbait straight onto the hook
- Make sure the bait is perfectly straight
Optional: a drop of superglue for extra strength
How do you fish with a Ned rig? (4 techniques)
1. Swim & Glide
- Reel in + pauses
- Let the bait sink to the bottom each time
2. Hop & Bounce
- Small taps with your rod tip
- Let the bait bounce over the bottom
3. Drag & Deadstick
- Slowly drag over the bottom
- Long pauses (very effective!)
4. Straight Retrieve
- Reel in steadily
- Simple but underrated technique
Important:
Most bites occur during pauses or sinking
Extra tips for more catches
- Fish as light as possible
- Use a brightly colored line (better bite detection)
- Sometimes let your bait sit still for 10+ seconds
- Keep varying tempo and technique
- Watch your line carefully during sinking
What fish do you catch with a Ned rig?
The Ned rig is especially effective for:
- Perch
- Zander
- Pike (bycatch)
- Asp (occasionally)
Tip: fishing in waters with pike? Consider a subtle steel leader
Conclusion
The Ned rig is simple but extremely effective. Especially on tough days, this finesse technique makes the difference. By fishing subtly and presenting your bait naturally, you catch more, and often bigger, predatory fish.