The Ned Rig: Your Secret Weapon for December Bass

Residing alongside the Gulf Coast and fishing these waters my complete life, I’ve discovered one vital lesson: adapt to altering situations or lose!  And nowhere is that this extra true than when focusing on bass through the chilly, uncooked month of December.

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

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 will produce highly effective subsurface strikes.

However December? December calls for a unique strategy.

A couple of decade in the past, I found the Ned Rig, which fully remodeled my winter bass fishing technique. This finesse method 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 straightforward. It consists of a light-weight jighead, usually 1/16 to 1/8 ounce. It’s paired with a brief, smooth 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, and so they desire straightforward meals. The Ned Rig’s refined, bottom-twitching motion completely matches this conduct. By protecting the bait near the underside and transferring it with minimal, mild twitches, you’re primarily presenting a straightforward meal that’s laborious for a bass to disregard.

The Retrieve

Working a Ned Rig requires a unique contact in comparison with extra aggressive strategies. After casting and letting the lure decide on the underside, I maintain my rod tip low and pointed straight on the bait. Then, I’ll slowly raise 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 replicate that.

When retrieving, watch your line like a hawk. Winter bass bites may be so refined that they’re nearly 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 smooth plastic design and colour patterns appear to set off strikes even within the coldest situations. Pair these with a light-weight jighead, and it’s lights out for December bass!

Bass fishing in December isn’t about overlaying loads of water so decelerate, be affected person, and belief the Ned Rig. Study its nuances, experiment with the pace 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 technique—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 out of doors journalist that resides in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthshoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly out of doors 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 Outside 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