The Ned rig is a finesse presentation that represents a small baitfish or a crawfish. These are main food sources for both bass and walleyes. I consider myself a bass fisherman, but I have been steadily catching more walleyes along the way when fishing a Ned rig presentation. Let’s break down the Ned rig for walleye anglers who want to get in on the action.

Locations to target

Walleyes are known as fish that occupy rock areas much of the time. If you are dealing with self-sustaining walleyes in the lakes you fish, chances are the walleyes will indeed still spend much of their time around rocks.

On the other hand, if you fish weedy lakes where the DNR is assisting or supporting the walleye population through stocking, chances are exceptionally good that the walleyes stocked into these lakes were born and raised in rearing ponds. These walleyes are not hatched on windblown rocky points, but rather in hatcheries before being transferred to shallow rearing ponds resembling a small lake. These ponds may have some rocks in them, but typically also have weeds. These fish therefore spend their early lives in and around weeds. When these walleyes are stocked into the bodies of water around the state, they tend to act more like bass than natural-born walleyes hatched in rocky walleye waters.

These walleyes also tend to hang closer to the weeds, and to hard bottom areas just outside of these weed areas. They may even venture into the weeds to feed from time to time if a good food source is relating to these areas. One of the best ways to fish in these areas is with a Ned rig.

Setups

I use two different setups for Ned fishing. My main setup is a 7-foot, medium-action spinning rod. I use a Denali Myriad Rod (MS702M), teamed with a Denali Fission Pro Spinning reel (DFPS2000) in the 2000 size. I spool the reel with 10- to 12-pound-test braided line. To my braid, I tie a leader sized according to the structure that I am fishing. If I am fishing in open rock areas, I use 10-pound leader. If I am fishing more in weeds, I may up size my leader a little to 12-pound leader. The main reason for the change is to have a little more beef in case the walleyes get down into the weeds. This provides a little more fighting power to get them up and out of the weeds and into the boat.

When fishing in windy conditions, I may also use a Denali Myriad 7’6” spinning rod (MS762M). This rod gives me a little more casting power and distance to stay farther off the walleyes, allowing me to make longer casts. I use the same reel setup as above.

Jig heads

I carry three different jig heads. I make and stock my own mushroom jig heads (Do-it Mold-Worm Nose Jig). I make my own for two reasons: 1) to cut cost and 2) I have the option to make these jig heads with a bigger hook than the stock ones I can buy in stores or online. This is key, because this is the number one jig head that I use in both bass and walleye fishing.

For my second jig head option, I use a stand-up mushroom jig head (Do-it Mold-Midwest Finesse Jig). When you team this jig head with a plastics option that features a floating material like Z-Man ElaZtech, you can get this bait to stand up off the bottom.

I also make and carry an assortment of weedless ball head jigs on which I can rig assorted styles of baits. The weedless jig option allows me to get a little deeper into the weeds whereas the other jig heads will not allow that. I can still fish a jig clean and get to walleyes that most other anglers cannot reach.

Ned baits

Carry an assortment of Ned Plastics in your tackle box. I start with some of the various Ned baits out on the market. Example: 3-inch Yum’s Ned baits and 3-inch Bass Pro Ned baits are two stock plastics that I carry. I also carry Z-Man TRD Ned in my bait box. The Z-Man TRD is made of ElaZtech material which has a floating quality, so it will act and fish differently than normal Ned rig plastics. The ElaZtech option will give your bait a distinctive look and action than a regular soft plastic can convey.

Two common food sources targeted by walleyes and bass are baitfish or craws. When using a worm nose jig option, your bait tends to lay on the bottom and look like a baitfish. But when you use a craw plastic, or a Ned bait that has a floating quality onto the Midwest Finesse jig head, you can get this bait to stand up on its head. This represents a craw standing up to defend itself.

Do not forget to add a weedless ball head jig option into the mix. I team this with a 3- to 4-inch stickbait or jerk minnow. I either fish this on the worm nose jig head or the ball head jig depending on the cover. If I am fishing open, hard-bottom areas, I use a worm nose head. But if I am targeting the weed edge or fishing up in the weeds, I turn to the weedless ball head jig. Another option: add a 4-inch ring worm to the mix.

You will have to experiment as to which retrieves the walleyes want and what triggers strikes. I use either 1) a dragging retrieve where I am just slowly sweeping the rod to the side, then reeling up the slack before I start my next sweep, or 2) if they are targeting craws, you want to scoot the bait along the bottom to act and look like a fleeing craw trying to get to safety.

If the walleyes are after baitfish, use more of a lift-and-drop retrieve. You do not want to overpower the bait, but you want to use a slight lift-and-drop retrieve, then pick up the slack before you make the next lift. If you feel weight on the end of the line or start to see your line move off, reel down and set the hook.

Grab yourself some jig heads and a couple bags of plastics for the next time you hit the water on your favorite walleye lake. You may be caught off guard by how well this Ned tactic works!

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