A lot of anglers that are use to power fishing or fishing in dirty water don't know how to approach finesse fishing. In cold water months I've caught 5lb smallmouth on small 1/16oz hair jigs with a size 2 light wire hook and had no issues with hooks bending out or hooking the fish in general. The man who the Ned rig is named after, Ned Kehde, he doesn't use the Z-Man 'shroomZ heads because the hook is too big. He actually prefers a size #4 and #6 hook that most would see as a crappie hook but he fishes finesse all the time. The biggest mistake I see guys make is using tackle that is too heavy, a light to medium light spinning rod with 4# to 6# line is perfect. I know a lot of guys that think the Owner 5313 is too heavy but I like it because I can jump to 8# line if I'm using a medium light rod and not have to worry about the hook but it is sharp enough I still get full penetration with the light power rod and a 6# line. I use the #1 Owner 5313 a lot but I also make my own with a size #2 Eagle Claw Lil' Nasty sickle style hook. The small hooks let the bait fall a little more natural and actually allow the small stick worms to have some very subtle movement, a larger hook and the bait has zero movement. Remember too I'm talking about baits that are 2.5" to 2.75" long, at 3" or larger I'm use a #1 or 1/0 as I don't use anything larger than 3.25" for Ned Rigging.
