Midwest finesse

[patwr77]

My name is Pat from Illinois... I've been lurking for a while and finally decided to join....  I've been making my own jigs and soft plastics for a while.... This past fall, I experimented with a few finesse techniques that have tripled my catch... One of those is the midwest finesse (ned rig) system of fishing...   I am looking for molds to make jig heads and soft plastics for this technique... Baits I used were a z-man trd and a 2.5 inch stinger wutz it in smokin shad and a match the hatch color I made... I'm thinking of getting either the 2.5 or 3 inch crappie carrot mold and one of the mo magic molds... I know that Ned likes a worm nose jig type of jig, but I want to go with a wire keeper style jig... Am thinking of going with the new 1/16 and 3/32 ounce round head jig with wire keeper because I like my teardrop jig mold so much. What do you guys think? (the worm nose jig with wire keeper would be killer) the owner #4 hook will be what I am using

[ctom]

First....welcome to the Do-It forums Pat. Its always nice to get another mind involved in what all of us here love doing.

I think you're on the right page jig-wise. having worked with the wire keeper in several head designs personally, I can tell you flat out that there is no better way to secure a plastic bait to a jig.

Once again, welcome.

[MO QWACK]

Welcome, I am a little biast but the mo magic molds would fit that it technique very nice as well as the dragon tail.

[Billmo]

For the Ned rig I like using a 3"stickbait(senko style mold).. Kinda wish they had one hear.. hint hint Jerry

But if you are looking for a Do It mold the Carrot molds in 3"(crappie Carrot) or 3.5"  are a good choices for the Ned rig..  you could also use the 4" Mo Magic.

[patwr77]

I'm leaning towards the 3 inch crappie carrot... How thick is that bait? Also I've been eyeing that dragon tail mold for a while... Would the 4.5 inch version work well for a shaky head and or dropshot worm? I can see myself with a couple mo magic molds... What size would be best for a hair jig trailer?

(Mo, my match the hatch stinger wutz-it has a mo milk belly... All of the baitfish in my favorite lakes have a purple sheen to them.. I did green pumpkin back with purple flake and violet highlight back... Works like a charm)

[2XL]

You could order a sample pack from Do-It and see some baits first hand. It's a good way to see what these baits look like vs buying a mold and finding out the finished bait isn't what you were looking for.

[pjmcla]

The "regular" 3 inch crappie carrot is 3/8ths ( 0.375 ) at the head and the 3 inch skinny is 5/16ths (0.3125 )
at the head I believe.  There is a noticeable thickness difference between them ( and action difference as well ).  I, personally, have both molds.

[Partycrasher]

The Ned rig is my wheelhouse... The 3" Carrot is definitely the way to go.  You will love it!  And I use the Worm Nose head exclusively.  Its such a deadly system. 

[patwr77]

The Ned rig is my wheelhouse... The 3" Carrot is definitely the way to go.  You will love it!  And I use the Worm Nose head exclusively.  Its such a deadly system. 

Yeah it has caught a ton of fish for me... It sounds like the. 3 inch crappie carrot is the ticket for me.... What hook do you use in the worm nose jig?

[hawgthumper]

Welcome to the forum Pat! Good to have you! Excuse my ignorance, but is the Ned rig similar to a shakey head rig? Personally, I recommend you get both the carrot and the Mo Magic. I have both and they're both awesome baits. I also have the 4.5 dragon tail and its a great little dropshot bait. Again, welcome and please excuse the dumb question.

[Billmo]

For me the ned rig jighead is shaped different then the shakey head. Most shakey heads I use have the bait screw, and the head I use for a ned rig is like the tip up jig head or regular old bullet head.

I look from small jigs 1/16oz maybe #6 or #4 hook. I fish it on 5lbs power pro.

[efishnc]

Also I've been eyeing that dragon tail mold for a while... Would the 4.5 inch version work well for a shaky head and or dropshot worm?

The 4.5 dragon tail my #1 drop shot plastic.  I haven't  used it (or any finesse type worm) on a shaky, as I typically go bigger, but the response I received when asking about other shaky plastics (on this forum) showed the carrot as the most commonly used shaky plastic... I see the dragon tail doing just as well in this application.

[2XL]

Is the Ned rig fished by presenting the bait horizontally (dragging/twitching it along the bottom) or vertically like you were fishing a stand up jig ? Have you fished this rig in a river situation = current? I'm thinking this could be a decent eye option in low current situations on the local river here.

X2 the Worm Nose jig with a wire bait keeper would be the bomb.

[Partycrasher]

I'm actually using a bigger hook like a #2 or #1.  A stout hook too.  The 3" Carrot or a 2-3" piece of Senko type worm is what this system needs.  If anyone wants more info on this google Ned Rig or Ned Kehde rig.  And yes it will catch walleyes...

[Partycrasher]

I covered this a little in a post in the "Fish Pictures and Success Stories" back in summer.  The post is "Northern WI Trip".  We actually call it the goose turd.... I have a picture in there.  My niece schooled us that week with the "Turd".  It takes patience to fish it.