Page 42 - Lady Bass Digital Magazine Winter 2022-1_Neat

The NEKO Rig

A Neko rig is a finesse tactic. The best description is that The line most used in the Neko rig application is fluoro-
a Neko rig is a weighted version of the wacky rig with a carbon on spinning tackle. The line size impacts the rate of
weight inserted into one end of the worm. The weight fall. Lighter line equals a faster fall, but it is less durable. It
and hook placement give the bait a unique action as the is not unusual for anglers to fish the Neko rig on braided
bait falls and one end stands up straight once it hits the line with a fluorocarbon leader.
bottom. There are 3-4 parts. The worm, nail, hook, and an
optional wacky ring. When it comes to hook selection, many anglers use their
In a typical setup, the favorite wacky rig hooks. These come in a variety of sizes
worm is set up just like and shapes. Some have weed guards and others have no
a traditional wacky rig weed guards. Size 1 or 2 hooks are the ones most used.
with the ring and hook Consider hooks with shorter shanks to help reduce hang-
in the middle, with ing up on submerged vegetation.
a nail weight to one
end. Another version When it comes to the weights, as with most techniques,
of this has the place- there are plenty of choices. A low-cost option is a paneling
ment of the ring and nail. A more expensive option is a tungsten nail weight.
hook in the top ¼ of the soft plastic, or the same end as the You can find a variety of weights that can be used with
weight. the Neko rig. The size of the weight used directly impacts
the action of the bait, especially the rate of fall. Be sure to
insert the hook straight into the body of the worm. The
size of the weight ranges from 1/32, 3/32, 1/16, and up to
1/8 ounces. Other weigh options beyond the nail include
mushroom weights, and straight weights.

Finally, consider accessoriz-
The Neko rig can be fished shallow and on any deep struc- ing your Neko rig. There are
ture including points, drop-offs, ledges, bluff walls, or deep products on the market that
docks. It is important that the bait falls on slack line once have skirt material in the
you cast it out. Fish often hit the bait on the fall so once head of the nail weight. An-
the bait has sunk to the bottom, if there is no bite on the other option is to use small
fall, hop the bait a couple of times and then drag it along blades in the opposite end to
the bottom. It is important however to keep contact with add some sparkle and flash.
the bait while it is on the bottom. This will help ensure that Bear in mind that adding the blade adds weight to the end
the bait stands up off the bottom. There is no wrong way to of the bait that typically stands up. It is a tradeoff to add
fish it. If this is a new technique for you, be sure to give it flash or to keep the original action of the Neko rig.
ample opportunity. Once you have your first bite, you will
understand. It is a great option for highly pressured bass
or squeaking out a bass during the final hour of a tourna-
ment.

Most any soft plastic can be
used but using a more dura-
ble soft plastic is to your ben-
efit verses a softer plastic. The
most used soft plastic used
is a stick bait. Anglers have
also used finesse worms,
and straight tail worms with the technique. The optimum
length for the soft plastic is from 5”-10” in length.
42 Lady Bass Anglers Association
The NEKO Rig