Wisconsin fishing guide Troy Peterson of Mr. Bluegill Guide Service gives us a few tips on ned rigging walleyes.
Ned Rigging Walleyes
Over the past few years, there have been several baits that have taken the fishing world by storm. None of them, however, have had as big of an impact as the Ned Rig. This simplistic stick bait presentation has been one of the most consistent baits for bass anglers over the past five years and has producing bites all across the country. While the ned rig is predominately used for largemouth and smallmouth bass, many other fish species have taken an affinity to them including walleyes.
Best Locations for Ned Rigging Walleyes
Ned Rigs can be used to fish for walleyes in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs and are also effective in almost all types of structures. Rock reefs, sandy flats, and sparse weed beds can all be effectively fished with a Ned Rig. Not all structure is created equal and some spots will be laid out better than others and will hold more fish.
Utilizing Your Electronics
Electronics play a critical role when searching for walleyes throughout the year. In order to catch fish, you first need to be able to find the fish. The key to locating fish all begins with good quality mapping. Start off by using your map to identify key spots that should hold walleyes. Main lake points, weed lines, shallow flats, rock reefs surrounded by deep water, confluences, and current areas are all good places to find walleyes. Once you’ve identified some key structure spots, drive over those areas with 2D sonar and side imaging. After you have marked fish with your sonar, drop waypoints so you know where the fish are positioned on the piece of structure. Now the fun begins and you can start to work back through your waypoints making cast with the Ned Rigs and start catching walleyes.
Jig Weight for Ned Rigging Walleyes
Ned Rigs can be used to fish at just about any depth for walleyes due to the variety of weighted jig heads that can be used. As a general guide, you should use a 1/16-ounce or 1/8-ounce jig head in fifteen feet of water or shallower. Once you exceed fifteen feet of water, a 1/4-ounce to 3/8-ounce jig head is best. The rule goes, the shallower the water, the lighter the jig and the deeper the water is, the heavier the jig. The key is to maintain bottom contact while still having a slow falling natural presentation.
Ned Rigging Plastics
The Ned Rig originated with 2.75-inch stick worm, but today’s anglers have a wide variety of sizes of plastics that work well when paired with a Ned head jig. No matter what plastic you prefer to use when Ned Rigging walleyes, it’s extremely beneficially to have a couple of different styles, sizes, and colors available. Depending on the conditions and the mood of the fish, a simple change in your Ned Rig can make all the difference.
Weather Factor
Weather is another factor you need to consider as an angler. In clear and natural lakes, stable weather with overcast conditions tend to be best for walleye fishing. Flat, calm, sunny days generally tend to slow down the walleye bite. One advantage to the Ned Rig is that it performs well even when the fish are in a negative and finicky mood. The Ned Rig will catch walleyes even on days that aren’t necessarily the best walleye fishing weather.
FAQ’s
1. What is the best time of year to fish ned rigs for walleyes?
While they can be caught throughout the open water season, spring and early summer tends to be the best of year to use Ned Rigs for walleyes.
2. What pound line test leader should I use when ned rigging walleyes?
A six-pound or eight-pound fluorocarbon leader is recommended when Ned Rigging walleyes.
3. What is the best color plastic when ned rigging walleyes?
Green pumpkin, black, and chartreuse work great for walleyes.
4. What is the best depth to use ned rigs for walleyes
Ned Rigs work in all depths for walleyes and can be fished both in shallow and deep water.
5. Can you fish ned rigs through weeds?
Ned Rigs work well in sparse weed cover, but are not designed to heavy weed cover.
Conclusion
Ned Rigging walleyes is a great way to catch a ton of fish without live bait. Utilizing your electronics to locate some walleyes and key locations is crucial. Once you have located a number of walleyes, choose a plastic and start fishing. If you haven’t tried using a Ned Rig for walleyes, give it a try and you might be amazed by the results.
