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Fall 2022
in clear, open water situations when larger baits are ignored.
They are typically small and fished on nearly invisible fluorocarbon lines testing between 6- and 8-pounds. The diminutive natural appearance makes them an easy meal that most any bass would engulf once they spot it.
Since they are silent and fished slowly, Ned baits don’t trigger the lateral line sense of a bass and don’t easily signal their presence to nearby bass. Being small and fished tight to the bottom makes spotting a Ned bait difficult, especially if made from plastic that sinks and lays on the bottom where it blends with its background.
Yamamoto fixed these shortcomings by designing the Ned Senko with “Mega Floater Formula” plastic. This plastic floats like cork and has the same soft texture bass don’t hesitate to eat and hold onto.
And since it stands up on the bottom, bass easily notice it when cruising around looking for prey. The original 3-inch Fat Senko works well as a Ned bait, if a bass sees it sinking on the fall but is less
likely to notice it lying flat on the bottom. Like any Senko there are many ways to effectively rig it; just add water and it gets bit. Here are three ways to rig the Ned Senko that are guaranteed to put the beat- down on bass.
NED HEAD RIG
My typical setup uses a small lead jig head typical
of Ned rigs. By far my preference is the Gamakatsu
Finesse Jig Head which is money. The Finesse Jig Head
has a wire spring that really
holds the soft plastic
G-finesse cover Neko rigged close
tight. It has a light wire
size #1 hook that is so sharp
just tightening your line drives it deeply yet is strong enough
to hold the biggest Mama Pesce.
I most often use the 3/32-ounce
size, but they also come in 1/8 oz and
1/16-ounce weights.
For a more weedless presentation, I go
with the Gamakatsu EWG Finesse Jig Head.
It features an offset eye countersunk into the
lead head for a weedless presentation. It comes
on an EWG style 1/0 hook in the same three
size weights plus a 1/4-ounce size. This weedless
version is quick to rig and keeps the bait straight while
protecting it from snags by Texposing the hook point.
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