background by FWStudio
Fall 2022
page
8
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DROP SHOT RIG
Fishing the floating Ned Senko on a dropshot rig is simply deadly. The Mega Floater plastic increases its visibility by getting it higher off the bottom compared to the Ned Head Rig. It also provides more action for the lure. Shaking your rod tip causes the soft plastic to dart and act alive, and the slow rise when you stop shaking is more than a bass can ignore.
I typically rig the Ned Senko by nose-hooking it on a Gamakatsu #2 G-Finesse Drop Shot Hook coupled with a QuickDrops dropshot weight. This rig allows me to cover water faster than a Ned Head Rig since I can quickly change size of QuickDrops to meet the needs of depth and speed.
Most often a 1/4-ounce QuickDrops weight works but a 3/16-ounce works better in shallow or calm conditions; whereas a 3/8-ounce size works better in deeper or windy conditions.
I prefer to fish this on straight 6-pound-test fluorocarbon line but will also rig a second rod with 10-pound braid mainline and use a 7-pound-test fluorocarbon leader, especially if the fish are not leader shy, or if I am fishing near or in weeds.
Another variation of the Drop Shot Rig with the Ned Senko is hooking the bait through its middle, wacky-style. I use the same setup and components (although I prefer a size 1 G-Finesse Drop Shot hook); just change where and how I hook the Ned Senko.
This is particularly good when fishing deep water vertically and offers a different look when the bass begin to get wise to the nose-hook drop shot rig. When using sonar and seeing bass under the boat that are not biting my nose-hooked Ned Senko, I will switch to wacky-rigged and often get the reluctant bass to bite.
A wacky, drop shotted Ned Senko with a long leader is simply amazing when fished in river current like you might fish for salmon or steelhead.
Ned Senko Plum Apple
This is one of
my go-to rigs when
fishing river current
sweeping across gravel flats for smallmouth bass. I prefer to use a spinning outfit with 10-lb-test braid and 8-lb-test fluorocarbon leader when drift fishing. My leader length between a QuickDrop weight and the Ned Senko is about 3-feet long, and I use just enough weight to drift across the gravel. The long leader elevates the floating Ned Senko despite the long cast and low angle of the drift rig.
NEKO RIG
A third method of rigging the Ned Senko is the Neko rig. Rigged with a nail weight in the fat end of the Ned Senko and using the Gamakatsu G-Finesse Cover Neko hook in a size #1, this rig provides a weedless presentation that can be fished in weed and wood cover, and snaggy rocks. The high flotation quality allows the Ned Senko to stand on its head and wave enticingly in the water column, while the nail weight keeps the nose pinned to the bottom. This vertical position enables bass to engulf the bait easily and completely. The soft plastic ensures easy hook penetration despite being rigged in a weedless fashion.
I usually fish this with 10-lb braid mainline with an 8lb-test fluorocarbon leader.
This is the rig to reach for when the bass are tight
to snaggy cover in clear water and calm
conditions; places where a dropshot
or finesse jig head rig would easily
snag. Bridge pilings with
snaggy rocks and wood
underneath is a perfect
example where the Cover
Neko hook excels. Another
example is fishing a
submerged roadbed with
heavy weeds on both
sides and rocks on the
shoulders.
CONCLUSION
When Yamamoto first came out with the original Senko, many were slow to adopt it but were quick to regret not doing so. Don’t be “that guy” with the new Ned Senko. Pick your favorite colors from the 17 choices available, and just add water. You will be glad you did. Ciao! •