Westernbass Magazine - FREE Bass Fishing Tips And Techniques - Spring 2016, Page 19

Westernbass Magazine - FREE Bass Fishing Tips And Techniques - Spring 2016, Page 19

ACCESSORIZING — NOT JUST A FASHION THING

For Bassmaster Elite Series pro John Murray, a simple addition to a classic finesse rig dramatically improves the performance, just like the right belt, bag or bracelet will spice up the ensemble.

In short form, the Neko rig is basically a nail-weighted wacky rig; but that simple adjustment of sticking a little shard of tungsten in the bait’s head creates a unique appearance that fish can’t resist — especially when the bite becomes challenging.

“The main reason I’d throw the Neko rig over other techniques is that the fishing has gotten tough,” he said. “If you have highly pressured fish, a lot of people out fishing, that’s when I’d go with that rig instead of a shaky head or dropshot.

“There’s a lot less weight and hook. It’s just a smaller profile and a more natural look.”

As Murray points out, the Neko rig boasts a couple of clear benefits:

Diversity: “You’re limited only by your imagination. The plastic bait could be anything — a craw, a lizard, a worm, a (soft stick bait). It’s usually a pretty small hook — a No. 1 or 1/0 — and about a 1/4-ounce nail

weight, but the bait is open to

whatever you want to try.”

Different Look: “The way

it falls to the bottom; it sort

of glides, as opposed to just

plummeting down like a jig or a

football head. If you ever see

a crawdad come up off the

bottom, they just glide back

down.

“That’s a big key, the way

the Neko rig falls through the

water column. When you

move it across the bottom,

it has a totally different

action. It creates a little puff

every time you lift it up. It’s not dragging across the mud or silt — it’s just a different look than a normal worm.”

ASSORTED APPLICATIONS

Murray shared his top-3 uses for a Neko rig:

DEEP WATER SMALLMOUTH OR SPOTTED BASS

SPRING 2016

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