The Neko rig took the fishing industry by storm about 5-6 years ago.
And around that same time, it became one of my absolute favorite finesse setups.
The Neko rig has won countless tournaments in recent years and is a must have in your arsenal. So let’s break down Neko rig bass fishing.
The Neko rig is a finesse bass rig that stays on the bottom and moves like a wacky rig mixed with a shaky head.
The Neko rig setup is actually very simple. Just take your favorite soft plastic worm, stick a nail weight in the the thick end, and hook it through the middle.
Insert the hook with the point sticking upwards so that the rig is a bit more snagless and hooks the bass in the top of the mouth, right where you want it.
I usually hook the worm about 1/3 of the way up the worm. Feel free to play around with your hook insertion point.
The higher your hook is, the less action the Neko rig will have. And the lower your hook is, the more action the Neko rig will have.
The Neko rig does look and move a lot like the classic wacky rig.
In fact, the Neko rig started as a wacky rig variation to get the worm down deeper.
The main difference between the two rig is the nail weight.
The nail weight that goes into one end of the Neko rigged worm causes the rig to sink quickly, stay on the bottom, and sit vertically in the water instead of horizontally.
The other difference between these rigs is the way you hook the worm.
On a wacky rig, the hook is inserted perpendicular to the worm.
But with the Neko rig, the hook is inserted parallel to the worm.
The Neko rig is a finesse rig. This means you can pretty much use it all year round.
It will work from January 1st all the way to December 31st. The Neko rig works very well on pressured fisheries when most other guys are power fishing.
And even most of the guys who are finesse fishing are throwing Ned rigs or Drop shots.
So the Neko rig gives those pressured bass something unique. I also love Neko rig fishing during the hot summer months.
Bass will go out deeper and get glued to the bottom. A standard wacky rig sinks far too slowly to get down to these bass.
The subtle Neko rig excels during tuff fishing scenarios. From the dog days of summer to the freezing winters.
When the bite gets tuff, the Neko rig is one of the best ways to put bass in the boat.
Again, you can pretty much fish finesse setups like the Neko rig just about anywhere.
But the biggest advantage of the Neko rig is that it can get down to deeper depths and stay on the bottom.
Ledges, points, and even deep, open water are great places to throw the Neko rig.
With that being said, I love using this setup in creek channels and small ponds where all the water is fairly shallow.
So don’t limit your Neko rig fishing to any one area. Just tie it on and have some fun.
This is probably the most important part about fishing the Neko rig. This rig is meant to be retrieved with a tight line the whole time.
You should never let slack in your line. Slack will cause the worm to fall over on it’s side and lose a bit of it’s appeal.
Also, it can sometimes be a bit hard to detect a bite with finesse baits in the deeper water areas.
So maintaining tension on your line the whole time allows you feel even the small, subtle bites.
The actual retrieve is going to be a slow shake and drag. Shake your rod tip to slowly pull the Neko rig along the bottom.
You can also give small, swooping drags with your rod a few times per cast.
Just remember to keep maintain line tension and fish the bait slow enough to keep it on the bottom.
You’re going to be fishing the Neko rig on a spinning setup.
As with other finesse rigs, a spinning rod and reel are much better for the lighter and more subtle fishing technique.
I like a 7′ medium or medium-heavy rod. You want a fast tip for the extra sensitivity.
And your rod should have some backbone so that you can drive the hook in the the bass’ mouth on the lighter line.
Although the Neko rig is primarily a finesse setup, I do occasionally change this a bit.
During the post-spawn and summer months, I will sometimes upsize my Neko rig.
Instead of a stick bait or finesse worm, I switch to a magnum worm or magnum fluke.
Then I’ll upsize my hook and nail weight as well. With this setup, I like a 7′-7’2″ medium-heavy action baitcasting setup.
The magnum worm and heavy nail weight are just too much for a finesse, spinning setup.
What the heck is the chicken rig? I am sure that’s what you’re thinking.
Essentially, the chicken rig is a weedless version of the Neko rig.
The most popular Neko hooks come with a wire or plastic weed guard, but those don’t work very well in heavy brush or grass.
Those hooks work great in sparse cover, but snag easily when getting in the thick stuff.
The Chicken rig is a way to make the Neko rig fully weedles so you can fish it anywhere.
It is a bit hard to explain how to set it up, so I thought the following video would do a better job than just my words.
Also Read: 6 Best Neko Rig Baits
Finesse worms are my personal favorite Neko rig bait. They have the more action that the other baits.
Their thin body and bulbous tail move like crazy as you shake it around.
The finesse worm is perfect for clearer water fishing, or if you are targeting smallmouth and spotted bass.
Stick worm style baits were the first baits that guys were rigging on the Neko rig.
They wanted to get these baits a bit deeper when wacky rigging them, and the Neko rig was born.
Stick bait style worms are thicker, have a bit less action, and a bit more drawing power. I usually use these more in stained to muddy water.
Fluke or minnow style plastics are not as popular, but trust me, they work like crazy.
They have a much more natural profile that mimics specific baitfish that the bass are feeding on.
During the fall season, when bass are honing in on baitfish, the fluke style plastics seem to out perform all others.
The Neko rig has been a game changer for finesse bass fishing, becoming a must-have for anglers.
Its simplicity, versatility, and unique bottom-hugging action make it highly effective.
Ideal for year-round use and tough conditions, mastering the Neko rig can enhance your fishing success.
With the right gear and technique, this rig is a valuable addition to any angler’s toolkit.
