FS Digest

I’m hooking smaller fish (.5 lbs) and at least 6 or 7 of them have gotten off in the last couple days. Using a medium fast action dobyns fury spinning rod. I have my rod pointed high for sensitivity and then pull back and try to keep pressure while reeling when I feel a bite. Most of them have jumped and shaken me off. Is it my technique or rod or the smaller fish that the Ned rig is catching?

Blindman Loc: Wisconsin

I never caught a fish that small using a ned rig. It's possible that fish I lost were too small for the bait. Who knows. It's easy to say but try catching bigger fish.

Mike

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Face it. You just lost the fight. I fish sole and sand dabs with a ned rig like set up. I catch my 15 fish limit most days, so the bite is clearly consistent. I say this just as a preface to my catch lose scenario. There are times I will get 6 or 8 fish in a row and times I will have six or eight fish come off in a row when they seamed hooked solid. I have tried different hook sizes, head weights, and molded different types of hooks into the jig. I find the same to be true when the current is running and I just have a hook tied finesse style above a weight. I think the only real way to answer your question is to have a video of all your hook ups at fish level. That ain't going to happen. Just enjoy fighting your fish. If it was harvesting them, it would lose it's fun. Just a side note: I have on occasion forgotten to bend down the barb (my bad). I found little difference in the catch vs. hook up ratio. I have switched to xl shank hooks and it cuts the swallowd hooks way down. I cant figure out why.

Jwid Loc: Lake Killarney, Ironton, MO

When they jump you have to keep the line tight and the pole tip down quickly. At least that’s what I know. Someone correct me if I’m wrong.

racewalker26 Loc: Denham Springs LA

Check the barb on your shroom jighead. It may be completely worn or missing. I lost 3 fish on the retrieve on the Ned rig until I changed it out. Also because the hook is thin it can bend you may be getting weak hooksets. This is a major complaint I hear about the Ned rig, that of losing fish.

finschasers69 Loc: taylor co. w.v.

yes use a heavier jig with a thicker hook also stay away from standard mono stretches too much for a solid hook set go to fluorocarbon or straight braid or braid with a 12 in. fluorocarbon leader

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

You are spot on and I always set drag light on Neds. The hooks are fragile and can be easily bent under pressure. Also I think lighter drag loads the rod up in the “Goldilocks” zone. Just enough pressure to keep enough tension on the fish , but not so much to tear fishes mouth or straighten hook bend