With all the success I’ve been having this season after learning the Neko Rig here is a video showing how to use it, where to use it, and why it works so well! Seriously, I haven’t thrown anything else in 3 weeks it catches the fish so well!
I’ve seen different opinions on which direction—toward the head or tail—to point the hook. Looks like you point it toward the head. Ive always pointed it towards the the tail. I don’t know if it makes much difference. What do you think?
Nice vid! And best of all, the fish kept getting bigger and bigger. Good point about the Ned – it definitely has its place but a 2.5 inch TRD can really attract the little peckers and panfish at times. In fact, I started out fishing the Neko with 5-6 inch worms, but have upsized mostly to 7-8 inch now and using baitcasting equipment.
All in all, Neko is very versatile and a great way to fish!
Nice video! I’ll have to keep an eye out for your boat when I’m out, although we’ve been going out on Big Marine mostly as it’s just not quite as busy as some of the other lakes around here.
what type of weight do you use? I’d like to try this, but I might just start with actual nails or screws instead of buying specialized weights.
And you like the Z-Man big turd?
I’ve seen different opinions on which direction—toward the head or tail—to point the hook. Looks like you point it toward the head. Ive always pointed it towards the the tail. I don’t know if it makes much difference. What do you think?
I’ve tried both ways and haven’t noticed any difference in hook up ratio. Both directions seemed to have good hook ups.
Nice video! I’ll have to keep an eye out for your boat when I’m out, although we’ve been going out on Big Marine mostly as it’s just not quite as busy as some of the other lakes around here.
what type of weight do you use? I’d like to try this, but I might just start with actual nails or screws instead of buying specialized weights.
And you like the Z-Man big turd?
I use the VMC nail weights. I bury them about an 1/8 of an inch deeper into the worm and put super glue over it but I’ve gotten lazy and not used glue and the nails have stayed in place on multiple catches. I use the 1/16 oz primarily but know many people use screws with good success as well.
Unfortunately the video told me nothing about what specifically the Neko Rig is. What sets it apart from a wacky rig?
Is there a special hook used?
Someone mentioned a nail weight – what/where is that used?
I’d have liked to see the action set up properly.
Looks like it catches fish for sure, I just have no idea how to set it up.
This video helped with the setup –
Unfortunately the video told me nothing about what specifically the Neko Rig is. What sets it apart from a wacky rig?
Is there a special hook used?
Someone mentioned a nail weight – what/where is that used?
I’d have liked to see the action set up properly.Looks like it catches fish for sure, I just have no idea how to set it up.
This video helped with the setup –
<div class=”ido-oembed-wrap”><iframe title=”How To set up a Neko Rig” width=”850″ height=”478″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/zi8fa9LmWnc?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen=””></iframe></div>
Yeah self admittedly I left that out without realizing it until editing…. 
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Sodaksam wrote:</div>
I’ve seen different opinions on which direction—toward the head or tail—to point the hook. Looks like you point it toward the head. Ive always pointed it towards the the tail. I don’t know if it makes much difference. What do you think?I’ve tried both ways and haven’t noticed any difference in hook up ratio. Both directions seemed to have good hook ups.
Here’s a new video I came across that addresses the hook up/down issue… although not all pros agree with the conclusion (i.e. Iaconelli)
Nice! Good info.
In case anyone was curious, and for future reference for people that see this thread, here is my follow up video on rigging the Neko. Also all the gear I use from my rod and reel to which hooks and plastics.
Curious if anyone is having luck with Neko in the Fall? As fish transition a little deeper Neko can work but so far has been hit/miss for me. Size of worm and depth make a difference in Fall… just looking for the right pattern..
I haven’t. Haven’t been out in a couple weeks for bass but the last few times I wasn’t getting anything. I started using size 1 neko hooks instead of 2s and I think I’m going to go back to the 2s. My numbers went down quite a bit with the 1s. Hoping to get out in the next couple days and try and figure out where the fish are again.
Can’t imagine it wouldn’t work this time of year.
Got out today for a couple hours while my daughter napped. Mostly tested out my new steering cables but caught a few small bass on docks and then went out to a main lake point to throw the Neko. Caught three bass with this tanker being the best one. Was taking runs like a northern. Was shocked it was a bass! Still in 25 ft of water with water temps in the high 60s.
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Nice!
Gave Neko a solid shot yesterday in 57 degree temps. No bites again. Still the best post-spawn lure I used this past year, but after July… it definitely tapered off..
But I will have my Neko hooks sharpened up and ready for Spring again!!
Seem to like big, thick and heavy as the season goes on-cranks, punch, frog, football.
I was catching SMBs on Pepin in about a foot of water fishing with jigs. Action was ok-lost all of my light jigs to snags so I put on a much heavier jig, action really picked up, was it the faster fall, the louder landing?
Seem to like big, thick and heavy as the season goes on-cranks, punch, frog, football.
I was catching SMBs on Pepin in about a foot of water fishing with jigs. Action was ok-lost all of my light jigs to snags so I put on a much heavier jig, action really picked up, was it the faster fall, the louder landing?
When the water is cooling like it is now and the fish are feeding up for the Winter, reaction baits will be the ticket. Once it gets into the 50’s and below for water temps the finesse techniques come back into play. That being said, I’ve caught a couple pigs on the neko over the last week.
My daughter bought me some Powerbait Flute Worms for Christmas. Looks like a killer Neko worm… anyone used one?
C’mon Spring get here..!
I haven’t. But I saw Iaconnelli posted a video about them a few months ago and I thought the exact same thing!
Did he say he caught a “Giant” with it? Haha, it does look good for either Neko or shakey head. I got the 5.7 inch and might try them out in FLA this winter??
The flute worm is definitely a fish catcher on a Neko. That pointed tail is like a spring bobber bouncing around with the slightest movement. The blunt head is nice for putting a nail weight in, especially if you use lead rather than tungsten.
But the worm that really surprised me as a great neko option was the Straight Money worm that Skeet Reese designed. The plastic is somewhat stiffer and it doesn’t fold over when on the bottom. I might not be explaining that well but there’s a few videos on Berkley’s website and on TackleWarehouse that show what I’m trying to explain.
The flute worm is definitely a fish catcher on a Neko. That pointed tail is like a spring bobber bouncing around with the slightest movement. The blunt head is nice for putting a nail weight in, especially if you use lead rather than tungsten.
But the worm that really surprised me as a great neko option was the Straight Money worm that Skeet Reese designed. The plastic is somewhat stiffer and it doesn’t fold over when on the bottom. I might not be explaining that well but there’s a few videos on Berkley’s website and on TackleWarehouse that show what I’m trying to explain.
Interesting, would you say one is better for Neko and the other for shakey head?
Sounds REALLY nice for a shakey head.
Personally speaking, I think the flute worm will be better on a shakey head rather than a neko, but I’ve had such limited use with each that it’s strictly an opinion based on two months of use, and those two months weren’t during prime neko season. So it’s really tough to give it a solid yes or no. Like a shakey, it’s a serious contender to throw on a jig worm too.
But I’ll say it again, something about that straight money worm has worked its way into #1 on my neko list.
The Neko rig obsession continues. Daiwa has a full line of Neko worms and I just picked up the Neko Macho and it looks SO good. Hope it produces as good as it looks. I didn’t have much success with the Neko rig this spring so I’m really looking forward to the fish moving out on the weedlines again so I can start hammering them with this rig.
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Pretty cool bait but I graduated from largemouth bass fishing about 40 years ago.
I haven’t caught a single bass on a finesse soft plastic presentation yet this spring. Every fish I’ve caught has been on a moving lure. I have given slower presentations considerable amount of time too.
Yep, not quite Neko season yet but as we get post-spawn it will be prime time 
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