A popular finesse tactic for garnering bites when the fishing is tough, the Neko Rig requires a specific setup for the best performance possible. Here, Bassmaster pro Bob Downey, gives us a rundown on his setup for Neko rig fishing.
Bob's rod is a St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass spinning rod in a 7'3" Medium, Extra Fast to have enough power yet a quick enough tip to impart great action on the bait. A #1 VMC Neko Hook is used, tied to an 8-10 fluorocarbon leader with 8-10lb braided main line spooled on a Daiwa Tatula LT spinning reel.
As far as baits go, almost any style of soft plastic will work, but Bob prefers finesse worm-style baits, such as the Zoom Mag Finesse Worm or the Zoom Mag Trick Worm. A VMC Crossover ring keeps the hook and worm together as a single unit and a VMC Neko Weight inserted in the head of the worm rounds out the Neko Rig as a deadly finesse bassin' presentation.
