The Neko rig has taken the bass fishing world by storm, and has proven to be an effective finesse tactic when bass get tight-lipped. With multiple unique components, choosing the right hook, weight, worm, and band size can be challenging for new anglers. Bassmaster Elite Series angler Bob Downey is no stranger to the Neko rig and is here to share how to select the right Neko rig components.
Regarding hooks, Bob likes a #1 VMC Neko hook or a #1 Weedless VMC Neko hook if fishing around cover such as vegetation or wood. As far as bait selection goes, the options are limitless, but Bob recommends a straight tail worm, such as the Zoom Magnum Finesse Worm, Reaction Innovations Flirt Worm, or any finesse-style worm. Weight selection is generally on the lighter side, where you insert a weight into the head of the worm. 1/16 oz is a middle-of-the-road option that works well in both shallow or deep conditions, but VMC offers their Neko Weight in multiple sizes to best suit the depth and wind on any given day.
Lastly, VMC Crossover Rings are crucial for saving baits and weights and slide over the worm using VMC's Crossover Pliers. VMC Crossover Rings come in a variety of sizes from 4mm to 8mm in diameter in three colors, suitable for a wide variety of finesse worm sizes.
A final tip is to always have the point of your hook pointed upwards, thus reducing your odds of hanging up in brush, vegetation, other forms of cover.
