Legendary Alamaba bass pro Matt Herren proves you can teach an old dog new tricks! Herren showcases the power of the Neko rig for offshore fishing on Texas’s famed Sam Rayburn Reservoir during the summer heat. He explains how to locate bass using a combination of mapping, 2D sonar, and forward-facing sonar while covering some Neko rig specifics.
FEATURED PRODUCT (retail links)
- PLASTIC – Zoom Magnum Trick Worm: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- HOOK – Owner Sniper Finesse Neko Hook, size – 1/0: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- WEIGHT – Neko rig nail weight: Check out Neko Rig Gear at Bass Pro Shops
- ROD – Kistler Z Bone 4 MH Medium-Heavy Fast, 7′: Check out at Kistler
- REEL – Daiwa Certate Spinning Reel (legacy): Check out Current Certate at Daiwa
- LINE (braided mainline) – YGK G-Soul SS112 Sinking Braided Line Yellow: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- LINE (fluorocarbon leader) – Gamma Edge Fluorocarbon Line, 12-pound: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
WHY THE NEKO RIG WORKS
The Neko rig is a versatile and effective method for offshore fishing. In this video, Herren uses a straight-tail worm rigged with a 3/32-ounce nail weight and a rubber band, which he calls a “Bubba Neko rig.” This setup is perfect for targeting largemouth bass around deep, offshore structures. Herren highlights the importance of the worm’s fall through the water column, which triggers the suspended bass to follow it to the bottom and strike.
ELECTRONICS & BOAT SETUP
- TROLLING MOTOR – Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- FISH FINDERS (console) – Humminbird SOLIX 12 CHIRP MEGA SI+ G3 Fish Finder/GPS Chartplotter: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- FISH FINDERS (bow) – Humminbird APEX 13 MEGA SI+ Fishfinder/Chartplotter: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- 360 SONAR – Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- LIVE SONAR – Humminbird MEGA Live Imaging Transducer: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- MAPPING – Humminbird LakeMaster Premium VX Digital Map Chart Card (Great Lakes): Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Humminbird
- SHALLOW WATER ANCHORS – Minn Kota Raptor, 8′: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- BASS BOAT – Skeeter FXR 20: Check out at Skeeter
OPTIMAL GEAR AND SETUP
The rod setup consists of a typical 7-foot medium-power rod with a 3000-size spinning reel spooled with a braided mainline to fluorocarbon leader. He emphasizes the simplicity of the setup, which provides the sensitivity and power needed for detecting subtle bites and handling fish of all sizes.
LOCATING FISH WITH ELECTRONICS
Herren relies heavily on advanced fish finder technology to locate and target offshore bass. He uses Lakemaster mapping to identify deep flats adjacent to the main river channel. Next, Herren scans these areas with forward-facing sonar to locate schools of fish positioned high in the water column. By casting through these schools, he ensures the worm falls naturally through the fish, maximizing his chances of a bite.
STRATEGY AND TECHNIQUE
During the video, Herren discusses his strategy of fishing from shallow to deep, a technique he prefers when bass are suspended rather than bottom-oriented. He demonstrates how to read the fish’s movements on his electronics and adjust his casting accordingly. Herren’s methodical approach and attention to detail are key to his success in offshore fishing.
