In this video, professional angler Jared Lintner shares some valuable tips on how to target prespawn spotted bass using a Ned rig. Lintner, fishing on Lake Lanier, explains how spotted bass congregate in specific areas during the prespawn period, making it a prime time for anglers to catch these aggressive fish.
Featured Tackle
- NED PLASTIC – Roboworm NED Worm: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- JIGHEAD – Lunker City Ned Head, 1/16-ounce: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- TUBE – Yamamoto Fat Ika: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
- WEIGHT – Nail Weight, 3/64-ounce: Shop Nail Weights as Bass Pro Shops
- HOOK – Eagle Claw TroKar Pro-V Finesse Hook, size 1: Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
- CENTERING-PIN – Owner TwistLock Centering-Pin Spring: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- ROD – Daiwa Tatula Elite AGS Spinning Rod, 7’4″ Medium: Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
- REEL – Daiwa Certate LT Spinning Reel, size 3000: Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
- LINE (braid) – Sunline Overwatch Braided Line, 12-pound: Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
- LINE (leader) – Sunline Super FC Sniper Fluorocarbon, 10-pound: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
Targeting Prespawn Spotted Bass
Prespawn spotted bass tend to stage on secondary points and shallow areas before moving to their spawning grounds. Lintner identifies key spots such as submerged humps and points, where these fish set up shop. These locations are ideal for finesse presentations like the Ned Rig. Lintner emphasizes the importance of patience as the fish move in and out of these staging areas.
Using The Ned Rig Effectively
Lintner explains how to use the Ned rig to target prespawn spotted bass successfully. He recommends letting it fall naturally to the bottom after a long cast. In clear water, spotted bass often strike as the bait descends, so allowing the bait to fall naturally is crucial. Once it hits the bottom, Lintner uses subtle movements, shaking the slack in the line. This technique mimics the natural behavior of prey and makes it irresistible to fish.
Additional Techniques For Success
Along with the Ned rig, Lintner shares his go-to (or maybe top-secret) bait for fishing prespawn conditions: the Yamamoto Fat Ika. He emphasizes using a TroKar finesse hook and a small CPS pin to secure the bait for better presentation and hook-up ratios. By making long casts and letting the bait fall naturally, the Fat Ika performs similarly to the Ned, attracting both spotted bass and largemouth.
Boat Setup
- BOAT – Vexus VXs21: Check out at Vexus
- OUTBOARD – Mercury Pro XS 250hp: Check out at Mercury
- TROLLING MOTOR – Garmin Force Trolling Motor: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- GRAPHS – Garmin ECHOMAP Ultra 2 126sv Fish Finder/Chartplotter with Navionics+: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
• FISH FINDER – Garmin GPSMAP 8616 16″: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse