I am curious why MidWest Ned Rig users often rely on using a RED color jighead (i.e. Gopher , Finesse ShroomZ , etc. ) for their Ned Rigs  ?  Please detail water conditions or other details why / where / when a red color Ned Rig jighead is most productive ?  ...Thanks in advance !!

 

* Here in the SouthEast - Green Pumpkin (by a wide margin) is the most popular finesse jighead color followed by Brown / PB&J  and then Black ...

In all likelihood, its either because:

1. Bass see red and go nuts, as if its bleeding or something (ala KVD);

or

2. Because red is invisible to bass and they can't see that metal jighead attached to the yummy looking worm (ala Cajun fishing line.)

I know red is the first color to disappear at depth - maybe local KS / MO guys (T9 or Basser66) can shed some light on why red is a popular Ned Rig Jighead color ?

People convince themselves of any number of reasons. Find yours and pick whatever you think will work best- you'll feel most confident throwing it and that's all that really matters IMO.

So Z-man can charge $4.99 for a 5-pack.

because you were already buying black, green pumpkin and chartreuse.... just needing a little convincing to buy the red is all.....

I don't fish the red ones, but I know a lot of guys do. I'm transitioning to all unpainted heads, it's such a tiny piece of lead that I don't feel it will make a difference. I have a bunch of the ones I poured still in either watermelon red flake, candy purple, or hot pink. I really haven't noticed a difference in the number of strikes on any color or unpainted, it just saves a ton of time and effort to fish the unpainted heads. 

Thanks for the replies - I'm trying out a new MidWest Finesse rig by VMC called the "WingDing" in 1/16th oz. #4 hook which comes in a number of colors (with all red being one of them) ... If no overwhelming evidence to support why red would be a must have jighead color for Ned Rig / MidWest Finesse tactics then I will treat it like any other non - green pumpkin jighead color

I am curious why MidWest Ned Rig users often rely on using a RED color jighead (i.e. Gopher , Finesse ShroomZ , etc. ) for their Ned Rigs  ?  Please detail water conditions or other details why / where / when a red color Ned Rig jighead is most productive ?  ...Thanks in advance !!

 

* Here in the SouthEast - Green Pumpkin (by a wide margin) is the most popular finesse jighead color followed by Brown / PB&J  and then Black ...

 

Red is one of several colors Midwest Finesse anglers use, but it wasn't always that way. The red hue came about after Ned Kehde spent a day in the boat with Shin Fukae while Fukae was practicing on Beaver Lake for an FLW event. Shin went on to win that event, and Ned noticed that Fukae painted all his jigheads red using his wife's fingernail polish. He also used it to add red dots to many of his hard plastics (jerkbaits, etc). Shin is also responsible in part for the "shake" in many of the Midwest Finesse retrieves.

 

There is also the fact that Elaztech doesn't take dye well, so using bright red, chartreuse, blue or other colored jigheads is our workaround for that.

 

You can read more from Ned on the subject at: http://www.in-fisherman.com/bass/short-history-chartreuse-red-midwest-finesse-jigs/

 

-T9

Thanks T-9 !!

That certainly sheds light on the subject - the Fukae secret exposed (lol) !

While researching the topic I came across one of your locals (Winkie Doodles) who does some

pretty nifty paint jobs to his finesse jigheads using nail polish .

Good comments on ElaZtech material not taking dye very well - that only leaves the jighead for adding any additional color .

I don't think it matters.. The guy who pours heads for me makes them in any color I want. I've gone to the unpainted heads after using green pumpkin and brown and I haven't seen any difference at all..In fact had a great day on Table Rock last week on the unpainted.

So, if Shin Fukae is being credited for the red head, should we call it Far-East Finesse or just stick w Midwest?? 

Further research indicates there are two (2) colors of red which are most prominent on a jig head :

- Blood Red

- Hot Red

 

Not sure which color red Fukae used - any thoughts there (T9 ?)

Further research indicates there are two (2) colors of red which are most prominent on a jig head :

- Blood Red

- Hot Red

 

Not sure which color red Fukae used - any thoughts there (T9 ?)

 

Shin was painting his with nail polish, and from the picture, it appears to be a more darker pearlized finish. That would be more similar to blood red in the Gopher lineup. Personally, I use "hot red" which I believe is a newer name for what used to be called fluorescent red. If I'm not using black or unpainted, then it's because I want something that stands out, and that is flo. red and chartreuse most times. Those 4 colors of jigheads comprise 80% of all my mushroom head jigs I use with MF.

 

-T9

 

Awesome T9 - great detail !!

By chance today at lunch I talked to an old timer who believes a touch of red (as in red nail polish on a 1/32nd or 1/16th oz. jig head) could signify flared gills - which is either a defensive posture or a sign of being wounded which could increase your chances of getting bit . I will experiment by trying to find Shin's red pearl and a hot red nail polish at my local WM . I also use CS Pro-Tec Powder Paints for jig heads and I observed they have a few different reds to offer as well . I already use their chartreuse , black , green pumpkin  and white powder paints with good success .

Awesome T9 - great detail !!

By chance today at lunch I talked to an old timer who believes a touch of red (as in red nail polish on a 1/32nd or 1/16th oz. jig head) could signify flared gills - which is either a defensive posture or a sign of being wounded which could increase your chances of getting bit . I will experiment by trying to find Shin's red pearl and a hot red nail polish at my local WM . I also use CS Pro-Tec Powder Paints for jig heads and I observed they have a few different reds to offer as well . I already use their chartreuse , black , green pumpkin  and white powder paints with good success .

If you have a Harbor Freight nearby they sell 1lb containers of red powder paint for the same price as 2oz of Pro-tech powder paint, just FYI. I use their flat black, white, and red.

I've never used a painted jig head.

Bluebasser86 : Good tip on the Harbor Freight ! Yes , I have a location near me .

My daughter became interested in this thread and by looking at Fukae's jighead painted with finger nail polish - she I.D'd the color as a : true blood , red metallic or red shimmer color . She has a few of each to choose from and they are close to what Fukae used . Since we are only talking about 1/16th oz. jigheads smaller than a finger nail  - I will experiment and see how it goes ... I'd just as soon NOT become an expert in I.D'ing various shades of finger nail polish if I can help it