I need some advice - thank you in advance!

 

I was out today and found a few fish interested in a ned rig. The problem, however, was that the fish were right up against cypress roots or inside sticky structure, which made fishing a ned rig tough. Lots of snags. I think I spent half the time re-tying. I didn't have any weedless ned heads, mostly because I never found them very weedless and always felt like things slowed down whenever I used them.

 

I noticed that a cast into the right spot resulted in a quick bite or a bite after a few minor drags or twitches, but only once it was down on the bottom (about 6-8 ft) which made me wonder if I could adjust the ned technique with its exposed hook?

 

I tried Texas-rigging the ned worm I was using (roboworm ) with a small pegged bullet weight but it just looked....really goofy. I played around with it on a shallow spot and it looked weird in the water. It suspended really weirdly which makes me think ned worms are designed to maybe have a jig head on them?

 

What would you all do to target these fish? I was thinking a weightless 3 inch senko with a 1/0 EWG, or maybe weedless wacky? Senkos sink so I figure it would shimmy down there eventually. I don't own anything in that profile (I didn't even know they existed until I found them on TW) so before buying something I was hoping I could solicit some opinions on here.

A pegged bullet weight using a Roboworm Ned worm isn’t a Ned rig. 

Suggest trying a weightless 5” Senko wacky rigged using Owners Weedless wacky Jungle hook size 1.

Another option is a Slinko 5 1/2 inch on a 1/8 oz weedless Block bead jig.

Tom 

Always weightless around cypress. I can’t even flip a jig into them without losing several 

 

ned rig in cypress, might as well just toss your wallet into the drink 

 

5/0 hook, no sinker, purple stick worm and 65 lb braid . skips like a dream 

I fish half stick worms on Texas jigs . They have the bullet weight molded on an offset hook .  Dont remember who made the ones I use  , I know Owner makes one .

Charlie Brewer spider head...

I’d start with what @TnRiver46 is throwing or maybe a trick worm.  Go smaller if the fish want you to.

 

9 hours ago, patx said:

I was thinking a weightless 3 inch senko with a 1/0 EWG, or maybe weedless wacky?

Good option but 1/0 EWG is to small for a 3 inch Senko IMHO.

I take a 6" BPS Stiko and cut it in half, and then rig it weightless with a 1/0, or 2/0 size hook.  BPS sells a 3" version, but it is only about as thick as a wooden pencil.  The Stiko is harder than a Senko and tends to hold up a little longer when I drag it through the brush.

3" BPS Sticko on a 1/0 EWG weightless 

Tiny Child Rig/ Ned-O (Ned/Neko) rig was fairly popular here a year or two ago. Just put a small nail weight in one end of the Ned bait and use a small #1 or #2 wide gap hook on the other end.  You can always upsize to say a 4” bait to accommodate a bigger hook in the aught size.  Traditional plastics will be easier to rig vs Elaztec

 

Use the Owner Blockhead jig heads

 

I use the 16oz and the hook up ratio is nearly perfect