By now, most ardent bass anglers are aware that the Ned Rig flat-out produces in a variety of conditions, in many cases when no other baits will. One question we get asked frequently (and that we often ask ourselves!) is why a bait as simple, small, and nondescript as the 2.75” Finesse TRD (or half of a 5” ZinkerZ) attracts so many bites. We posed this question to six experts, and here is what they had to say:
Miles Burghoff, California (tournament angler and host of Sweetwater TV-Top Picture)
Bass are extremely opportunistic feeders by nature. They will eat just about anything that they can get in their mouth; however, with today’s increasing fishing pressure and an increase in the popularity of power fishing tactics, bass are more skeptical than ever and in some cases get conditioned to fear larger baits with lots of action. With the TRD, it really has no action, and its diminutive size makes it seem as though it is not a threat, which is why even the pickiest fish fall for it.
Ralph Manns, Texas (In-Fisherman Field Editor and Fisheries Biologist)
This is a very complex subject, but basically, bass only see detail when they have to. Bass are eating machines and will eat almost anything that looks and acts alive and does not exhibit any danger signals that they recognize and have learned to avoid.
The scientists at the Berkley research lab found that after many years of research, any lure that is the approximate shape and size of a human finger, and looks alive, makes the ultimate lure for all sizes of bass; it is the perfect shape and size for them to get into their mouths and is easy for them to swallow.
Travis Myers, West Virginia (avid kayak/river bass angler)
First, while these baits are not extremely lifelike, they do however mimic common forage in terms of length, diameter and movement (subtle undulation). Anyone who has cleaned a lot of bass knows that a great deal of the stomach contents will fall in line with the length and diameter of those two offerings no matter the size of the specimen being cleaned.
Secondly, this offering has no negative cues. What I have always held onto is that it is an easily-gotten meal. There are no flappers, thumpers or appendages to overact nature which is a good thing on most days throughout the country in a variety of waterways.
I’ve always been of the belief that bass aren’t in a frenzied feeding mode very often. It’s great when they are, and those days are remembered for years, but day in and day out it isn’t realistic to expect it, and that’s why these baits work so well on most days.
Glenn Young, South Carolina (Z-Man National Sales Manager and kayak bass angler)
One of the theories I’ve heard as to why the TRD is so effective and that makes sense to me, is that when crawdads molt, they often lose their claws. I think every fish that swims has been hard-wired to recognize that as food. Also, there are no appendages, claws, spines, legs, anything to possibly make a fish think twice about picking it up. Depending on the color, it can match up to a wide range of natural forage from crawdads to large insects to baitfish. I think it’s just generic enough of a shape to look like food to any fish.
Clyde ‘The Guide’ Holscher, Kansas (Fishing Guide)
In an effort to fool one of God’s creatures, In-Fisherman’s age old philosophy must be paramount in our mind: F+L+P= Success – understanding your targeted Fish species seasonal movement, targeting the Location of that species in its environment seasonally, and tailoring your Presentation to that specific species.
70% of freshwater fishes’ diets are invertebrates and crustaceans. The half ZinkerZ and TRD not only have the shape, size and texture of each fish’s primary diet, but Z-Man’s color selections emulate invertebrates and crustacean throughout the changing seasons.
In my mind, most importantly as a fishing guide, clients’ success is my number one motivation. The Ned Rig with an ElaZtech bait coupled with my boat location can guarantee each client an opportunity for 100+ bites daily; how they respond to those bites takes patience and concentration. We are NOT offering the fish a double cheeseburger, but merely a tasty morsel!
Drew Reese, Kansas (former Bassmaster Classic competitor, avid bass angler and bait designer)
The craw is a staple for all fish including the bass. This is why the jig and frog was one of the first lures I fished and was a mainstay when I fished tournaments over fifty years ago. Today, lots of tournaments are still being won on jig and frog because the craw is a staple of their diet.
From a bass’ perspective not all craws are created equal. The larger the craw the more bass look for molting craws with no or extremely soft shells as they digest faster and easier than a large craw with a hard shell. All species of fish love the smaller craws, and even big bass will not pass up a smaller craw that comes by and is easy to catch.
I read a study from Berkley’s lab several years ago about bass’ preference for craws with NO pinchers and legs over craws with pinchers and legs. A TRD on a ShroomZ head sits at a 45 to 70 degree angle on the bottom and looks just like a no-pincher, no-leg craw trying to defend itself. Coupled with the softness of ElaZtech that makes it feel like a molting craw, this explains it success.