Neko Rig Fishing: Everything You Need To Know To Catch Bass!

The Neko Rig is a very adaptable technique! We love to power fish in the Fall but this finesse presentations is always on deck! The Neko rig can be fished shallow, deep, or around cover. Its simple to rig, easy to fish, and bass love it! Here's what you need to know about this overlooked technique.
The key to the Neko presentation is the rigging. Once you've got that part dialed, the rest is very simple. Its naturally a very adaptable presentation but with a few simple modifications it becomes even more universal! Today we're covering how we set up the rig, our favorite baits for the presentation, and a few tricks we use to get more bites.
Below you'll find links to all the gear discussed in the video. We've included our favorite colors, sizes, and hooks for each. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item .
SIMPLE NEKO RIGGING COMPONENTS...
Bait- Yamamoto 5" Senko: bit.ly/2axAmNS
Color: Electric Shad, Natural Shad
Weight- Swagger Tackle Pagoda: bit.ly/2iGNSFW
Size: 3/32 oz
Rings- VMC Crossover Ring: bit.ly/3w0NYdz
Size: 7
Hook- Owner Sniper Finesse Weedless: bit.ly/2zXirRH
Size: 1
CROSSOVER PLIERS...
•VMC Crossover Pliers: bit.ly/3ipm9HN
•VMC Crossover Rings: bit.ly/3w0NYdz
UNIQUE SOFT PLASTICS...
•Damiki Stinger Worm 6": bit.ly/3QQrRDv
Colors: Green pumpkin Black
•Missile Baits Quiver Worm: bit.ly/2xehVgx
Color: Hillbilly Magic
•Damiki 3" Armor Shad: bit.ly/2VQ7g6o
Color: American Shad, RB Blue Pearl
TERMINAL BOX...
•Spro Terminal Box: bit.ly/3L9Y03F
TUNGSTEN NAIL WEIGHTS...
•Reins Tungsten Nail: bit.ly/3Qvfv3Z
•Swagger Tackle Pagoda: bit.ly/2iGNSFW
TIM'S NEKO COMBO...
Rod- G Loomis NRX+ 852S JWR: bit.ly/2dX9zjv
Reel- Shimano Exsence A 3000: bit.ly/2iMtscV
Line- Sunline SX1 12 lb Braid: bit.ly/2tn8EzQ
Leader- Sunline Super FC 7 lb: bit.ly/2p7fxju
NEKO RIG BFS COMBO...
Rod- Shimano Expride B 6'8" Light: bit.ly/2nTq9FL
Reel- Shimano Curado BFS (XG): bit.ly/2QGRVF2
Line- Sunline Super FC (6 lb): bit.ly/2p7fxju
BUDGET NEKO RIG COMBO...
Rod- St. Croix Bass X 7'1" Medium: bit.ly/3xi0ren
Reel- Shimano Miravel 3000: bit.ly/3QZnwL5
Line- Sunline Super FC 7 lb: bit.ly/2p7fxju
TACTICALBASSIN LURE DESIGNS (AND APPAREL)
We have a variety of custom lure designs and apparel available! Everything from Swimbaits and crankbaits, to hats and hoodies! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here...
TacticalBassin Lure Designs: bit.ly/38YpPIz
_________________________________________________________________
*MAJOR EQUIPMENT WE USE DAILY...
Trolling Motor- Minn Kota Ultrex 112: bit.ly/2vFQypW
Electronics- Humminbird Solix 15: bit.ly/35HuPRY
Anchors- Minn Kota Talons: bit.ly/2F0QBSP
Camera- GoPro Hero 12: bit.ly/3MwQToy
*FAVORITE TOOLS AND GEAR…
Favorite sunglasses: bit.ly/3cLH0kl
Favorite Pliers: bit.ly/3xJFwTu
Favorite life jacket: bit.ly/2odXXIP
Favorite Scale: bit.ly/2f7QgQ9
Favorite Lure Retriever: bit.ly/2TLTJc6
Favorite Braid Cutters: bit.ly/35KSp3O
Favorite Split Ring Pliers: bit.ly/2fT4Qw0
Favorite Storage Box: bit.ly/3U9y4cl
Favorite Net: bit.ly/3kdZ3kA
________________________________________________________________
If you plan to do any shopping, using our links before doing your shopping at Tackle Warehouse is the single greatest way to support us! You won't be able to even see a difference but they'll know you're one of us!
#bassfishing #neko #finessefishing

[@dennisederer3594]

Excellent presentation today. I never thought of the Neko being used as a reaction bait. Truly inspiring. I struggle with the constant rock snags on a Ned rig. I have a solution. I look forward to my next outing to use this setup since I don’t have much success with crank baits. Casting this presentation is much easier on my shoulder also. Thank you for the never ending insightful training content.

[@greghiday]

Great video Tim. Love the neko rig. Excited to try some the baits you showed. The quiver looks really good.

[@douglasspickler4925]

Great video. Very informative. Thanks for sharing.

[@WaterandIceOutdoors]

This single rig changed bass fishing for me. It’s so damn good.

[@VinceNiergarth]

Thanks guys!

[@geraldbryant2610]

Great information, thanks

[@peterhing3608]

Awesome Video Tim! I am going to try using the home team Canadian brand X Zone Whiplash Shad next season up here in Ontario as it should be very similar to a Zman floating Elasztec type buoyancy. Love the power "finesse" that Neko rigs provide.

[@ryansullivan3081]

I love throwing the Yamamoto psycho dad on this rig. The floating claws are awesome. I’ll also glue a rattle in the cavity in the body of the bait. Kills it.

[@fishing630addictionjcmg4]

Nothing like to wake up end bang new tactical bassin video

[@beavisbrowne3497]

Solid tips

[@midwestfischerman]

I think the two best stickbaits for neko rigging are the Z-Man Bang StickZ, for the buoyancy and durability, and the Yum Dinger, for slight buoyancy but moreover their stiffness that flicks back straight after being tugged, and for their durability and AFFORDABILITY!

[@ericsh8576]

If you use a Bang Stikz then you will have to take a lighter to get the nail weight to stay in the bait.

[@midwestfischerman]

@ericsh8576 I use a hook to start a "pilot hole" for the nail weight. I stab a center hole a few times, then I twist the barb in a circle. After that I can use my skirted VMC Neko Weights with no issue. Z-Man's neko weights also have the metal keeper that's designed for Elaztech.

[@swamp_rat_fla1126]

Don’t leave out the Deps 13” Kincoo Air Worm. 🪱🪱

[@keenanmoore264]

Super stoked for the buyers guides. Love geekin out over gear.

[@brandonmerideth5450]

Headed out tomorrow morning! Saturday with these short days I can’t go Monday through Friday it’s dark when I leave and when I get home. I found a school of fish hopefully they are still there they were in this cove off of the main body it has a bridge on the entrance and the only healthy grass that I have found recently they were so fired up I was reeling in a spoon at full speed and one chased it all the way to the kayak

[@ShaneJMcNair]

Great tips 🍺🎣

[@williamschneider6811]

I use the Berkley bottom hopper year round down here in the Deep South. I adjust the length when I use it in a finesse presentation.

[@robm9181]

I use neko weights all the time and used to lose a lot. I saw someone say to put a bit of mend-it on the weight first. It worked. I rarely lose weights now. The plastic forms around the weight ridges b/c of the mend-it.

[@littlerich2644]

One request for the buyer’s guides-Please make a collection of favorite rod and reel set ups. All of the deep dives, down the rabbit hole and this is the one for (fill in the technique). The explanations you provide are invaluable. Be well my friends

[@dominicgonzales9057]

This dude is tryna get his wife to buy the nice shiii. Lol hell yeah.

[@donpanico7708]

Hey Tim, hadn’t fished the neko much but after watching your video I tied on a big TRD chartreuse and copper. Caught a 4/12 lmb. When you pause the TRD the tail stands straight up and it gives the bait a lot of action.Thanks for the tip.

[@tacticalbassin]

That is Awesome! We love to hear these success stories!

[@bruce3579]

You guys should do a new video showing the best baits for bank fishermen on a major lake

[@danielmcclure6879]

When do you decide between the neko and shaky head. I want to get a lot of confidence in one of the other

[@richardbossman9875]

I’m not them but I have found shakeyheads to be a bit more snagless than the Neko rig

[@timg185]

I would say a skakey head is more snag less in brush piles and the Neko more snag less around rocks.

[@ZhouNiBassin]

Soft cover vs hard cover, grass =neko rig, rock brush pile=shakey head

[@hunternixonfishing2500]

Softer bottom and grass=Neko rig Hard bottom=Shaky Head

[@timg185]

@@hunternixonfishing2500 I actually like a Neko rig on hard bottoms . Especially rip rap or bluff walls. Neko has a faster fall with equal weight and if you use a light weight it doesn’t snag in the rocks much.

[@mattramsey5080]

I got a kitten a month ago and named him neko. Cool cat 😂

[@hector00000100]

The tackle Warehouse Black Friday deal this year sucks lol

[@joegrande4848]

I dont have a ton of lures i use the few basic rigs and multi water colomn lures like crappie jigs a dropshot or the bottom rig with leader and split shot or egg weight. Or with a 7 inch leader with a baitholder hook tied to main line and a small bobber 18 to 20 inches above hook. 😊 by simplifying my fishing I've caught a lot more fish. I use to maybe catch 2 or 3 when I went out. Since I simplified my fishing I'll catch 10 or more fish every trip minimal 5 or 6 minimal. 😊 then a wakebait or kvd splash or buzzbait or a jerkbait mainly lures I now use and do pretty well catching fish and a crappie jig with a grub worm.

[@jimb7304]

Tim, What about the 852 casting? Are the actions close?

[@paulenglish1741]

Iam first Tim!!!

[@taddbednar9957]

I tried the VMC bands per your recommendation. They don't allow the bait to slide up the line like O-Ring does.

[@thunderrooster3643]

The BWWK rig sovles the weedless problem. I would like to know what if any difference is with the BWWK rig and Neko.

[@MuddyMerc]

how do you know what to throw if there are so many techniques to use in the fall? I'm on a super shallow river this year with lots of fish but almost nothing deeper than 5' so the crank seems to work moderately but not enough to consider it a solid pattern. I'm catching lots of fish but not consistently.

[@bassngal3314]

Before the Senko, the wacky rigging we did was basically neko rigging! We had to use a nail weight since the plastic pre senko didn’t sink

[@ILLUMINATHAN79]

If your using the Neko in deeper water would you go with the 872 or keep using the 852? I’m taking about 15ft plus, 1/8 - 1/4 nail weights. Thanks

[@patrickdevereaux4735]

I’m tardy watching this vid…it seems that with the Neko you might want a bait where the tail floats up vs lays on the bottom….acts like a deep water Ned that is more snag proof. Thoughts ?

[@billgaleckas]

What size/brand o-rings/bands do you like for trick worm-size baits?

[@billgaleckas]

Ah, never mind! You answered the question late in the video!

[@tims_always_fishing7117]

Amazon has the 22 bfs aldabaren on sale for less than 300$

[@superbowl5639]

What size crossover for the thin senko

[@joegrande4848]

Another great bottom rig a 7 inch leader with a size 1 baitholder hook. You tie leader with the baitholder to main line. Then, put a moderate sized egg weight 1/10 oz or lightly pinched split shot with a zero z too fluke smoky shad color. Put procure trophy bass and game on. Itll hover just slightly above bottom. Let rig fall pop once it settles then let it settle. Can do this 3 to 5 times. Then slowly reel line a half reel turn repeat. 😊❤ this works great on hot summer days as well. Another great rig a 1/8 oz white crappie jig with a white grub worm and procure trophy bass. Throw jig let it fall 3 seconds retrieve 3 seconds pause 2 seconds. Once you get to 3 seconds raise rod tip let it fall 3 to 4 seconds let it fall repeat 2 to 3 times fish will crush it. Repeat retrieve after 2 to 3 times a 3 to 4 seconds retrieve let crappie jig fall then raise rod tip a couple inches let it fall do this as stated 2 to 3 times. As you raise rod tip you may have a bice smallie or large mouth bass on the jig. It imitates a small baitfish. 😊

[@dietmilk2676]

Are you talking about a dropshot?

[@billgibson9968]

You missed the best neko worm...the Diawa neko fat worm!

[@johntix9414]

So is there no TW 20% off everything on Black Friday?

[@tacticalbassin]

It's a staggered sale with different categories on sale at different times. There's a ton on sale right now 👍🏼

[@ADKyakman]

“Stupid baitfish “ lmao. What’s that even mean? Love your content Timothy. As I’m a very finesse styled angler -fishing the Adirondacks of NY, I’m keyed in on smallies.. I wish you could create some season advice targeted towards northerners, we are not the majority and I understand that’s what your trying to achieve, giving info to the majority, but there’s ALOT of us who’d like to catch MORE smallies, and maybe some videos or tips of us who are already getting snow

[@PsychicPsychToad]

This channel has a thousand video sections targeting smallmouth, do a little research.

[@midwestfischerman]

Look up the video, "The FORGOTTEN Lure You Need To TRY!" that was released on Aug. 25, 2023. Also, these guys make trips every spring up to Lake Michigan. Tactical Bassin smallmouth content is definitely out there, for sure.

[@ArisaemaDracontium]

Agreed. I always have to try to translate video content here to a lake that is probably 10-15 degrees colder than Tim and Matt are fishing in, and which will be frozen solid in a month. It’s also a glacial lake just solid with weeds down to ~13-14’, so can I really use a neko rig this fall, or am I just going to be pulling up weeds all day?

[@Manuel.Mattia]

I'm searching that rings here in Italy but look like impossible to find in all Europe 😢

[@Steve-ev6vx]

You can cut up a small soft plastic tube bait to make rings, just don't use them on the elastec lures, it will dissolve them. You should be able to order some wacky rig rings on line somewhere.

[@txg1275]

Yeah, 4-7mm heat shrink tube will do the same thing if not better! Just a little more work to put them on

[@AllisonBechtel-vf9fz]

BFS buyer’s guide

[@Demolitiondude]

Did neko rig before. Didn't get anything. Same time soft plastics are my bane and only recently been successful with soft plastics.

[@Steve-ev6vx]

When I tried using just the band and not hooking into the worm the fish would grab the worm and pull it out of the O ring and spit it out. I could see the worm just sitting on the bottom.

[@umairfaizuddin3429]

The rings come in a lot of different sizes. Maybe you are using rings that are too big for the worm you’re using?

[@Steve-ev6vx]

@@umairfaizuddin3429 maybe, but they were pretty small on a large sienko. I just started lightly skin hooking the bait under the ring and haven't had it happen again.

[@umairfaizuddin3429]

That’ll do the trick. My issue was that the hook size I was using was wrong for the vmc band. If I skipped it or put any kind of whip motion on my rod tip, the hook would slide around too much. The barb was the only thing stopping the hook from popping out of the hole in the crossover band. Just gotta lock in the correct sizes

[@secretbassrigs]

a finesse version of a shaky head

[@leepao6302]

Surprisely you haven't cover or talk about the "Mid Stroll" technique at all

[@neroxyn7625]

He did. Search something like "new technique" in the channel

[@PistolPete3322]

Silicon sleeves are way better than O rings or crossover bands.

[@CastToCatch]

I love you guys. But sometimes I get seriously bummed when you talk about a new bait I've been doing well with. Because I'll show up to the tourney and everyone has it tied on! Your reach in pretty incredible

[@gslang3489]

Right now = at all times for wack/nail weight. Be careful guys, not all rods/reels are on sale. Especially the higher quality/2023 products. The stuff on sale was already on sale/clearance like 2022 Bass X rods.

[@johnmango6056]

Super disappointed in those 2022 bass x rods…. I’ve had 2 reel seats twist clean off the rod blank while fighting a fish and lost 2 giants…

[@gslang3489]

@johnmango6056 I had two MHFs and two MFs. My dad broke one MF in half getting snagged on a log and replaced it for me (hence the 2nd) and I lost one MHF + a Curado DC HG in a Kayak while filming trying to net a big largemouth. The reel screw downs do seem to come loose easy, the one I lost in a Kayak was super loose but I had got that particular rig snagged a lot on wood so I put a lot of pressure on it. I have to say the Victory Series and the Legend series don't seem to have that issue? So I guess that's where the price comes in and the redesign.

[@johnmango6056]

@@gslang3489 it’s the only line of st. Croix rods I’ve ever had an issue with. Even the original Bass X rods were amazing.

[@jasoncowick2376]

Love you guys and tw but they have absolutely ruined a good thing here. Was waiting all year to place a big Black Friday order. Instead they have this bs segmented crap so you have to make 10 different orders. And of course some of them won’t be enough for free shipping, not to mention the rods sale isn’t until almost Christmas. Just ridiculous. Very disappointed in them. Already missed out on the underspins I was gonna stock up on.

[@twb6821]

Not neeko, necko

[@swamp_rat_fla1126]

Nobody cares dude…..