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Get on the Ned rig for big perch

The lure you must try this winter!

by Jonathan Longden |

Updated on25th February 2026 at 10.09am

Big perch share a lot of similarities with American smallmouth bass in the way they feed, especially when they are hunting tight to the bottom and pinning prey in short, sharp bursts. That is why a simple US competition tactic has translated so well over here. The Ned rig was built for pressured fish that have seen everything, and in recent seasons it has become one of the most reliable ways of nicking proper stripeys.

The whole trick is buoyancy. Ned-style plastics are made from a material that wants to float, so when you mount one on a small jig head and it hits the deck, it does not just lie flat on the bottom. It stands bolt upright, which is exactly what a feeding baitfish or worm looks like when it is rooting around on the bottom. Even when you are doing next to nothing with the rod, the lure still looks alive.

THE BEST LURE FISHING RODS ARE IDEAL FOR WORKING A NED RIG.

Fishing the ned rig

Most anglers get the best from a simple twitch, twitch, pause. Cast it, let it sink on a tight line, and as soon as you feel it touch down, start working it with short flicks. You want the jig to shuffle and kick the bottom. Each twitch puffs a little silt and makes the lure look like it is actively feeding, which gives perch a reason to investigate and have a proper look.

The pause is where it gets nailed. Stop the lure and that buoyant tail wafts upwards, sat there like an easy target. Perch will often follow the disturbance, hang just off it, then engulf it the moment it settles. If you are missing bites, slow down rather than speed up, because the Ned rig is at its best when it looks vulnerable.

When the fish are wary, dead-sticking can be lethal. Cast it out, let it land, tighten up and simply leave it there. Give it a minute. If nothing happens, inch it along really slowly, keeping the lure upright and in contact with the deck. It is almost like feeder fishing in that you can watch the rod tip for a pull or a tap, and the take is often just a steady tightening up as the fish moves off with it.

CHECK OUT OUR BUYERS GUIDE OF THE BEST LURES FOR PERCH FISHING.

“When you pause the retrieve, the tail will waft enticingly upwards...”

The ned isn't just for perch

Although it is now seen as a perch tactic, the Ned rig will tempt plenty of other predators that feed on or near the bottom. Chub will nail it on rivers and canals, zander will pick it up when they are glued to the deck, and even the odd pike will wade in when you are fishing it around cover or drop-offs. That extra “anything could happen” factor is part of the appeal, because you are presenting something small and natural that still triggers a reaction from predators.

From canals and rivers to pits and stillwaters, the Ned rig stays effective even when you are not working it hard. Keep a few in your box, and when all else fails, it can be the difference between a blank and a proper fish on the mat.

LEARN HOW TO RIG SOFT PLASTIC FISHING LURES PROPERLY WITH THIS HELPFUL GUIDE.

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