| The Neko rig is a subtle finesse setup that excels at targeting isolated bass holding areas. This rig involves inserting a small weight into the nose of a soft plastic bait while rigging a finesse hook through the body in a wacky-style fashion. The design of a Neko Rig allows the bait to fall head-first with a natural shimmy, making it especially deadly around structure. Its strength lies in precise casting, allowing anglers to present a bait exactly where bass are hiding, such as under docks or in tight cover. Unlike bulkier presentations, the Neko rig can sneak into pressured spots without spooking fish. It’s an ideal technique when bass are finicky or holding close to cover in clear or calm summer conditions. The bait’s upright fall and nose-down posture mimic natural foraging behavior, which helps trigger strikes. Its exposed hook and subtle action works exceptionally well in areas where bass are used to seeing more aggressive presentations. Anglers can also use it to dissect high-percentage targets slowly, keeping the bait in the strike zone longer. This makes it a powerful follow-up bait after a missed bite or refusal on a more active lure. Neko rig combines finesse, control, and realism to outsmart pressured bass in a wide range of summer situations.Using a stick-styled worm is the most tried and true ways to catch fish. We have a variety of 5-inch Worms to choose from but we just added MidNight, Glow, and Ghost Worms! Our popular Watermelon Red Worms have been restocked as well. You can also experience our new wacky rigging kit while it’s ON SALE! The WACKY Pack offers our most popular colors and essential tools for wacky rigging. If you’re fast enough you might be able to grab the limited-release Pumpkin Spice Worm before it’s completely sold out along with some of our newest colors including the Brown Worm, Electric Chicken Worm, and Goby Wan Worm colors. The high-grade non-salt plastic they’re made from provides positive buoyancy and it even floats underwater! We also released new 6-inch Worms including Charmeleon, Rainbow TRT, Bone, Chocolate Mint, and Fire TGR — all available in 5 and 6-inch. We’ve also recently released new 8-count packs of worms available in Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, and Green Pumpkin. We also offer worms that have the unique ability to shift from one color to another. Scented for total attraction underwater. |
| A lightweight rod with a sensitive tip is crucial when fishing the Neko rig, as many bites are subtle and occur at a distance or in deeper water. The tip should be soft enough to detect slight pressure changes, yet strong enough to drive the hook home during a hookset. Pairing the rod with a slightly larger spinning reel allows for smoother drag performance and faster line retrieval, which is especially helpful when covering water or managing long casts. The larger spool size also reduces line memory and offers better casting distance. This setup provides the angler with improved feel and control, making it easier to detect and respond to light bites. The rod and reel combo becomes an extension of your senses in finesse fishing. A fast-action rod with a balanced backbone also helps maintain consistent pressure during the fight, reducing the chance of the hook pulling out. The added sensitivity is especially important when fishing around submerged cover where bass might bite and sit still. A quality drag system ensures that even light line can handle the surges of a larger fish without breaking. Long, accurate casts are easier to achieve with this setup, allowing you to reach fish that may be spooked by close-range pressure. Fine-tuning your gear gives you the upper hand when targeting pressured bass with finesse techniques.Our newest FreshBaitz Mandingo Trick Worm is the ultimate game-changer for anglers with a passion! Engineered for the angler who knows SIZE does matter, this lure is designed to attract only the BIGGEST bass with a penchant for the larger bait. The Mandingo Trick Worm boasts a solid 7-inch body enhanced with a hyperactive ribbed design, ensuring irresistible mouth-watering action for those trophy bass. Officially available in a vibrant array of 8 colors. Each worm is made from durable, high-grade Non-Salted plastic for lifelike action and unparalleled durability. Perfectly balanced for a variety of rigging options and scented for total and maximum attraction, the Mandingo Trick Worm promises year-round effectiveness in lakes, rivers, and streams. Whether you’re rigging it on a Shakey Head, Drop Shot, Texas Rig, or Carolina Rig, these worms are your ticket to landing the big ones. Proudly made in the USA by real anglers to help elevate your fishing experience and catch more bass year-round! |
| Choosing the right line setup is key to maximizing sensitivity and control with a Neko rig. Many anglers opt for a strong, low-visibility mainline with a sinking characteristic, paired with a fluorocarbon leader for stealth and abrasion resistance. This combination ensures a direct connection to the bait, especially important when fishing in deep water or around cover. The leader also helps prevent break-offs when the bait is dragged over rocks, wood, or dock pilings. A proper line setup enhances casting distance and reduces slack, making it easier to maintain contact with your soft plastic bait. This improved connection boosts both strike detection and hook-up efficiency, particularly in pressured or clear-water situations. The sinking mainline helps eliminate the bow that typically forms with floating lines, improving sensitivity and control during the retrieve. A longer leader can offer a more natural presentation in clear water, while a shorter leader may provide better control around heavy structure. Matching line strength to your environment is also key. Lighter lines for open water and heavier lines for dense cover. Knots should be carefully tied and tested, especially where the mainline meets the leader, to avoid weak points. A dialed-in line setup lets you fish the Neko rig with confidence in any condition.Our Fresh HellaMite is designed to imitate a major aquatic food source, delivering a realistic profile of an insect larva that fish can’t resist. Each is scented for complete and total attraction underwater along with being made in the USA by real fishermen just like you. We’ve recently dropped a new HellaMite Pro Pack that is loaded with 60 total baits in all six proven colors, plus three Owner Block Head Ned Jigs and a handy storage bag. This kit has everything you need to stay rigged and ready year-round. Grab our newest Lil Bass, Hot Sauce, MidNight, Glow, 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink HellaMite colors. We’ve also recently restocked our popular Smoke Purple HellaMite. The HellaMite’s solid body and hyperactive ribbed tail design produce a life-like quivering action with every twitch of the rod. Its unique flat underbelly detail enables this bait to be fished as a drop shot, Ned rig, neko rig, and even a small Carolina-rig, making it the ideal bait in any condition year-round. When the water is clear, the fish can see the bait and look like real food, causing strikes. Each cast becomes an opportunity for an exhilarating catch, thanks to its superior performance and versatility. |
| Rigging your hook correctly is a critical detail when fishing the Neko rig. The hook should be oriented so that the point faces upward, allowing for optimal penetration when a bass bites. This positioning ensures that even light pressure during a hookset drives the point cleanly into the fish’s mouth. The soft plastic bait is typically pierced through the midsection or slightly forward, depending on the desired action. A weed guard or finesse-style hook can help reduce snags when fishing around brush or docks. Because bass often inhale this rig fully, it’s best to avoid hard hooksets. Instead, steadily reel into the fish for a clean and effective hook-up. This subtle approach minimizes the risk of pulling the bait out prematurely, especially when fishing with lighter line. Ensuring your hook is sharp and properly aligned will make a significant difference in hookup ratios. Experimenting with different hook sizes can also fine-tune your presentation based on bait profile and cover. When rigged correctly, the Neko rig delivers a natural look and consistent performance across various scenarios. Attention to small details like hook placement often separates casual bites from solid landings.We use our Fresh Scorpion because it closely imitates a crawfish. Our newest 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink Scorpion colors work wonders. The Scorpion is a revolutionary new look to soft plastics. Its intricate detailing and texture mimic the nuances of a real crawfish, making it hard for bass to resist. Of course, water clarity always plays a role in color selection but in any season, you can’t miss using colors such as Green Pumpkin Seed, Brown Bark, and the Magneto. This bait not only appears natural to fish but gives them something to become curious about. The Scorpion paired with a stand-up jig is deadly because the jig actually sits the bait upright in a defensive stance. The subtle color variations across the bait further enhance its appeal, mimicking the natural color shifts found in live prey. Each Fresh Scorpion has a unique and exclusive 3-axis tail design that is engineered like no other soft plastic bait. Our Scorpions are made by anglers from high-grade non-salt plastic to provide superior life-like action that triggers strikes! |
| During the summer, bass tend to move away from shallow backwaters and instead relate to deeper, more stable structure. Ideal targets include brush piles, dock pilings near the main lake, and submerged wood or rocks that provide shade and ambush points. These areas offer cooler temperatures and access to baitfish, making them high-percentage zones. A Neko rig shines in this environment because it can be cast precisely and fished slowly through heavy cover without spooking the fish. Anglers should focus on isolated targets and make repeated casts at varying angles to coax reluctant bass into biting. Understanding these seasonal movements is key to locating active fish when surface activity slows during the heat of the day. Electronics can be especially helpful for locating submerged structure that holds summer bass. Once a productive area is identified, it’s often worth spending extra time thoroughly working the spot from multiple directions. Bass positioned near main-lake structure are typically feeding-oriented, making them more likely to strike a slow-falling soft plastic like a beetle or cray-styled bait. Avoid wasting time in shallow pockets that were productive in spring. These fish have shifted with the changing conditions. Staying focused on deeper cover helps you stay on fish throughout the summer’s toughest stretches.The new FreshBaitz Lizards deliver a realistic profile that excels in both power and finesse techniques. Act fast, we’ve recently just released new Hot Sauce, MidNight, Ghost, and 10w30 Synthetic Lizard designs! The unique forward-facing leg design creates drag that holds it in the strike zone longer or produces wild flapping action with every pull of the rod. Additionally, its slightly ribbed solid body and large head hold your hook in place and provide much better weedless performance making it the ideal bait to use in any condition. Water clarity always plays a super big role in color selection but in any season year-round, you can’t miss when using colors such as Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, or Green Pumpkin. Its flexible tail design ensures added movement, tempting even the most cautious fish. The superior 5.5-inch profile stretches to a whole 7 inches which is perfect for predatory fish including bass year round. Made from long-lasting durable high-grade non-salted plastic for total and maximum attention-grabbing action underwater. |
| One of the advantages of the Neko rig is its flexibility in adapting to different depths by adjusting the nail weight inserted into the soft plastic bait. Lighter weights are ideal for shallow water or a slower fall, while heavier options are better for fishing down in 20 to 60 feet of water. The correct weight allows the bait to reach the strike zone efficiently without wasting time on long sink rates. Having a small kit of different weights on hand gives you the versatility to adapt to any lake or river condition. Whether using worms or other soft plastics, properly weighting the presentation ensures the bait stays where the bass are holding. Depth control is essential for dialing in your pattern, especially during warm summer months. Experimenting with weight also influences the action of the bait. Heavier weights produce a sharper fall, while lighter ones allow for more glide and shimmy. In current or windier conditions, a heavier nail weight helps keep the bait in position and increases bottom contact. When fish are suspended or less aggressive, a slower fall can trigger more strikes. Observing how bass react to different fall rates can help refine your approach and lead to more consistent results. Being precise with weight selection helps you stay efficient in changing summer conditions.Our Fresh Beetle delivers ultimate versatility in a soft plastic bait. Its slim yet wide body design and four claws are engineered to naturally glide and wobble as it moves through the water. This design ensures they remain enticingly active longer than conventional baits. Its unique texture also provides a realistic feel, making bass hold on longer once they bite. Water clarity plays a big role in color selection but year-round you can’t miss when using go-to colors such as Chocolate Mint, Ox Blood, or 10w30 Synthetic beetles. The hyper-active swimming claws are designed thin with long-lasting durable non-salt plastic to make them come alive with the slightest movement. The Fresh Beetle offers an enticing 4-inch profile and is scented for complete and total attraction! You can rig these Beetles as a Jig/ Chatter Trailer, Flippin/ Punching, Texas Rig, Swing Jig, and Carolina Rig. Making the beetle beyond perfect in any weather condition year-round! |
| In the heat of summer, bass often become less aggressive during the middle of the day and prefer slower presentations. A proven cadence for the Neko rig involves long casts followed by a slow drag and subtle shaking motion. This mimics the movement of a struggling creature along the bottom, triggering reaction bites from otherwise inactive bass. Early mornings may allow for slightly more aggressive retrieves, but midday fishing calls for patience and finesse. The goal is to maintain bottom contact while keeping the bait in the strike zone as long as possible. By reading the fish’s behavior and adjusting your retrieve accordingly, you can consistently catch bass even in tough summer conditions. Pausing the bait between movements can give nearby fish the time they need to commit. In areas with thick cover or deep brush, minimizing movement and letting the bait sit can be especially effective. Small twitches with the rod tip can create lifelike motion without pulling the bait out of the strike zone. Varying the speed of your drag and the length of your pauses helps you dial in what the bass want that day. Adopting a slow, methodical rhythm builds consistency and increases your odds of connecting with quality summer bass.We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose from, but our Mosquito Hooks work perfectly for Neko rigging and accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. We’ve also released new Nako Tungsten Tear Drop Shot Weights, crafted from 97% eco-friendly tungsten for stealth, durability, and vibration, with easy-to-read size stamps and a crimped swivel for quick changes. The popular All Purpose Hooks are built with an extra-wide gap and are made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. The Ultrahead Wacky Jig features precise weight positioning and hook orientation for the ultimate wacky presentations. The new Haymaker EWG Worm Hooks are also now available, featuring an extra-wide gap for various soft plastics, a Z-lock shoulder bend for secure bait placement, and an angled-up super needle point for fast, powerful hooksets. For creature-styled baits, a more popular choice to use is the Stand-Up Jig because it sits the bait up-right in a defensive stance! The Block Head Jig is perfect for ned rigging the HellaMite with its mushroom-style head that seamlessly matches a wide variety of soft plastics. The Offset Block Head Jig, offers the same mushroom-style head with a unique offset hook, making it a go-to for weedless Ned Rig applications. The Shakey Ultrahead can permanently secure baits by inserting the pin in the center and screwing the twist lock coil spring for perfect rigging every time! For fast Texas rigging, we use the Bullet-Type Rig which has an attached weight saving you precious time when fishing cover. The 4x Jungle Flippin Hook is designed for big fish and the toughest conditions. The Range Roller Jig Head is crafted for precision with its high center axis design, perfect for hover-strolling and mid to bottom strolling with forward facing sonar, ensuring an enticing rolling action that triggers bites. We also just released Keep’em Fresh Bait Bags! These bags are the ultimate solution for anglers who need their gear to perform. Built like a tank, this bag is 20x stronger than regular zip bags and offers 100% waterproof protection with a rock-solid double zipper seal. Whether it’s for soft plastics, snacks, or your smartphone, this reusable and versatile bag keeps everything safe from water, mud, and grime. It’s lightweight yet spacious, it fits snugly in your tackle box or backpack, making it perfect for your next adventure. |