Ned Rig Fishing on Kerr Scott Reservoir
Kerr Scott Reservoir · North Carolina · Southeast
Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, W. Kerr Scott Reservoir offers anglers a clear, deep-water experience with a mix of rocky points, steep bluffs, and limited standing timber. The lake supports a healthy population of largemouth and spotted bass, with conditions often favoring finesse presentations.
Ned Rig pairs a 3–4" ElaZtech-style floating plastic (TRD, Finesse TRD, or similar) on a 1/15–1/6 oz mushroom head jig. The bait's buoyancy causes it to stand upright on the bottom, creating a subtle action that triggers bites when nothing else will. Exceptional on hard bottom, gravel, and rock.
Ned Rig Setup for Kerr Scott Reservoir
| Rod | 6'10"–7'2" medium-light spinning rod, moderate-fast action |
| Reel | 2500 size spinning reel |
| Line | 10 lb braid + 8 lb fluorocarbon leader |
| Weight | 1/15–1/6 oz mushroom jig head (Z-Man Finesse ShroomZ or similar) |
| Hook | Size 1 or 1/0 wide gap, built into jig head |
Seasonal Tactics on Kerr Scott Reservoir
Lake: Bass move into shallower, protected coves and sun-warmed pockets as water temperatures climb, keying on traditional spawning areas and newly inundated cover.
Ned Rig: Deadly on pre-spawn fish holding on gravel and pea-gravel flats in 4–12 feet.
Lake: Deep structure becomes crucial as bass retreat to thermocline depths, concentrating on main lake points, humps, and submerged timber, often requiring diligent electronics use.
Ned Rig: Work deeper rock piles and main lake points. Drag slowly, let it stand. Green pumpkin and watermelon dominate.
Lake: As temperatures cool, bass follow schooling baitfish into creek arms and secondary points, presenting opportunities for reaction baits and topwater presentations around feeding activity.
Ned Rig: One of the best techniques as fish get finicky before winter. Match shad colors on sandy/gravel bottom.
Lake: Fish relate to deeper, vertical structure like bluff walls and main channel drops, becoming lethargic but catchable with slow, precise offerings in cold, clear water.
Ned Rig: Best cold-water finesse technique after drop shot. Extremely slow drag on hard bottom near deep structure.
Best Conditions
Clear water, hard and rocky bottoms, post-cold-front, heavily pressured fish, any season except peak summer spawn
Use Z-Man ElaZtech plastics exclusively — they float and are nearly indestructible. Regular soft plastics sink and kill the technique.
More Techniques for Kerr Scott Reservoir
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