Ned Rig Fishing on Lake Perris
Lake Perris · California · West
Lake Perris sits at roughly 1,500 feet elevation in the Inland Empire, fed by the State Water Project and subject to significant recreational pressure year-round. The reservoir blends rocky shoreline points and riprap dam faces with scattered submerged brush and a relatively clear water column that routinely hits 10–20 feet of visibility. Largemouth and spotted bass share the fishery, and the distinction between the two species matters more here than anglers expect.
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 Lake Perris
| 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 Lake Perris
Lake: Pre-spawn staging begins in February when water temps push toward 55°F, with fish stacking on the first major rocky points in 10–18 ft. By mid-March, largemouth move into protected coves along the northern shoreline while spotted bass tend to spawn tighter to riprap and rock structure — don't assume both species are on the same target depth.
Ned Rig: Deadly on pre-spawn fish holding on gravel and pea-gravel flats in 4–12 feet.
Lake: Thermocline locks in around 20–25 ft by late June; spotted bass suspend along it on points and the dam face while largemouth push into any available shade near boat docks or submerged timber. Drop shot rigs fished vertically at 18–28 ft will consistently out-produce reaction baits once the column stratifies.
Ned Rig: Work deeper rock piles and main lake points. Drag slowly, let it stand. Green pumpkin and watermelon dominate.
Lake: Shad activity picks up through September and October as baitfish school near the surface on main-lake points — topwater and swimbait action can be legitimate from first light until the sun climbs. The bite compresses into the morning window and then shuts off hard, making early arrival non-negotiable.
Ned Rig: One of the best techniques as fish get finicky before winter. Match shad colors on sandy/gravel bottom.
Lake: Water temps in December and January regularly fall to 48–54°F, pushing most fish into a tight, slow mood. Football jigs dragged across rocky points in 22–30 ft and finesse ned rigs on 6 lb fluorocarbon account for the majority of quality winter fish; this is a clear-water lake that punishes heavy line all year but especially in cold conditions.
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 Lake Perris
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