Ned Rig Fishing on Millerton Lake
Millerton Lake · California · West
Millerton Lake sits at the base of the Sierra Nevada foothills northeast of Fresno, formed by Friant Dam on the San Joaquin River. The reservoir is defined by steep rocky canyon walls, submerged points, and hard-bottom structure rather than grass or timber — clarity often runs 10–20 feet in cooler months and tightens toward the upper arm during late-summer drawdown. Spotted bass are the dominant gamefish, though largemouth hold in the shallower cove systems and stripers make seasonal pushes upriver toward the dam tailrace.
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 Millerton Lake
| 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 Millerton Lake
Lake: Spotted bass and largemouth stage on rocky points and secondary channel swings in 8–18 ft as water temps climb through the low 60s — finesse jigs and drop shots on 45-degree rock transitions produce the most consistent bites from late February through April.
Ned Rig: Deadly on pre-spawn fish holding on gravel and pea-gravel flats in 4–12 feet.
Lake: Drawdown pushes fish deep by July; spotted bass school on main-lake points and submerged ledges in 25–45 ft, and a drop shot or swimbait on forward-facing sonar becomes the dominant method as surface temps push into the mid-80s.
Ned Rig: Work deeper rock piles and main lake points. Drag slowly, let it stand. Green pumpkin and watermelon dominate.
Lake: Cooling temps in October and November pull spotted bass back into the 10–20 ft range on rocky cove points; shad migrations concentrate fish near the upper river arm, and topwater walking baits like a Spook Jr. draw violent strikes during low-light windows.
Ned Rig: One of the best techniques as fish get finicky before winter. Match shad colors on sandy/gravel bottom.
Lake: Water clarity peaks in winter and the spotted bass bite slows but doesn't die — a Megabass Vision 110 on a long pause or a Ned rig on hard bottom in 15–25 ft will pick off lethargic fish; striper action near the dam tailrace can be productive on cold, clear mornings.
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 Millerton Lake
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