Ned Rig Fishing on New River
New River · Virginia / West Virginia · Southeast
The New River is a free-flowing, largely undammed river running through the Appalachian highlands of Virginia and West Virginia, widely considered one of the oldest rivers in North America by geologic reckoning. Its water clarity trends toward the cleaner side, especially above Bluestone Dam, with a classic riffle-run-pool structure, rocky ledges, and boulder gardens that create ideal smallmouth habitat. Largemouth bass are present in slower pool margins and backwater areas, but smallmouth are the reason anglers make the drive.
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 New River
| 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 New River
Lake: Pre-spawn smallmouth stack in deeper runs and eddy pools from late March through April, with water temps climbing from the low 50s into the mid-60s. Swimbait presentations on 1/4–3/8 oz heads and suspending jerkbaits in natural shad colors draw the most consistent bites as fish begin staging near rocky points and submerged ledges.
Ned Rig: Deadly on pre-spawn fish holding on gravel and pea-gravel flats in 4–12 feet.
Lake: Summer low-water conditions push fish to oxygenated riffles and the downstream seams of large boulders; surface action with walking baits and poppers is productive from dawn through mid-morning before heat sets in, after which drop-shot rigs and finesse tubes in 6–12 ft runs become the reliable workhorses.
Ned Rig: Work deeper rock piles and main lake points. Drag slowly, let it stand. Green pumpkin and watermelon dominate.
Lake: September and October see smallmouth gorging on crawfish and remaining shad ahead of winter, making reaction baits — especially square-bill crankbaits and chatterbaits deflected off rocky structure — unusually effective for aggressive fall feeders in the 48–60°F window.
Ned Rig: One of the best techniques as fish get finicky before winter. Match shad colors on sandy/gravel bottom.
Lake: Cold-water smallmouth from December through February concentrate in the deepest pools and slow tailouts, requiring patient presentations with 3/16 oz drop-shot rigs or a hair jig dragged through slack eddies; water temps below 45°F demand counts of 10–15 seconds between movements.
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 New River
Ready to fish New River?
Ask Hank about current conditions, water temp, and exactly what to throw today.
Ask Hank →