Ned Rig Fishing on White Bear Lake
White Bear Lake · Minnesota · Midwest
This natural lake, covering over 2,400 acres, is characterized by its clear water, varied bottom content including rock, sand, and extensive deep weed lines. While popular for recreation, it provides excellent opportunities for anglers pursuing both largemouth and smallmouth bass, often in conjunction with its healthy populations of northern pike.
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 White Bear 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 White Bear Lake
Lake: Bass migrate to shallow, warming bays and emergent weed growth, with prespawn and spawning activity focused around docks and isolated cover in 3-8 feet of water.
Ned Rig: Deadly on pre-spawn fish holding on gravel and pea-gravel flats in 4–12 feet.
Lake: Largemouth relate to the deep weed edges (12-20 feet) and dense vegetation mats, while smallmouth gravitate towards offshore rock reefs and main lake points, often suspending over deeper water.
Ned Rig: Work deeper rock piles and main lake points. Drag slowly, let it stand. Green pumpkin and watermelon dominate.
Lake: As water temperatures drop, bass become more aggressive, chasing baitfish in transition areas like channel swings and break lines before settling into deeper wintering holes.
Ned Rig: One of the best techniques as fish get finicky before winter. Match shad colors on sandy/gravel bottom.
Lake: During ice-covered months, bass can be found holding tight to deep structure, responding to vertical presentations for lethargic fish near significant depth changes and hard-bottom features.
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 White Bear Lake
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