Future Pro Folsom Lake
Come tournament day, Future Pro Tour Anglers are sure to find Folsom Lake’s bass engaged in all stages of the spawn. The majority of the fish will be shallow and active, making them especially vulnerable to angler’s offerings. One bait that is certain to play a major role in the tournament is the soft plastic stick bait.
Soft plastic stick baits are especially deadly in the spring. It is no secret that a weightless stick bait rigged either Texas or Wacky Style can be the ticket to a great day on the water. A lesser known but equally effective rigging method is the Neko Rig.
The Neko Rig is comprised of three components: a soft plastic stick bait, a nail weight, and a split shot or mosquito style hook. To rig the Neko Rig, start by inserting the nail weight into the head of the bait. Next insert the hook wacky style into bait. The key is to rig the hook in line with the bait not crosswise.
I favor a 5” Trick Stick from Big Bite Baits combined with a 1/0 hook. Since the Neko Rig is a light line technique, my preference is to fish it on a on a St. Croix LTBS70M 7’ Medium Action Spinning Rod, US Reel Super Caster 240 SX Reel and 7lb. Sunline Sniper FC fluorocarbon line.
Recently I was introduced to a very cool rigging variation. Paradise Tackle has come out with a skirted Neko Sinker dubbed the Wacky Jig Weight. The Wacky Jig Weight gives the Neko Rig a fresh look. You can choose to keep the skirt long for added bulk or you can opt to trim it down for a subtler presentation.
Good luck to all FPT Anglers.