Best Spinning Rods for Ned Rigs: 7 Picks Compared

Our verdict

Our Top Picks at a Glance

A Ned rig is a small mushroom jighead with a short, buoyant soft plastic, fished slowly along the bottom. The rod decides how far a light head casts, whether it loads at all with the lightest heads, and how the tip behaves when a fish jumps on a light-wire, exposed hook. This guide compares seven Amazon-stocked spinning rods for the job, from a budget seven-footer to a premium Shimano, chosen from the rods that come up in published rod tests, Ned-specific forum threads and the specification tables the makers publish.

Compare the picks

Compare the 7 Ned Rig Rods

Every row describes the exact model our link opens. Line and lure ratings are the maker’s own (there is no industry test standard for rod power or ratings); St. Croix prints a wide 6-20 lb line range on the Victory and Mojo Bass Trigon. Retailer tables disagree on the Sellus B line rating, so we show Tackle Warehouse’s figure.

How We Chose These Ned Rig Rods

What a Ned rig asks of a rod

• A lure rating that starts low enough for your heads. The lower lure rating is the lightest weight the maker says the rod is built to cast. In an r/bassfishing thread on Ned rods, one angler puts short casts with light heads down to a rod that is “too stiff for the very light weights” and suggests a medium-light rod “rated appropriately for what you’re throwing”.
• Medium-light power for most open-hook Ned fishing. Several replies in the same thread suggest a medium-light, fast rod around seven feet; light power suits light line and heads at the bottom of the range (the light rod here is rated from 1/16 oz), medium suits weedless heads around cover.
• An action you are comfortable with on exposed hooks. Extra-fast tips are the most common choice among the rods here; some anglers prefer slower tips with light-wire hooks (see “Power and action” below).
• Length for casting distance. Six of the seven picks are 6’10” or 7′, and the longest is 7’4″.
• Value and warranty. What the rod offers for its price tier, and how long the maker stands behind it, since light finesse tips do break.

Sources behind each pick, what r/bassfishing anglers say about Ned and finesse rods and ned rods we left out

Sources behind each pick

Specifications are from the Amazon listing for each linked variant, the model tables Tackle Warehouse publishes for the Shimano Zodias B, Shimano Sellus, Lew’s LFS and St. Croix Premier (the Premier’s SCII blank, Fuji K-frame guides, full-cork grip and Sea Guide seat), and St. Croix’s charts as Omnia Fishing reprints them for the Victory and Mojo Bass Trigon (the Mojo’s cork Trigon grip, guide frames and Dynamix seat). These retailers sell the rods; we use their pages only for the makers’ published specs. Independent test notes come from Outdoor Life’s tested bass spinning rods and Field & Stream’s spinning rod test; neither tested the exact variants we link, and each review says which model they did test. Owner notes come from two r/bassfishing threads and an r/BFSfishing thread, linked where they are used. Omnia Fishing’s Ned rod page collects customer catch reports; Omnia sells these rods, so we treat it as a list of what Ned anglers report using, not as a review.

What r/bassfishing anglers say about Ned and finesse rods

In an r/bassfishing thread on choosing a spinning rod for finesse presentations, the original poster wants one rod for Ned rigs, drop shots and wacky rigs and has narrowed their list to seven-foot, medium-light, fast rods. One of the most upvoted replies says any “medium light/medium fast rod will do” and that bite sensitivity comes from the line used, suggesting 10 lb braid to an 8 lb fluorocarbon leader. Owners name the St. Croix Victory, Mojo Bass and Premier as rods they use, but the thread is not one-sided about St. Croix: one angler says he sold his newer Premier and Triumph rods, one owner reports his Triumph tip breaking twice this year, and another writes that “Newer st croix stuff does seem to have a pretty easy to break construction”. The older “Ned rig rod?” thread adds a different angle: one angler says you don’t need a very sensitive rod because the Ned is “technically a ‘no feel’ technique”, and another says the rod should be rated for the weights you throw so it loads on the cast.

Ned rods we left out

We only review rods stocked on Amazon. Outdoor Life’s Ned rig pick, the Lamiglas XP Bass XP702S (7′ light, moderate action, 1/16 to 1/4 oz), did not turn up on Amazon. Field & Stream’s best overall spinning rod, the Shimano Expride B, and Daiwa’s Tatula Elite AGS Ned rod designed with Chris Johnston were listed only by third-party sellers shipping themselves when we checked, so they are not picks. Z-Man’s Drew’s Ultimate Ned Rig Rod, a 5’4″ or 5’10” medium-light rod built for the technique, has an Amazon listing that does not say which length it ships. The Dobyns Fury 702SF, a medium-light finesse rod, had no featured Amazon offer.

The Best Spinning Rods for Ned Rigs: Detailed Reviews

St. Croix Victory, Best Overall

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. Outdoor Life: 7’3″ medium extra-fast (VTS73MXF).

Specs (6’10” ML extra-fast, VTS610MLXF “Lite-Weight”, the model we link)

• Length, power and action: 6’10”, medium-light, extra-fast, one piece
• Line and lure: 6-20 lb, 1/16-3/8 oz
• Blank: SCIII+ hybrid carbon with FRS resin
• Guides: Fuji Concept “O” with deep-press inserts
• Handle: Split-grip super-grade cork
• Weight: 3.1 oz (St. Croix, on the Amazon listing)
• Warranty: 15 years

Outdoor Life named the St. Croix Victory its best overall bass spinning rod, but the model it tested was the 7’3″ medium extra-fast VTS73MXF, rated 3/16 to 1/2 oz, which is heavier than the rod we link. Outdoor Life lists it as “remarkably sensitive”, and its tester was surprised at how light it felt for its size. The 6’10” medium-light “Lite-Weight” model we link shares the series’ SCIII+ blank material and Fuji guides, but it is a lighter rod with a lower rating: from 1/16 oz, which covers 1/16 oz heads, and St. Croix lists it at 3.1 oz. One owner in the r/bassfishing finesse thread calls the Victory finesse model his go-to, and Victory rods appear in customer Ned catch reports on Omnia’s Ned rod page. The 7’3″ medium-light extra-fast in the same Amazon listing is a longer option for anglers who want more casting distance.

Shimano Zodias B, Best Premium

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Shimano Zodias B spec table (Tackle Warehouse).

Specs (7′ ML extra-fast, ZDS70MLB, the model we link)

• Length, power and action: 7′, medium-light, extra-fast, one piece
• Line and lure: 4-8 lb, 1/8-7/16 oz
• Blank: Hi-Power X graphite with a reinforcing carbon wrap
• Guides: Fuji Alconite
• Handle: EVA main grip with a hollow carbon monocoque rear grip, Ci4+ reel seat
• Warranty: Limited 1 year

The Zodias B is the updated version of Shimano’s Zodias bass series, sold on Amazon through Shimano’s own storefront. Shimano says the carbon wrap on the Hi-Power X blank reduces twist, and that the hollow carbon monocoque rear grip is designed to transmit vibration to your hand. The seven-foot medium-light extra-fast is the Zodias B we link: its 4 to 8 lb line rating suits the 6 to 8 lb fluorocarbon leaders owners in the threads we read use. Its lure rating starts at 1/8 oz, so it is rated for 1/8 oz and heavier heads; if you fish 1/16 oz heads, the Victory or the Lew’s LFS 7′ light is rated for them. We found no independent test of the Zodias B. An owner in a 2016 BassResource Ned rod thread calls the earlier Zodias 7′ medium-light “really good”, but that was the previous generation, so the case for this one rests on Shimano’s specs.

St. Croix Mojo Bass Trigon, Best Victory Alternative

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/bassfishing finesse rod thread: medium-light extra-fast, length and generation not stated.

Specs (6’10” ML extra-fast, JOS610MLXF “Dropshot Finesse”, the model we link)

• Length, power and action: 6’10”, medium-light, extra-fast, one piece
• Line and lure: 6-20 lb, 1/16-3/8 oz
• Blank: SCIII carbon
• Guides: Aluminum-oxide rings on stainless-steel frames
• Guide frame source: St. Croix’s chart as Omnia reprints it says stainless steel; the Amazon listing says titanium
• Handle: Trigon split grip, agglomerated cork with EVA accents; Dynamix reel seat
• Warranty: 5 years

St. Croix labels this Mojo Bass Trigon model “Dropshot Finesse”, and for Ned rigs its key numbers match the Victory: 6’10”, medium-light, extra-fast, rated from 1/16 oz. The differences are a step down in materials (SCIII rather than SCIII+ carbon, agglomerated rather than super-grade cork, aluminum-oxide rather than Fuji Concept O guides) and in warranty (five years instead of fifteen), at a lower price, though the saving over the Victory is modest at current Amazon prices. St. Croix’s Trigon handle has a rounded-triangle profile that St. Croix says fits a closed hand better than a round grip. One owner in the r/bassfishing finesse thread pairs a medium-light extra-fast Mojo Bass with a 2000-size reel and calls it the best finesse setup he knows of for the money and says it “over performs its dollar value”, without naming the length; the previous-generation Mojo Bass also appears in customer Ned catch reports on Omnia’s Ned rod page. No independent test of this exact model turned up, so the case rests on its specs and owner reports.

Shimano Sellus B, Best Budget

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. Field & Stream: 7′ medium fast (SUS70MB).

Specs (7′ ML fast, SUS70MLB, the model we link)

• Length, power and action: 7′, medium-light, fast, one piece
• Line and lure: 4-10 lb (Tackle Warehouse; other listings differ), 1/16-5/16 oz
• Blank: Graphite with DIAFLASH carbon-tape butt reinforcement
• Guides: 7 plus tip
• Handle: Hybrid cork and EVA
• Warranty: Limited 1 year

Field & Stream chose the Shimano Sellus as its best budget spinning rod and lists Ned rigs among the finesse techniques it suits. Its spec box shows the 7′ medium fast, so the praise is for the series rather than the medium-light we link. The medium-light is the lowest-rated Sellus, at 1/16 to 5/16 oz, which covers 1/16 oz heads. The tester’s only real complaint is that the Sellus comes in one length, seven feet. Line ratings differ between listings: Tackle Warehouse and Mudhole list 4 to 10 lb, FishUSA 6 to 20 lb and the Amazon listing 8 to 14 lb; 10 lb braid with a 6 to 8 lb fluorocarbon leader sits inside Tackle Warehouse’s range.

Lew’s LFS 7′, Best for Micro Neds

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Lew’s LFS spec table (Tackle Warehouse).

Specs (7′ L fast, LFS70LFS, the model we link)

• Length, power and action: 7′, light, fast, one piece
• Line and lure: 2-6 lb, 1/16-3/16 oz
• Blank: LFS-X3 graphite
• Guides: Fuji Concept O, 8 plus tip
• Handle: Cork split grip with EVA cushion, rear locking reel seat
• Warranty: Two-year limited

Outdoor Life gave its Ned rig award to a light-power seven-footer, the Lamiglas XP Bass, because a light, moderate rod lets you add action to the bait without moving it along the bottom too quickly. That rod is not on Amazon. The Lew’s LFS 7′ light is the closest Amazon-stocked rod we found in length and power, but it is a different rod: the Lamiglas is moderate action, the LFS fast, so the LFS will not bend as deep. Its 1/16 to 3/16 oz rating and 2 to 6 lb line rating make it the lightest-rated rod in this guide. That covers the heavier micro Ned heads, such as Z-Man’s 1/15 and 1/10 oz Micro Finesse ShroomZ, and light fluorocarbon leaders; the lightest micro heads, 1/30 and 1/20 oz, are below its 1/16 oz minimum. We found no independent review of this exact model, so the recommendation rests on its specs; it is too light for weedless heads in grass, which is the job of its heavier sibling, the LFS 7’4″ medium.

St. Croix Premier, Best Multispecies Pick

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/bassfishing finesse rod thread: variant and generation not stated.

Specs (7′ ML fast, SCPS70MLF, the model we link)

• Length, power and action: 7′, medium-light, fast, one piece
• Line and lure: 4-10 lb, 1/8-1/2 oz
• Blank: SCII graphite with TET taper (2026 Premier; St. Croix claims up to 10 percent lighter than the previous generation)
• Guides: Fuji K-frame Alconite, 7 plus tip
• Handle: Premium full-cork grip, Sea Guide reel seat
• Warranty: 5 years, limited, with a $60 fee (Tackle Warehouse); accelerated replacement (St. Croix’s Amazon listing)

The 2026 Premier is St. Croix’s multispecies freshwater series, designed in Park Falls, Wisconsin, according to the listing. The 7′ medium-light fast matches the spec the original poster in the r/bassfishing finesse thread was shopping for (in a one-piece; the poster wanted a two-piece), and one owner there says St. Croix offers a Premier “that fits your exact specs”, while another says he sold his newer Premiers because they did not impress him. Its fast action bends further down the blank than the extra-fast St. Croix picks, and medium-light fast is the spec several anglers suggest in the “Ned rig rod?” thread. One angler in an r/BFSfishing Ned setup thread goes further and fishes all his Neds on moderate-fast rods, saying even his fast rod loses too many fish that jump or shake; the Premier is fast, one step slower than the extra-fast St. Croix picks, not a moderate rod. Its lure rating starts at 1/8 oz, so pair it with 1/8 oz and heavier heads.

Lew’s LFS 7’4″, Best for Grass and Cover

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Lew’s LFS spec table (Tackle Warehouse).

Specs (7’4″ M extra-fast, LFS74MXFS, the model we link)

• Length, power and action: 7’4″, medium, extra-fast, one piece
• Line and lure: 6-12 lb, 1/8-3/8 oz
• Blank: LFS-X3 graphite
• Guides: Fuji Concept O, 9 plus tip
• Handle: Cork split grip with EVA cushion, rear locking reel seat
• Warranty: Two-year limited

Weedless Ned heads for grass, wood and rock start heavier than the lightest open-hook heads (Z-Man’s Finesse ShroomZ Weedless comes in 1/10, 1/6 and 1/5 oz), and a medium rod gives more leverage to move a fish out of cover. This is the same LFS series as the 7′ light, in its longest medium extra-fast model: rated 1/8 to 3/8 oz and 6 to 12 lb line, so it covers weedless heads from 1/8 oz (the 1/6 and 1/5 oz Finesse ShroomZ Weedless, for example, but not the 1/10 oz size) and full-size plastics while the extra-fast tip still bends at the top. Lew’s builds it on the same LFS-X3 graphite blank with Fuji Concept O guides and a cork split grip. We found no independent review of this model, so the recommendation rests on its specs. At 7’4″ it is the longest rod here, which helps long casts but is less handy in a small boat.

Which Ned Rig Rod for Which Angler

Best Ned rig rod for river smallmouth

Rivers can call for long casts across current over rocky bottoms, and every rod in this section is about seven feet (6’10” to 7′). Picks: St. Croix Premier for a fast rather than extra-fast tip and multispecies use, St. Croix Victory for 1/16 oz heads, and the Shimano Sellus B on a budget.

Best Ned rig rod for micro Neds and light line

Light power, a 1/16 oz lure rating and 2 to 6 lb line; none of the picks is rated below 1/16 oz, so the lightest micro heads (1/30 and 1/20 oz) are outside every rating here. Picks: Lew’s LFS 7′ light, with the Victory and Mojo Bass Trigon as medium-light options that are also rated from 1/16 oz.

Best Ned rig rod for grass and weedless heads

Medium power for weedless heads from 1/8 oz and full-size plastics. Picks: Lew’s LFS 7’4″ medium, and the Zodias B for open-hook Neds with 1/8 oz heads near sparse grass.

Best Ned rig rod for kayaks and short rods

None of our picks is a two-piece rod, and the shortest are the 6’10” Victory and Mojo Bass Trigon. Z-Man’s Drew’s Ultimate Ned Rig Rod, 5’4″ or 5’10”, is built for close-range fishing, but we could not confirm which length its Amazon listing ships.

Best Ned rig rod and reel pairing

Owners in the threads we read pair rods like these with 2000 to 2500-size spinning reels. Picks: the Shimano Sellus B as the entry-level rod to pair with a mid-range reel, or the Mojo Bass Trigon, which St. Croix lists as a drop-shot finesse model. Our guide on how to put fishing line on a reel covers spooling braid and fluorocarbon without twist.

How to Choose a Spinning Rod for the Ned Rig

Length

The rods in this guide run 6’10” to 7’4″, and seven feet is the most common suggestion in the threads we read. A longer rod casts a light head further and picks up more line on the hookset, which matters in clear water. Short rods such as Z-Man’s 5’10” are built for close-range presentations, and TackleTour’s preview notes that a short rod moves the bait a shorter distance with each twitch.

Power and action

Medium-light is the usual suggestion for open-hook Ned rigs. Light power suits heads from about 1/16 oz and very light line; medium suits weedless heads and grass. Extra-fast tips bend mostly at the top; fast and moderate-fast tips bend deeper. Some anglers prefer slower tips with light-wire, exposed hooks: one angler in an r/BFSfishing thread is wary of extra-fast tips with exposed hooks, says even his fast rod loses too many fish that jump or shake, and fishes all his Neds on moderate-fast rods. Outdoor Life’s Ned award also went to a moderate-action rod.

Lure rating versus head weight

Check the low end of the lure rating against the heads you fish. Ned heads are sold from very light weights upward, and weedless versions usually start heavier: Z-Man’s Finesse ShroomZ Weedless starts at 1/10 oz, against 1/30 oz for its Micro Finesse ShroomZ. If you fish 1/16 oz heads, choose a rod rated from 1/16 oz (Victory, Mojo Bass Trigon, Sellus B, Lew’s LFS 7′ light). The Zodias B, Premier and Lew’s LFS 7’4″ are rated from 1/8 oz, so pair them with 1/8 oz and heavier heads. Anglers do sometimes fish below a rod’s rating, but the rod is not built to load with those weights and casting distance usually suffers.

Blank and handle

St. Croix grades its blanks by carbon (SCII on the Premier, SCIII on the Mojo Bass, SCIII+ on the Victory) and describes the higher grades as lighter and more sensitive. Shimano says the Zodias B’s hollow carbon rear grip is designed to transmit vibration; grip material is otherwise a matter of feel. A reel seat with cutouts or an exposed blank lets a finger rest on the blank. If you are new to bass fishing in general, our bass fishing tips for beginners covers rods, rigs and a simple first day.

Reel and line

Owners in the threads we read pair Ned rods with 2000 to 2500-size reels and 10 lb braid to a 6 to 8 lb fluorocarbon leader; others fish straight 6 lb fluorocarbon or mono, and one angler in the “Ned rig rod?” thread says switching to 4 lb mono made the biggest difference to his casting distance. Match the line to the rod’s rating: the Lew’s LFS 7′ light is rated for 2 to 6 lb.

Frequently Asked Questions

About seven feet. In the “Ned rig rod?” thread, several anglers suggest a medium-light fast rod around 7 feet, and the rods in this guide run 6’10” to 7’4″. Shorter rods suit kayaks and tight cover; longer ones help long casts in clear water.

Medium-light power with a fast or extra-fast tip is the common choice. For 1/16 oz heads, use a rod rated from 1/16 oz (light power if you also fish the lightest line), and medium for weedless heads from 1/8 oz and grass. One r/BFSfishing angler fishes all his Neds on moderate-fast rods because of fish lost on exposed hooks.

Yes, with a bait-finesse (BFS) setup; the r/BFSfishing Ned setup thread is one example of anglers doing it. A spinning rod is the simpler way to cast light heads on light line, which is why this guide covers spinning rods.

Owners in the threads we read use 2000 to 2500-size spinning reels with 10 lb braid and a 6 to 8 lb fluorocarbon leader, or straight 6 lb fluorocarbon. Stay inside your rod’s line rating.

A mushroom-style jighead with a light-wire hook, usually fished with the hook exposed. Weedless versions add a guard or a heavier hook for cover and are fished on a stronger rod, such as a medium.

No single prey item. The short, buoyant plastic stands up off the bottom while the head rests, which is the look the rig is built around.

Yes. In an r/bassfishing thread on the Ned rig, anglers report brook and rainbow trout as by-catch, and Lew’s Ned rig article describes rock bass, pike and walleye alongside smallmouth.

In the “Ned rig rod?” thread, anglers suggest a rod rated for the head weight so it loads on the cast, lighter line (one switched to 4 lb mono), and a larger reel, whose bigger spool gives the line less resistance. One angler there points to a rod too stiff for the head as the likely cause of short casts.

No. Most of the rods here double as drop-shot, wacky and shaky-head rods, and St. Croix sells the Mojo Bass Trigon pick as a drop-shot finesse rod.

The bottom line

Final Verdict

For most Ned rig anglers, the St. Croix Victory (check price) is the rod to buy: a medium-light extra-fast St. Croix rated from 1/16 oz with the longest warranty in this guide, from the series Outdoor Life named best overall (it tested a heavier 7’3″ medium). If you fish 1/8 oz heads and want a premium Shimano, the Shimano Zodias B (check price) 7′ medium-light is the premium choice. And if you want a correctly rated Ned rod for the least money, the Shimano Sellus B (check price) medium-light is the one to start with.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.