Neko Rig
ネコリグ· Nail rig· Beginner
The neko rig is a finesse worm rig with a nail weight pushed into the head of a straight worm and a hook set through the body, so the worm stands up and shakes off the bottom.
What it is
The neko rig originated in Japan. A small nail or tungsten weight is inserted into one end of a straight (stick) worm, and a hook is rigged through the middle of the body, either exposed or weedless. The weighted end falls first, so the worm stands nose-down on the bottom and the tail quivers with the lightest movement.
Why it's used in Japan
It is a high-percentage way to keep a worm in the strike zone on pressured fisheries, working isolated cover, bank lines, and hard-bottom spots slowly and thoroughly. Japanese anglers popularised it before it spread to North America, where it is now mainstream.
How to fish it
Insert a nail weight sized to conditions, rig the hook near the centre of the worm, and fish it on spinning tackle with slack-line shakes and drags. Let the worm sit and quiver between moves. Use a weedless hook around wood and rock.