Best Neko Rig Rods & Reels
The neko rig is a great bass producing technique. It’s a slight modification to one of the most popular fishing techniques. The weight unbalance creates a different action that bass haven’t seen as much as the wacky rig.
Below you will find our tried and true recommendations for neko rig rods & reels for any budget.
- Best Neko Rig Combo: G Loomis NRX+ 852S JWR paired with a Shimano Twin Power 2500 FD
- Best Value Neko Rig Combo: Shimano Expride 7′ Medium paired with a Shimano Vanford 3000
- Budget Neko Rig Combo: St. Croix Bass X 7’2″ Medium Heav paired with a Shimano SLX 150 HG
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Best Neko Rig Rods & Reels
Best Overall – G Loomis NRX+ 852S JWR
The G Loomis NRX+ 852S JWR is a 7’1″ medium action spinning rod that was designed to fish worms. It is the perfect balance of weight, sensitivity and strength.
Pair your rod with the Shimano Twin Power 2500 FD reel for the perfect performance. You will notice a large improvement in performance and comfort compared to value options.
| Rod | Taper / Action | Line Wt | Lure Wt | Guides |
| G. Loomis NRX+ 852S JWR | Extra Fast | 6 – 12lb | 1/8 – 3/8oz | Fuji Titanium SIC/RECOIL |
| Reel | Gear Ratio | Weight | Bearings | Line Capacity (Test/Yd.) |
| Shimano Twin Power 2500 FD | 5.3:1 | 7.4 oz | 9S A-RB + 1S A-RB | 6/200, 8/140 |
Best Value – Shimano Expride 7′ Medium
The Shimano Expride is a 7′ medium action spinning rod that makes a great neko rig rod at a great price. It has a great balance of sensitivity and responsiveness.
Pair your rod with the Shimano Vanford 3000 reel for great performance. You will notice an improvement in performance compared to budget options.
| Rod | Taper / Action | Line Wt | Lure Wt | Guides |
| Shimano Expride 7′ Medium | Fast | 5 – 10lb | 3/16 – 1/2oz | 8 + Tip |
| Reel | Gear Ratio | Weight | Bearings | Line Capacity (Test/Yd.) |
| Shimano Vanford 3000 | 6.4:1 | 6.3 oz | 7BB + 1RB | 8/170, 10/140 |
Best Budget – St. Croix Bass X 7’2″ Medium Heavy
The St. Croix Bass X is a 7’2″ medium-heavy action baitcasting rod that can throw worms very well. It is the good balance performance without breaking the bank.
Pair your rod with the Shimano SLX 150 HG reel for the good performance.
| Rod | Taper / Action | Line Wt | Lure Wt | Guides |
| St. Croix Bass X 7’2″ Med-Hvy | Moderate | 12 – 20lb | 3/8 – 1oz | 7 + Tip |
| Reel | Gear Ratio | Weight | Bearings | Line Capacity (Test/Yd.) |
| Shimano SLX 150 HG | 7.2:1 | 6.9 | 3BB + 1RB | 12/110, 14/90 |
What Makes a Good Neko Rig Rod?
The ideal neko rig rod is around 7′ long with medium to medium-heavy action. The 7′ length will give you a good balance of casting distance and accuracy to help you get your bait to where you want it.
Medium action is better for open water or light cover. If you fish heavy cover often you may want to bump up to a medium-heavy baitcaster.
I use 15lb Power Pro with a 8lb Maxima Ultragreen leader.