Swing Oil Baits' Ned Rig Worm

Since 2010, Swing Oil Baits of Washington, Missouri, has become a treasure trove for finesse anglers who ply the vast variety of waterways that grace the many environs of the Ozarks.

Recently Swing Oil Baits began to manufacture some quintessential Midwest finesse baits. One of them is called the Ned Rig Worm.

We contacted Frank Dietl, who is the proprietor of Swing Oil Baits, and he graciously sent us some Ned Rig Worms to work with and thoroughly examine.

Here is what we discovered about this classic Midwest finesse bait:

It is exactly 2 3/4 inches long.

In the vernacular of most Midwest finesse anglers, it is a stick-style bait.

Its head is round with a diameter of three-eighths of an inch and a circumference of about 1 3/16 inches. It is slightly indented, and in that indentation is where a Midwest finesse angler will insert the hook and collar or bait-keeper of a mushroom-style jig.

It possesses the contour of a well-sharpened pencil. Thus, the dimensions of the posterior section of its torso become significantly smaller, and the tip of this section or its anus is pointed.

Its torso is cylinder-shaped and encircled with scores of minute ribs. At a half of an inch from the tip of its head, the torso possesses a width of about seven-sixteenths of an inch and a circumference of about 1 7/16 inches. At one inch from the tip of its head, the torso has a width of about three-eighths of an inch and a circumference of about 1 3/8 inches. At a half of an inch from the tip of its tail, the torso’s width is about one-quarter of an inch with a circumference of about three-quarters of an inch.

The tip of its tail or its anus has a width of about one-eighth of an inch.

It is available in the following hues: Black Neon, Bluegill, Brown Pumpkin, Cotton Candy, Goby Magic, Green Goby, Green Pumpkin, Junebug, Margaritaville, Motor Oil, Purple Ice, Red Bug, Smoke Purple Flake, Smoke Red Flake, Smokin Blue, Watermelon Candy, Watermelon Gold Flake, Watermelon Red, and Watermelon Seed.

It is buoyant and impregnated with a scent.

The texture is very pliable and soft. And it readily quivers and undulates.

It is a very affordable soft-plastic bait. A package of 12 costs $3.00.

Midwest finesse anglers will affix it to a mushroom-style jig, and Swing Oil Baits makes one that is called a Ned Headz.

When Midwest finesse anglers are in pursuit of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass, they will employ the Ned Rig Worm affixed to a mushroom-style jig with all six of the standard Midwest finesse retrieves.

At times, Midwest finesse anglers will affix the Ned Rig Worm’s anus to the jig, and there will be spells when this rigging is more effective than affixing it to the Ned Rig Worm’s head. Furthermore, when the head and the anterior section of the Ned Rig Worm becomes too tattered and torn to stay firmly affixed to the jig, the anus rigging is a way to prolong the lifespan of the Ned Rig Worm.

Endnotes

(1) Here a link to Swing Oil Baits website: https://www.swingoilbaits.com/.

(2) Here is a link to our May 5, 2014, Midwest Finesse column about Swing Oil Baits and Frank Dietl: https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/swing-oil-baits/154030.

(3) Here is the address and telephone number for Swing Oil Baits: 317 Olive St., Washington, MO., 63090; 636-299-7036.

(4) The weather woes of 2019 that have waylaid many Missourians that reside along the Missouri River have hampered Dietl and Swing Oil Baits. It began in March when a severe wind storm downed a tree that crushed Swing Oil Baits’ shop. After that, the shop was flooded twice. It took until the middle of the summer before they were manufacturing baits again.

(5) Here is a link to a Midwest finesse column that explains how to employ the six standard Midwest finesse retrieves: https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/six-midwest-finesse-retrieves/153946.

(6) In the near future, we will publish a gear guide about Swing Oil Baits’ Ned Stinger.

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