

As fishing pressure intensifies-and folks discover they just want to detect more bites and keep catching fish- this movement will only grow. “I think we’re already seeing a renaissance in true light-line, finesse bait style fishing. “There’s an undeniable joy in fishing shorter, feather-light, super-efficient spinning tackle,” notes Reese, among the first anglers to tap the power ElaZtech® baits for bass. The quill-like rods weigh a mere 1.75-ounces and 2.2-ounces, respectively. Two medium-light power / fast action models include a 5’4” (4- to 8-pound test) and 5’10” (4- to 10-pound test) rod, each epitomizing an emerging trend toward shorter, lighter, ultra-precise spinning rods. Designed by Reese himself, Drew’s Ultimate Ned Rig Rods merge the original art of Midwest finesse with impeccable rod-building brilliance. To this day, they continue innovating fish-catching products (Reese was co-creator of Z-Man’s celebrated Finesse TRD™, TRD TicklerZ™ and Finesse ShroomZ™.) And now, in concert with Z-Man, Reese has perfected Drew’s Ultimate Ned Rig Rods-the first true-to-technique tools built with the highest-grade blanks, components and rod-building wizardry available.įist bumps to the original heroes of Midwest finesse style angling-and in celebration of its longtime friendship with these great anglers- Z-Man has merged the past and future of Ned rigging into a singular series of light-line, finesse lure spinning rods. Imagine the good-natured razzing, the exchange of breakthrough angling ideas that must have passed, as Ned Kehde, Chuck Woods, Guido Hibdon, Drew Reese and other architects of Midwest finesse (aka Ned rig fishing) sipped coffee and spent hard-earned dollars on the latest and greatest tackle.Ī generation later, the legendary Ned and Drew have been joined by thousands of their closest friends-successful Ned rig fans from all over the planet. Fincke’s resembled a lot of other family-owned baitshops of the time-truckloads of lures, rods, livebait and other angling essentials all crammed into a cozy little space. Ladson, SC (July 3, 2023) – Before and after local fishing forays, circa the 1960s, a cadre of exceptional Midwestern anglers gathered to shoot the breeze down at Ray Fincke’s old Kansas City tackle shop.
