Question for The Dean! What makes the "Deans Rig" different from a traditional senko rig or neko rig?

Hey Brandon,

Great question. On the surface, The Dean’s Rig may not look that much different from other soft plastic presentations, but the subtle differences are what really separate it.

The biggest difference is that the weight is positioned in the tail of the bait. That causes the lure to fall backward anytime you give it slack line. That’s very unusual in the bass fishing world and creates a totally different action compared to a Texas rig or a completely weightless bait.

That backward fall is what really triggers strikes. A lot of times a bass may swim up to inspect the bait without fully committing to it. But when the bait suddenly retreats backward right into the fish’s face, it almost forces a reaction strike.

This backward-fall motion is especially effective around grass clumps, brush piles, docks, and other complicated cover. When you pop the bait over or through the cover, immediately give it slack line and let it fall backward naturally. The bait will retreat right into the cover where the fish lives or directly back into the strike zone.

Another huge advantage is efficiency. Compared to a completely weightless presentation, that small tail weight helps the bait fall faster, allowing anglers to cover water much more effectively. You spend less time waiting for the bait to slowly sink through the water column and more time getting bites.

To sum it up, this is a technique I teach to all my students—from kids and high school anglers all the way to adults. It’s an extremely effective way to catch largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass under a wide range of conditions, especially when the bite gets tough.

Good luck, and let me know how it works out for you.

Pete (The Dean)