Collection: Best NEKO Rods

What is the best NEKO Rod? It depends on what you're catching and where.

It's hard to deny the impact of the NEKO rig in major tournament wins lately. The 2025 Bassmaster Classic was dominated by a NEKO Rigged finesse worm, catching the majority of the winning fish. This technique isn't new, but with the advent of forward imaging, it's become more versatile and much more effective. With or without a scope, the NEKO rig is arguably the most effective presentation going. Alpha has the perfect line-up of NEKO rods. Read below to find which one is best for your approach!!

Most Popular - Alpha ShAAKr 6'7" Medium Fast xHM

The NEKO rig isn't a new technique, but it's recent popularity is mostly attributed to forward imaging usage. Skipping a NEKO around docks or throwing it to brush piles and trees offshore, the ShAAkr provides exceptional accuracy. It's design enhances the "shaking" part of the presentation with overworking the bait. To add excellence to the NEKO technique, the ShAAKr is extremely sensitive due to Alpha's xHM Toray graphite.

ShAAkr NEKO Benefits: Skipping, Accuracy, Sensitivity, Lighter Baits

Most Versatile - Alpha LiteSAAbre - 7'1" Medium Fast xHM

NEKO Rigs come in all shapes and sizes. Arguably the most effective NEKO rig for all-season basin's is a 5" Senko with a 3/32 nail weight. The Alpha LitesAAbre is perfect for the Senko, and for the lighter finesse NEKO worms as well. Versatility is the name of the game for the sAAbre. It's exceptionally light-in-hand, and top of it's class in sensitivity, which enhances NEKO presentations. Up close to docks, or out deep, heavier or lighter baits, the LitesAAbre is the goto NEKO staple fishing rod.

LitesAAbre NEKO Benefits: All lure sizes, Sensitivity, Deep and Shallow Targets

The OG NEKO Rod - Alpha Wrench - 7' Foot Medium Fast

The 5-Star rated Alpha Wrench excels with NEKO and Wacky rigged baits. Awarded the "Best Wacky Rig Senko" rod by our prostaff, makes the Wrench a shoe-in for the NEKO technique. The fast tip allows for exceptional skipping, with some backbone for pulling fish out from under docks and laydowns. Shallow skipping or deep water dragging the NEKO is perfected on the Wrench. Alpha's Low Drag guides system adds distance to every presentation, keeping boat-presence at a minimum.

Wrench NEKO Benefits: Skipping and Casting, Power, All Depth Ranges

Deep Water NEKO - Alpha 76er - 7'6" Medium Fast

The NEKO rig may be the most effective off-shore and deep water tactic. It's always a player in the summer, when bass go deep. The Alpha 76er has the extra length to move line and drive hooks when the fish are away from the boat. The favorite NEKO rod for Elite Series Angler, Bryant Smith, the 76er is exceptional as a NEKO launcher. Bryant cut his teeth fishing NEKO rigged Senkos for spotted bass on the West Coast. His best advice, "In clear water, you have to get the bait as far from the boat as possible."

76er NEKO Benefits: Castability, Power, Deep and Clear Water, Summer Fishing