Finesse Fishing

[BassinMD]

So I have been slowly getting into finesse fishing and I really have never been very big on it so I don't much attention to what everyone is usin or the techniques.

What techniques and lures have you guys been having success with, also do you prefer straight flouro, braid to flouro leader, or even another option.

[guitarkid]

When it comes to finesse I'm usually using a weightless and weedless straight tail worm,

My set up is a 6'6" M/F G.Loomis GL2, 2500 size Daiwa Tierra, 8# mono.

-gk

[iabass8]

The past year ive really got into finesse fishing using 1/8-3/16 shakey heads, casting drop shots and weightless worms.

69mlxf st. Croix legend xtreme /w pflueger patriarch mg 9530 10/2 pp s8s and 7# fluoro leader.

[guitarkid]

that typo

-gk

[iabass8]

Haha thanks. Changed it.

[deep]

I think the term finesse refers more to the presentation; rather than the size of the bait. Technicalities aside, I like to fish "sissy" baits like weightless senkos, 3/16 oz shakey-heads and 3/16 oz jigs on my Powell 733 Max. Reel is a Shimano Symetre; line is 30 lbs Daiwa Samurai with 8-10 lb leader. I usually fish them pretty slow; so I guess that's finessing.

[JigMe]

6’6 Shimano Compre/Shimano 3000 CI4 is my finesse bait setup, and 6lb fluorocarbon (Seaguar or Pline).

Finesse fishing is a more of a technique, then trying to figuer out which bait to use. Finesse fishing is done at a slower rate, and you need constant bottom contact. I will fish finesse when the bass is inactive, or in colder water. I had some success using North star Finesse Jig/Paca chuck, Wacky senkos(different brands), and recently drop shot with zoom trick worms.

[Darren.]

Finesse is a style. Like in tennis, you have finesse players and power players. Same equipment for the most part, just different styles of play. Finesse players will stroke the ball differently, often play full court whereas power players tend to stay at the base line and power the ball over the net. Stefan Edberg, John McEnroe were finesse, someone like Andre Agassi was power. Although both did all styles, these were their primary styles (IMHO).

That said, when I finesse fish, I tend toward lighter gear, softer presentation. I won't normally use my MH baitcasting setup for finessing, though I can.

I finesse fish 99% of the time with both spinning and baitcasting gear.

For baits, Senkos (sometimes knockoffs, but Yammies work best for me), Zoom Finesse worms, and sometimes when the bite is really tough I'll throw wacky rigged Zoom tiny flukes in watermelon red flake. That'll net me a lot of smaller fish, but I've caught some beasties, too. I'll rig Wacky, weighted wacky, Texas weightless and Texas weighted.

If I'm throwing lures I'll tend toward lighter lures, not fist-sized cranks or such. But again, you can finesse those.

Hooks: Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap #4, #2, #1. I caught my PB 7.5 lber on a size 1 or 2 in thick weeds. These pups don't bend or break. Caught 5+ lbers on the #4 size. These hooks rock.

For gear: Primarily Shimano Stradics 1000FI, 10lb braid mainline, leaders mono, copoly, fluoro from 6-15 lb test. Shimano Compre rods, Medium power, X-fast action, shorter (5'9", and 6'3").

Line brand: I use Power Pro yellow, and mostly P-Line Floroclear mist green leaders. Brand is really up to you and what you like. Opinions are all over the place, but the bottom line is use what you like and feel comfortable with.

[elkriverangler]

For my River Smallmouth Fishing I fish mostly Finesse style with various Plastics. Practically all of my Fishing is done out of a Kayak

Senko's or Dingers in 3-4" Size rigged Wacky or TX Rigged. 4" Worms and WInco's 3.25" Predator Craw as well as Kalins and Berkley 3 & 4" Grubs.

Like Darren I love the Shimano 1000 Stradics for this style of Fishing. Mine are mounted on Shorter 6'-6'3" ML and MLXF Avids.

I use Power Pro 20 in Hi Vis Yellow with a 6-8" 3-4' Mono Leader

[OkobojiEagle]

A good place to START understanding "finesse fishing" is researching "Charlie Brewer" and "slider fishing". He wrote a little book 40 years ago that may have you re-thinking your fishing strategies.

oe

[detroit1]

You don't need constant bottom contact with any lure , finesse or not.

[Will Wetline]

I fish very clear water for smallies and often use my lightest outfit which is a St. Croix 7' ML Avid and a Shimano Stradic 2500 filled with Berkley 6 lb. Sensation. I've caught a lot of fish slowly swimming an 1/8 oz. tube over the bottom and I also like this combo for dropshotting.

Slightly heavier gear I carry is a St. Croix 7' M Avid, and a Shimano Stradic 3000 filled with Berkley 8 lb. Sensation.

I'll rig a RI Smallie Beaver with a 1/0 EWG standard wire Gamakatsu and sink it with an 1/8 oz. tungsten bullet. A 4" wacky rigged Senko is well balanced on this too.

Re finesse fishing in general, think slow and subtle.

[Sam]

7 foot + medium heavy spinning rod with fast tip.

Spinning reel of your choice.

Flourocarbon line in 8 to 10 pound test.

Provider jig head in 1/16, 1/8 or 1/4 depending on the water depth and time of year.

Trick worm wrigged wacky depending on water clarity.

Also can change out to another type of plastic and use pegged bullet weights on a weedless hook.

Senkos by themselves as they are heavy enough to throw without any weight.

Easy entrance into the water if possible. Fish all wood you can find. Be ready to get snagged and lose some tackle and baits.

Watch line as they will hit your bait on the fall. Let bait sit for about 5 to 1

[Sam]

10 seconds. Twitch bait with rod tip. Move bait towards you keeping it on the bottom. Keep finger on line and rod tip at 10 or 11 o'clock. Always watch your line.

Great way to fish the shoreline for bass. Give it a try.

[SissySticks]

I am a die hard finesse fisherman, because if I"m not getting 5 bites an hour I get bored and want to go home. Call me a sissy if you wish. I carry 8 spinning rods in my boat, and have done so since I started studying the methods of Charlie Brewer (x2 on reading the book. Watch the video too) and Ned Kehde (check out his blog on the in-fisherman website. Very informative). I throw a jighead/plastic combo (3-4") or t-rigged weightless plastic, a drop shot rig, a tiny topwater or a finesse jig (1/8 and 3/16 oz. are favorites, but I will go up to 5/16 if necessary) almost 100% of the time.

Favorite plastic baits: 3" BPS stik-o, 3.5" smallie beaver, Tiny Brush Hog, BPS 4.5" cut-tail, SK Bitsy Tube, Cabin Creek Spider, 3" Slider Grub, 3" BPS Spring grub, Zoom Lil Critter Craw

I fished with straight mono BPS excel, 4-8 pound, for years. This year I'm experimenting with braid/fluoro. I like it a lot, but it is very expensive (even to just put 60 yards on each reel I regularly use costs 80+ bucks). I'm not sure if I catch more fish than I did with mono. Next year I will put vicious elite fluoro, yo-zuri hybrid, and P-Line CX head to head and see if I can find something I like well enough that doesn't cost quite so much.