Part Two: Suggest A Finesse "Presentation"

[Balshy Fishing]

Thank you all for the answers and feedback in the topwater section! Please, continue to answer those if you haven't already to keep up some great discussion. Next, we will be focusing on finesse. While this question may seem a little confusing, it should make sense shortly.

When the days get hot and the bass are finicky, finesse presentations are essential. Whether you're dragging a Carolina rig along the bottom, skipping a shakeyhead or just Ned Rigging--we all have a go-to. All presentations are meant to be fished slower and aim to draw out those big bass. While, the Ned Rig is probably my favorite, I will not be selecting it for my choice. Please, read up on the Ned Rig information all over this forum, it gives phenomenal insight. If you want to catch a lot of fish, go with Ned. 

Anyway, hopefully ya'll enjoy this and continue to post up some great answers and information for other users to try out! 

 

I RECOMMEND....
Name of Presentation/Technique: Dropshot 

Lure: Bass Munitions Hellgremite 

Location To Use(weather, water clarity, temperature, time of day, etc): Essentially, wherever you would fish a dropshot. My sinkers are the slim cylindrical ones so they don't get hung-up as easily.  I was throwing this around pretty big sized boulders in the water and making a killing. I'm assuming it would do just as well when fished around weedlines and the shallows. 

Notes(does the lure require certain test or type of line?): As with most finesse presentations, I go with lighter line. I switch between #6 mono, #10 mono & #12 fluoro. I use this as a leader with a braid mainline. 

Why Do You Recommend: The action on this plastic is phenomenal. It is a perfect size and when fished on the correct sized drop-shot hook, it's a killer. I'm not sure how many of ya'll have heard of this product but it's been great so far. 



I DO NOT RECOMMEND....
Name of Lure: Manns Jelly Worm 

Why Don't You Recommend It?: It's a shame because the lure looks awesome. It looks pretty good in the water but hasn't produced for me at all. This is a common theme with things I do not recommend--if I get skunked multiple times with them, I don't recommend them. I know a good majority of ya'll would recommend this worm due to its size and the fact that it can attract very large bass, but I haven't had such luck! 
 

[riverbasser]

Well first I gotta say I love the jellyworm! If I was on a computer I would try to use the format you used but too hard on a phone.

My favorite finesse is a jig. Too many reasons to list but It can be fished from 6inches to 30 feet and for some reason bass love crayfish. I love really picking apart cover and it will catch em of all sizes. I prefer the 1/4 ounce and only go up if really necessary. Zoom fat Albert twin tail is my favorite trailer.

Runner up is the trick worm.

Can't think of anything to not reccomend

[Catt]

Post spawn!

["hamma"]

When the bite stalls and fish seem to be inactive my first choice for a finesse technique is a 3 or 4" grub, on either a jighead for deeper waters and texas rigged for shallower weedy situations.

 The color of choice is usually the previlant baitfish pattern or white. I use a Diawa tony bean smallmouth rod and matching diawa td1300 reel with,10 pd test mono (i know, still in the dark ages) This setup is well balanced and casts just fine. 

Over the many years Ive been fishing this very rarely fails me and if it does? its a easy transition to a 4" straight tailed worm.,.. And yes the jelly worm is a choice in my aresenal, but i also have many, many handpours in patterns of said "previlant baitfish", typical pumpkinseed, junebug, etc, transluecense, and reapers to choose from..

 As for not recommending a finesse tech? Ive yet to find one thats failed me,. I feel its more the action and presentation then the lure itself. but then yet, Ive never actually fished a senko, ned rig, and just bought my first dropshot rod 2 weeks ago, and if need be, will try it tomorrow. I must confess though, i did "try" dropshotting last year on a 6'6 " med light rod i use for light baits (yeah. i finally get to fish my 2nd outing this year)

[Senko lover]

Can't beat a trick worm. 

[roadwarrior]

http://1source.basspro.com/index.php/all-videos/220-kevin-vandam/video/2006-how-kevin-vandam-won-cayuga-lake

 

[JPascavage52]

I've been using the mojo rig this year a lot, especially with my Senko fishing. It still allows you to maintain the "shimmy" and action of the bait, while being able to get it down a bit deeper, quicker, for bigger fish. Also, it's great for fishing around cover and grass, itll sink into the pockets, and if it gets hung up, a quick pop will pull it free. 

Also like the Ned Rig, have been using it this year with decent success. It's by no means magic, and there will be times where other techniques will produce better, but its an extremely valuable tool for getting a limit quick. Also is great for prefishing, you can find "numbers" areas where you could if you just need some filler fish. "The Deal" is my favorite color. 

[Ktho]

Drop shot is king in a lot of lakes I fish around me. 6lb fluoro and a 4" reins shaker or a straight tail worm like a robo is deadly. Works exceedingly well in clear water, especially when it's warmer.

[lo n slo]

[MIbassyaker]

4" Berkley Power Worm on a 1/8oz Owner Bullet Ultra Head:

I like the curly tail not for the action necessarily, but because it slows the fall slightly compared to a straight tailed worm. 

[Hogsticker]

I prefer a Jackall Flick Shake worm wacky rigged on a light head when covering water. Cast, let it sink to bottom, reel up and repeat. I can make numerous target casts around structure with this presentation. Simple and effective. If I'm dialed in to a spot or area I'll split shot rig a Keitech Crazy Flapper. Again, simple yet effective. 

[lakeannaangler]

I have  three favorite finesse rigs. 

1. 3 or 4 inch keitech easy shiner on a split shot rig.

2. Charlie brewer slider head with a Charlie brewer 3in bass grub

3. Wacky rigged senko on a mojo rig.

All these are fished on 10lb braid with fluorocarbon leader on medium light spinning gear. I also fish finesse jigs a lot  but that is a step out of finesse fishing for me.

[soflabasser]

Lots of good finesse lures mentioned, I  will add the Zoom Centipede to the list. 

[Master Bait'r]

Slug-Go SS worms, man...  I'm telling you guys there's nothing like them.  They're more whiptail jerkbait than worm, and they walk the dog like I've never seen.  They are my #1 go-to finesse worm and they get crushed.  4/0 VMC heavy duty EWG, weightless t-rig.  

I find they walk really easy with an XF blank and ultra fine braid.  They also make Neko rigging a breeze.  

[Balshy Fishing]

Yet again, you guys are giving some great information. 

As you've all noticed, you don't need to follow my exact 'layout'--it's just like an outline of things to consider. 

[Big-O]

One of my favorite finesse presentations is a Rage Rig with which ever soft plastic style, type or design that the fish want most... It's extremely versatile  

[Outdoor Zack]

15 hours ago, MIbassyaker said:

4" Berkley Power Worm on a 1/8oz Owner Bullet Ultra Head:

I like the curly tail not for the action necessarily, but because it slows the fall slightly compared to a straight tailed worm. 

How have you been fishing these types of worms?  Swimming?  Hopping?

I ask because I have a couple bags full but I haven't been able to hook up on one yet

[Balshy Fishing]

New topic will be coming tomorrow! Thanks for your support. 

[scaleface]

Lure " Beetle spin

Technique : Cast and reel . 

 

Reason : 12 year olds everywhere slay them on this lure . 

[rboat]

1. small jighead with a white curly tail grub. cast & reel, hop it, pitch it, drift with it, it resembles a shad and works in most lakes.

2. ned rig. same as above, except dark colored trd.

3. splitshot rig, a slipshot 12 to 18 inches above a 4 to six inch straight tail worm. works well in weedy areas.

Can't really recommend a dropshot, because I have had no luck with one, maybe too many weeds, or not enough time with it.

[Choporoz]

Conditions and tackle limitations finessed me into a particularly successful presentation for a few days last month.  Less than active bass sitting in and under quickly emerging hydrilla.  Slider heads worked, but I ran out.  Switched to 1/16 oz tungsten trigged trick worms and killed it.  The slider heads worked the weeds well, but the trig action was different enough to turn them on.

[fishwizzard]

I have been using the Ned for 3/4 of my fishing this year and it has been producing fish in waters that I have worked for the last two summers without success.  I have settled on using Hula Stickz cut back to the long side of the "egg sack".  I rig them either on a 1/16oz #4 Gopherhead jig or weedless on an 1/16oz #1 Owner Ultrahead jig.  After trying different methods, I have settled on rigging them with glue.  I thought it would bother me more being unable to swap colors on the fly, but I have discovered it matters less then I thought.  In any case on the weedless jig you can get maybe a half dozen fish before it becomes too soft to hold without glue, so I can still swap if I really want too. I fish them both with the various MWF retrieves, but I also do more hop/dragging then most others seem too.  I want to add a second plastic to my arsenal, something that produces more water disturbance for use in stained water, which I very often encounter.  I am messing with cut-down Zman sawtail worms and Zman Grubs.

I have also been using a series of small, 3-4", plastic worms/shads either weightless or on a 1/16oz 2/0 Keitech shakyhead jig. I fish them all the same, like a fluke when rigged weightless and do a slow hop/drag when using the jighead.  For plastics, I have been using Z-man 4" finesse worms, Reins Bubbling Shakers, Keitech Sexy/Shad Impacts, and BioSpawn 4" Finesse worms .  They have all been producing and are all close enough in size that I can use the same hooks and jigheads for them and swap the plastics without retying.