Looking for 5 finesse techniques

[Blake Burns]

Looking to get serious about finesse fishing. What are 5 finesse techniques I should learn . Already somewhat proficient with a shakey head, dropshot, and Ned rig. So basically what's two more techniques that I should add to that list? 

 

[Ktho]

Underspin and expand on the Ned rig. Ned rig is only one of many soft plastic/jig head setups. Worms, grubs, swimbaits, creatures, flukes etc. almost any plastic can be fished really well on a jig head. 

Imo finesse is more of a mindset and style than simply a lure choice. Finesse as opposed to power like ying and yang. Stitching an 18" worm is every bit as finesse as a Ned rig or micro tube jig. Think about it.

[Turkey sandwich]

You can fish big baits in a finesse style.  However, most of my finesse fishing is done with 3.5" tubes and grubs.  You can present them in most places and work them at a variety of different depths and speeds until you can really tune in on the fish.  In fact, most of the big smallmouth we've boated this year have come on grubs and Bitsy bug/Bitsy craw trailer.  

[Bluebasser86]

Wacky rig should be on that list for sure. 

[smalljaw67]

Wacky is one you should use for sure!! Ned rig is the best when fish are scattered and roaming but when the fish are tucked up tight to cover the wacky rig becomes your best bet.

[Catt]

If you want to be proficient with the Wacky Rig understand a Senko is not necessary!

[NYWayfarer]

35 minutes ago, Catt said:

If you want to be proficient with the Wacky Rig understand a Senko is not necessary!

I agree. I wacky rig Shim E Sticks, Ochos and Flick Shakes as well as Senkos.

Wacky rigging weightless is also not necessary. I wacky rig all of the above baits on my drop shot set up and do just as well.

[timsford]

Flick shaking with wacky jigheads and split shotting are 2 I do a lot and catch a lot of fish on. Another would be the old doodlin technique that Don iovino made famous. Small brass weight and glass bead with a Texas rigged finesse worm (I like craws too). Cast it out and shake it on bottom or fish vertical under the boat for suspended fish. Just count it down and shake it at the target depth. I've caught a lot of bass like this too, but usually on the casting method with a small 3 inch craw

[J Francho]

Wacky

Wacky Jig

Shaky Head

Drop Shot

Split Shot

[J Francho]

I would throw a nod to the jig-worm, though it has been reinvented as some new-fangle Ned rig nonsense, lol.

[Swamp Rat]

Slider fishing is a must. However, I don't mind if you don't, I will just follow behind you and catch fish on one of my Slider rigs...lol. Seriously, take a look at the Charlie Brewer Slider method...I catch fish every time out on this system. Also, on wacky rig, I will use a fluke instead of a senko...try that.

[J Francho]

I like slider fishing.  Haven't done it in years, though.

[Fisher-O-men]

Neko is a must!

[jr231]

Drop shoting is a tool I would highly suggest you invest in. 

[Swamp Rat]

3 hours ago, J Francho said:

I like slider fishing.  Haven't done it in years, though.

I still do it, every time out. I have 2 spinning rods set up for Slider fishing...they both have 6lb copolymer on one spool and 10lb braid on the other. I also will Power Slider with a 10' worm or 9" lizard on 15lb mono on a 7' H casting rod. Another great technique that I found when I went through over 2 bags of worms on a 150 fish day, was 3" senko type plastics as well as 3-4" fluke type baits.

My little brother and I used to fish team tournaments, and we both would start with slider, and usually we were culling within 90 minutes...then we took turns Slider and power fishing. It is a great technique that I jokingly say I hope nobody tries...lol.

[J Francho]

Like me and the drop shot....;)

[Molay1292]

Mojo Rig or a Split Shot rig is a nice finesse style, try it with a 4 1/2 ribbon tail worm and a light wire hook.

[WRB]

Just defining finesse fishing is impossible today!

Light tackle using 4# to 8# line may be a good start, so what tackle do you use currently Blake Burns?

The Fresh Water Hall of Fame credits Don Iovino as the father of finesse fishing and Don gives credit to Dick Trask who got Don into using a split shot rig. The split shot rig was a adaption of a live bait presentation using shad colored 4 1/2" smoke Mister Twister Phenom curl tail worms in lieu of a live Threadfin shad. The spilt shot rig won lots of tournaments in the 80's using 4# and 6# premium mono line modified 2500C baitcasting reel and spinning reels.

The next finesse rig that was popular during the same time frame was a 1/8oz darter haed jig using the same or similar small soft plastic worms.

Iovino came up with a presentation he called doddling, a finesse T-rig using brass painted bullet weights, glass faceted bead and the small 4" to 5" worms. Doddling is a shaky presentation of the brass n glass rig.

Wacky rig is simple hooking the worn near the middle in lieu of in the nose. You can wacky hook any worm and commonly done using the drop shot and nail weight rigs.

Split shot/mojo or slip shot/finesse C- rig

Dart head jig

Doddling with brass n glass

Drop shot rig, wacky hooked.

Nail weight rig

Flick shaky jig rig.

Float n fly rig.

Tom

 

[Swamp Rat]

4 hours ago, J Francho said:

Like me and the drop shot....;)

Something on my list to try, especially the bridges on Alligator Alley

[Mark888]

The drop shot bait is killer for me, confidence bait! A shaky head is great on ledges, or if you want to through a little something different then a jig. Ned rig is a quantity bait, i don't throw it much just because i get a lot of rock bass on it (Don't like rock bass). A mojo rig is amazing for fishing grass, just sits ontop of the grass. A wacky rig senko or stick bait always catches fish, i have been leaning away from the senko recently, and using other baits like the havoc money maker or the angler's choice wart hog. I have yet to try the neko rig, but i have a feeling it will be a killer rig.... Tight lines! 

[Oklahoma Mike]

My recommendations would be the wacky and Neko rigs.

[primetime]

1/16 oz chatterbait minnows....Light Road runner Hair jigs...light line 6lb test, 4" curly tail worm with a light wire worm hook on a split shot or a slider worm, straight tail on a darter style jig head/slider head....Gitzit tubes work good on the slider heads as well in baitfish colors, the thinner Gitzit baitfish tubes.....

I love a split shot 4" Worm on light line when I want action and often it produces big fish. Translucent natural colors that match the water color...Light line, light rod is fun, and can be addicting.

[Airman4754]

I'm not sure if it has an official name, but I use a Senko rigged weedless with an Octopus hook. It's like half wacky, half Neko. 

You attach a tiny split shot below the eye of the hook. Then you run the hook in the same place where you would Neko but you run the point towards the nose instead of away from it and keep the hook buried in the Senko. When you twitch it you get more of a wacky presentation then the dead stick from a T-rig while having the same weedless capability. 

It was something I came up with a long time ago to fish the ponds around here that are nothing but weeds in the summer. 

[MBB Nate]

Wacky rig 

Shakyhead

Ned rig 

Dropshot 

Mojo Rig 

[Choporoz]

Killed them yesterday 'finesse punching' non-matted hydrilla.  I was using 1/8 and 1/16 mojo cylinder weight with trick worm.  Cast up with a little bit of arc and let come down straight through the thick-looking hydrilla.  Worm glides right through to the bottom and the 'invisible bass' on the bottom, under the weeds, rarely let the worm settle.  I had spent an hour or so trying to glide stuff cross the tops with no luck.  Punching straight down was the ticket.