Power, Finesse, or Both?

[Glenn]

I asked this question several years ago but now that the number of members has grown so much. I will ask it again.

Do you Power Fish, Finesse Fish or Both? Why?

[A-Jay]

Sometimes Power, Sometimes Finesse & sometimes Both.

And I'll even go as far as to say that much of what I do might even be called Power Finesse . . . .

Deep Clear water dictates it.

A-Jay

[Darren.]

Mostly finesse here. Pretty sure that'll surprise @A-Jay  

Reason, it catches me more fish. Started out power fishing
back in the day before I fell in love with the ol' Senko. Since
then, it's fish in the net more often than not.

[ww2farmer]

What ever I need to do to catch fish that day.

I have won tournaments with a flipping , cranking, or frog rod in my hand, and I have also won them with a spinning rod, light line and tiny baits.

I never know what I am going to do until I get there.

I am the poster child for the old saying..........."jack of all trades, master of none"

I'll never beat the best froggers if it's a frog bite, I'll never beat the best crankers if it's a cranking bite, I'll never beat the best draggers if it's a dragging bite, I'll never beat the best chatterbaiters if it's a chatterbait bite,and I'll never beat the best senko drowners, if it's a senko drowning bite. 

BUT.........I can do all those things well enough to do well when I have to.

[davecon]

Not to be a smart a@$, but whatever works.

Lake I fish regularly here in west central Florida has been producing large numbers of large fish during the spawn for close to 20 years for me. Know the lake very well. Usually catch 8 or 10 every years up to 8, with several really big ones. Small lake, not well known, most people fish it for panfish and catfish. 

Usually a 12 inch worm is the ticket. One year I couldn't buy one with the big worm. Tried 4 inch worms on ultralight - BING ! The 4 inch worms have never worked since, and that was 8 or 10 years ago. Go figure. But to answer your question - whatever works.

[padon]

Whichever I think I need to put fish in the boat. I love fishing spinnerbaits and traps but with a lot of clear deep waters and pressured fish around here I find finesse or power firmness usually produces more fish for me.

[Onvacation]

My preference is to toss a fat jig at an underwater tree, hop a frog across some thick muck, or bounce a crankbait off of the bottom until the paint is gone. 

However, where I spend the most time fishing generally has me with a small t rigged worm, a shakey head, or a Ned rig in my hand.  

Since what I want doesn't match what the fish want, finesse would have to be my answer. 

[Mike L]

1 hour ago, ww2farmer said:

What ever I need to do to catch fish that day.

I have won tournaments with a flipping , cranking, or frog rod in my hand, and I have also won them with a spinning rod, light line and tiny baits.

I never know what I am going to do until I get there.

I am the poster child for the old saying..........."jack of all trades, master of none"

I'll never beat the best froggers if it's a frog bite, I'll never beat the best crankers if it's a cranking bite, I'll never beat the best draggers if it's a dragging bite, I'll never beat the best chatterbaiters if it's a chatterbait bite,and I'll never beat the best senko drowners, if it's a senko drowning bite. 

BUT.........I can do all those things well enough to do well when I have to.

Pretty much covers it for me too

 

Mike 

[earthworm77]

I prefer to finesse fish but if they want it some other way.......versatility is the key to success.

[d-camarena]

Im an all arounder although my cranking abilities could improve

[OCdockskipper]

Both.  

I have noticed however that when it is a power bite, towards the end of the day, I am looking forward to a slower presentation while on days with a finesse bite, I end the day wanting the darn fish to hit something moving.

[Paul Roberts]

Both, and in between.

[Alan Reed]

I use both depending on what the conditions are dictating. I will usually start with power and if they are biting then I will slow it down. 

[roadwarrior]

My preference is finesse, but I'm geared up and comfortable with power fishing.

["hamma"]

  Whatever they want,...Id rather,   just cruise like KVD and throw a spinnerbait. It can be the fastest way to a limit, but will also attract big bass. But then yet, tossing one all day can tire one out, and,.. I kinda like fishing a light setup too,... and enjoy a less physical presentation.

 But all in all,.I will fish however they dictate. I dont discriminate. I may "like" my topwaters spinnerbaits, and grubs,...but anything thats needed?,...Im on that too. cranks, jerkbaits, jigs, worms, spoons, frogs, I can fish them all,.. even some stitched finesse'n,

 So, I guess I have to say both

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Mostly lean finesse. Today though the bass didnt want finesse 1/20ned rig trd on my ML/Mod spinning set-up caught zero fish. They wanted Power Finesse 1/5ned rig trd on my SV105 20# braid 7' MH/MF Crucial baitcaster, got this 3# with this set-up. They were out 100'+ on bottom needed heavier to get out there.

[scaleface]

Define finesse . If its fishing light lures on spinning gear then i'm a power fisherman . 

[Senko lover]

I prefer to distinguish between "slow" fishing and "fast" fishing, of which I usually am engaged in the first.

[Mike L]

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

Define finesse . If its fishing light lures on spinning gear then i'm a power fisherman . 

Ditto

 

Mike 

[Bluebasser86]

Both and everything in between , just don't make me fish a C-rig.

[fullcoupe]

I'm more comfortable fishing fast and covering water. One of my weaknesses - I take forever to pick up the drop shot or T-rig, but when I do it's usually worth it.

However - I've always preferred spinning gear. Easier to hold all day. My hands are crippled after a day or two of tossing crankbaits on casting setups. So a lighter setup isn't really all that bad in the end...

[HardCider]

8 minutes ago, fullcoupe said:

 My hands are crippled after a day or two of tossing crankbaits on casting setups. So a lighter setup isn't really all that bad in the end...

I agree.  trolling will take care of that and you can run 2 or 3 rods at a time to pattern fish. 

[MassYak85]

I fish whatever I think is necessary to catch fish, but I enjoy power fishing the most. 

[.ghoti.]

I was about to say it depends how you define the terms. But, it doesn't matter.

If, by power fishing you mean runnin and gunnin, trolling motor always on, always moving, then, no, I'm not a power fisherman. I do not like that, at all.

If you mean heavy power rods, heavy braided line, locked down drags, and skiing the fish back to boat, then I am not a power fisherman. Don't like that either.

[Raul]

Both, but I prefer power fishing cuz I'm macho, I like knocking on wood and pulling fish out of heavy cover.