Power, Finesse, or Both?

[Jeff H]

4 hours ago, Paul Roberts said:

Both, and in between.

Same.  Love it all but I'm a weak deep cranker.

[CrustyMono]

Who doesn't like a good topwater blowup?

All jokes aside, I mainly fish finesse versions of faster reaction strike baits (swim jigs)

[JigMaster4]

Both. Usually when I fish I have at least 2 moving baits and 2 slow presentations ready, and then let the fish tell me what they want. However since you are asking I really like jig fishing.

[WRB]

Define power fishing and finesse fishing. My guess is there isn't a clear definition everyone agrees on.

I will use Don Iovino's, the father of finesse fishing, definition being precise presentation using light line 8 lb test or less. Finesse fishing being doddling, split shot, drop shot, light weight jigs including Ned rig, nail weight worms etc.

Power fishing being flipping, pitching (due to the heavy tackle not the precision involved), spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jigs over 1/4 oz of all types, swimbaits, structure spoons, tail and under spins, flutter spoons, T-rigged worms w/bullet weights, bubba shot, top water, wake bait baits, etc.

I power fish about 80% and finesse fish about 20% depending on the seasonal period. Finesse fishing is something I do if needed to catch something when fishing with a partner, otherwise It's power fishing.

Tom

[Jon G]

Love Power fishing but I also love throwing jigs and shakey heads. Not super into dropshotting and other finesse tactics like that.

[MIbassyaker]

Small waters, no trolling motor, a stealthy craft, and a preference for being thorough -- all the incentives align toward fishing slow for me. If that's what finesse is, then that's what I tend to do, regardless of how heavy the tackle is.

[Paul Roberts]

15 hours ago, Jeff H said:

Same.  Love it all but I'm a weak deep cranker.

I am too actually, or at least rusty. For quite a while now "deep" has been "over 6ft".

Since fast and slow has come up, in lieu of power and finesse, again I'll say I like it all. Then there's shallow and deep. And vertical and horizontal.

Of course speed, shallow, and horizontal is great! If the fish will meet me most of the way, I can't ask for much more. But, if they won't, then I'll do what it takes. All tackle, all speeds, all angles. Just to be eye-to-eye with another green or brown fish.

[Further North]

Both.

Depends on the situation.

I can do everything from dropping a fly on a current seam, and drifting a #20 nymph for a picky trout to throwing a 6 ounce musky bait on a rod more suited to towing small vehicles.

Horses for courses...

[Airman4754]

Both. I like to power fish to find active feeding fish and finesse fish to catch numbers.

[fishwizzard]

Almost totally finesse, one could further specify "weightless or lightly weighted small soft plastics fished with a swimming retrieve".  

Somehow I need 6-7 combos to fish this.  I really need to branch out more. 

[shimmy]

I know there will be some ambiguity around whether jig fishing (casting) is finesse or not. So, for me, this is my preferred style, but really, the lake vegetation or lack thereof determines what i mainly throw. Vegetation laden lakes, jig fishing 90% of the day. Reservoir with rock and little vegetation, crankbait will be my 50% lure with jig the other 50%. When it comes to super finesse with 8 pound line, i just can't get myself to fish this way. I want to feel the weight of the fish. I just couldn't get myself to fish like Aaron Martens. Just doesn't seem fun to me. If i ever fish tournaments, i don't see myself fishing this way ever! So, i am sure i would donate to other anglers on a frequent basis. However, i will say this, there are plenty of FLW and Elite series pros who fish with the same mindset. And let's be honest, being stubborn with jig fishing is rarely a winning formula (but don't let Denny Brauer, Tommy Biffle, or Greg Hackney know about that).

[Catt]

I throw what they're biting on!

If I'm throwing a 10" worm and not getting bit while you're throwing a 4" worm and getting bit.

I'll give you 2 probably 3 then I'm changing!

[Rick Howard]

I don't know.  Where can I find the definitions?

I spend a lot of time fishing jigs.  Which to me requires finesse to Put that jig into the right place and land it softly.  Removing that fish from the cover it's buried in requires power though.

Fishing a spinnerbait in open flats and retrieving it quickly over the cover or ripping it through the cover I assume is power fishing.  But there are times when I'm pitching the spinner bait, similar to a jig, which strikes me as a finesse tactic.

i fish soft plastics a lot and vary my  presentation.  Sometimes working it slowly on the bottom.  Other times bouncing it up and down so it rises and falls, even the speeds of this vary.  When the cover gets really thick I crash slender baits with a heavy weight through the slop.  I sometimes fish a tube like a  Jerk bait too.  I also have grown fond of Texas rigging a senko and just letting it sink.

I like to fish a rapala minnow on the surface and sometimes fish it under the surface as a jerk bait.

I also fish a dropshot in holes. 

[bassguytom]

I fish with my wife. When I'm power fishing on top she is usually  finesse fishing on the bottom. And vice versa. 

[DrMarlboro92]

I mostly power fish. Power fishing isnt just about being fast, or throwing big heavy baits. Thats part of it, but its major roll in fishing is to quickly cover water in the most efficient way possible. You arent going to turn on inactive schools while power fishing, but you have a better chance of finding the ones the are biting quicker. when I'm out alone, or with someone who isn't new to the sport, I'm going to power fish. I want to hit as many spots as I can, and cover as much water as possible throughout the day. I feel like I can pattern better, and figure water out faster this way. 

This doesn't mean I NEVER finesse fish. sometimes this is what the fish want. It's also a lot easier on new anglers (I've been taking a lot lately) who want to fish and not roar down the lake 10 times. It's also easier to teach new fisherman finesse versus power fishing. 

[Bankbeater]

Depends on the situation.

[Djf3864]

I am mostly a power fisherman, if this bite is slow I will resort to the slow stuff.  I really need to focus when fishing slow, I am just not wired to fish that slow.

[scaleface]

If I'm pulling a lure off the bottom in twenty foot of water , hold it for a couple of seconds then lower it slowly back down on baitcasting gear , is tthat power fishing or finesse fishing ?

[A-Jay]

24 minutes ago, scaleface said:

If I'm pulling a lure off the bottom in twenty foot of water , hold it for a couple of seconds then lower it slowly back down on baitcasting gear , is tthat power fishing or finesse fishing ?

Good Question ~

I'll say that if your gear includes 8 lb test or lighter - It's Finesse.

 Anything with stronger line is Power Finesse

 Perhaps the Name of the approach is not the important question though - what I want to know is,  if you hooked up or not and what was the bait & color ?

A-Jay

[roadwarrior]

4 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

...what was the bait & color ?

And perhaps the most important variable, what depth?

 

[DubyaDee]

I'm a power guy for the first couple hours. If I'm catching them I'll stay power, but I usually always end up going finesse for the rest of the day. I am determined to be more of a finesse guy next year. 

[Choporoz]

Love jigging...and love to crank and wind.  That said, I spent a lot more time with a spinning rod in my hands the last half of this season, than I have in the past.

[gim]

I almost always at least try to start with a power tactic like a topwater or faster-moving lure.  Unfortunately, and obviously, the fish are not always in an aggressive mood so its not always effective.  I'll give it about 10 minutes then I switch over to a slower finesse tactic.

[NYWayfarer]

I finesse fish 99.9% of the time.

Crank and swimbaits in my tacklebox are mostly for show.

 

[Hurricane]

On ‎11‎/‎26‎/‎2016 at 3:08 PM, 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.

Agree... Same here...