Finesse fishing

[Mobasser]

My first " real" bass outfit was purchased in 1984. Recommended by a now defunct tackle shop in north Kansas city. Heavy casting rod, 20lb line along with several large lures of the time. I didn't know much about bass fishing. Problem was, the local lake I fished was spring fed, and very clear. As much as I tried, I wasn't catching any fish. Read an article in Fishing Facts magazine by Charlie Brewer and ordered a slider " kit" along with his book.Almost right away,  I started catching bass. Even with the junker spinning rod I had, it was working.  After all this time, this has been the very best technique for me. I know there are many other advocates of this style of fishing on this site. Interested to know your setup,  jig heads you like, and baits. I like Brewers 4" worms and 3" bass grub, along with zoom finesse worms. Let me know if your still slidin.

[Darren.]

Not slidin' personally. Used to use 4" sliders on a 

drop shot, years back...

 

I'm a primarily light-tackle guy, so M and ML spinning

rods, one ML casting rod. 1000 Stradics, 50e Chronarch.

 

Techniques: drop shot, wacky, mojo/light TX, Ned, some

finesse jigging, small spinners...off the top of my head.

[TOXIC]

Welcome to 2018 where EVERYTHING is technique specific.  Rods, reels, line, lures and even your sunglasses!!  Sit back, pour yourself your favorite drink and read the posts and threads on this site.  And yes, I still throw a slider head every now and then.  ?

[Junger]

Sorry for my ignorance, but I had to look up what a slider head was. Basically it's just a one piece rig like a pegged bullet weight on a EWG worm hook?

[WRB]

Today you will get a lot of Ned rig suggestions because it's hot finesse rigs that catches lots of bass.

My suggestion is invest in a decent spinning outfit using today's rods, reels and line offering, you will enjoy finesse fishing a lot more.

No reason not to keep using Brewers slider jigs, however try some of other finesse rigs;

Slip/split shot rig.

Drop shot rig.

Ned rig.

Weedless wacky jig.

Nail weight rig.

Rod, medium light or 2 power, 6'8" to 7'.

Reel, light weight size 1000 to 2000.

Line, 5 lb to 8 lb premium mono or 12 lb braid with mono or FC leader.

Brands; rods, Daiwa, Dobyns, St. Crox, Shimano, Kistler etc., Reels Daiwa, Okuma, Shimano etc are all good quality depending on your budget. Line, Sunline, Seaguar and Maxima etc. offer premium mono, FC and braid. Hooks Owner, Gamakatsu and Mustad. Soft plastics look at Roboworms and Don Iovino finesse worms.

Tom

 

[fishwizzard]

35 minutes ago, Junger said:

Sorry for my ignorance, but I had to look up what a slider head was. Basically it's just a one piece rig like a pegged bullet weight on a EWG work hook?

More or less.  Slider Fishing was one of the early codified finesse systems.  The heads are great, both the thinner brass hooks and the thicker steel ones. The 3/0 x 1/16oz Slider heads are great for most any plastics that will work with the hookgap.  Zoom lizards in particular work amazingly well on them and seem to last far longer then when I have them rigged on a 3/0 offset hook and weight.  

[Todd2]

I have really shifted to finesse fishing in the last 3 to 4 years, like Tom mentions, the Ned is very popular and has got the lion's share of my day so far this year. But I also use Sliders, light ball heads, slip shots, and drop shots.

 

Non of my setups are technique specific, just low to medium priced Medium Spinning rods; some with braid some with mono.

 

 

[Crestliner2008]

You'll be hard pressed to find a better presentation that that CB Slider head and grub.

[Ruy Lopez]

I really got into fishing last year and had fun with a lot of different techniques. I didn’t try the Ned rig last year but I have fished it almost exclusively so far this year (which has only been about 2 or 3 weeks in Berkshire County MA) and have had a decent amount of success. I’ve been using green pumpkin, Z-Man elastic worms and mushroom jig heads

 

Looking to try Drop Shot and Mojo rigs for something new that I haven’t done before. I must say I’ve tried to look for some mojo  weights and haven’t been successful (I think I would have more luck trying to obtain weapons-grade uranium!). So I got some BPS finesse weights which appear similar enough. We’ll see how it goes

[Choporoz]

Been a fan of CB heads and worms for a few years now.  I did go through a period where I threw ned rig a bunch more, but I've swung back to sliders over ned probably about 4:1.  I find spiders and sliders come through most  grass better than anything most of the time -- I will use a 1/16 mojo weight sometimes instead, however. 

I use MF spinning rods; 6.5' and 7' spooled with 12# Gliss and 6# Yo-Zuri Hybrid leader.

 

For other finesse:

Owner Ultrahead Finesse Ball is great;

and if T-rigging, I like 1/32 to 3/32 tungsten weight above roboworms, Reins 4.5 Swamp Mover, 7" Rage Tail Thumpers -- CB used to have a curly tail worm that was fantastic, but I haven't seen them on the web site for at least a year.

44 minutes ago, Ruy Lopez said:

 

 I must say I’ve tried to look for some mojo  weights and haven’t been successful (I think I would have more luck trying to obtain weapons-grade uranium!). So I got some BPS finesse weights which appear similar enough. We’ll see how it goes

Yep - indistinguishable...And for 1/16, they are maybe the only option commonly available.  I haven't been able to find Mojo for probably a year and a half.  Phenix, I believe, used to sell 1/16 cylinders, but I can't find them that small now.  

[Mobasser]

Tom, I now have a great spinning rod, and use higher end mono. Seems like these days finesse is a broad term. I use drop shot, ned rig and split shot rigs also. Yes, rods and reels are WAY better than 30 years ago. I've heard great things about roboworms, but what I want to try next are Iovino hand pours. I know from other post you have used them. Everyone says good things about them, but I have yet to try a true handpour. Many guys say roboworms are close. Do you think they are vastly better than zoom, brewers, or other off the shelf worms? Id like to know some opinions on this. Brands and colors of your fave handpoured worms

[WRB]

Iovino worms the 2 colors I use most are Smallmouth Killer and Honeycomb.

The 4 1/2" fat boy would be good on a slider, the 6" with 1/4" cut flat off front is good for nail weight wacky hooked.

Roboworms colors and pours are very consistent, the 4 1/2" " FX series in MMIII and Peoples worm would be good for sliders, the 4 1/2" curl tail in Oxblood red flake is good slip shot worm with size 1 light wire hook (5133 Owner).

Hand pours are softer and float better then injection molded worms.

Tom

[Mobasser]

Thanks Tom. I've always wondered about hand poured worms. Ill try some of these that you suggested. Sounds like they should do well.

[Team9nine]

Much like a lot of people use a "Ned Rig" but are not practitioners of Midwest Finesse, so too people use a slider head but don't practice the art of "Do-nothing" fishing espoused by Charlie. Also, like Midwest Finesse, slider fishing is a simplified process requiring just basic tackle (rods, reels, baits). It's more a study in depth and speed control than anything else. Light tackle, light line, along with a handful of baits and hooks and you're good to go. I like the old school spider Classic slider heads best, but also carry Snagless and Super heads, too. Use whatever straight tail worms you like. I have a bunch of Brewers, but also like Zoom finesse and Zman WormZ...and don't forget your snips ? 

 

[OkobojiEagle]

4 hours ago, Team9nine said:

...a study in depth and speed control... old school spider Classic slider heads best.

amen...

[Crestliner2008]

14 hours ago, Team9nine said:

Much like a lot of people use a "Ned Rig" but are not practitioners of Midwest Finesse, so too people use a slider head but don't practice the art of "Do-nothing" fishing espoused by Charlie. Also, like Midwest Finesse, slider fishing is a simplified process requiring just basic tackle (rods, reels, baits). It's more a study in depth and speed control than anything else. Light tackle, light line, along with a handful of baits and hooks and you're good to go. I like the old school spider Classic slider heads best, but also carry Snagless and Super heads, too. Use whatever straight tail worms you like. I have a bunch of Brewers, but also like Zoom finesse and Zman WormZ...and don't forget your snips ? 

 

That's all you have to know about "finesse" fishing. If more fishermen would adopt their focus on depth & speed control, they'd be much more successful.

 

BTW.....a 4" Roboworm works wonders on a Slider jig.

[fishwizzard]

I keep wanting to try some of the Iovino worms but the min package being 25 puts me off.  Once I make a dent in my Robo stash I will give the Iovino worms a go. 

 

I keep a few Slider heads and a few 1/16oz wacky jig heads in with my dropshot stuff.  All three can make use of the same plastics and all three fish well on the same tackle.  

[Mobasser]

I agree fishwizzard.  I'm using up my supply of zoom, brewers, etc too. Of course I've bought too many! Your right about ALL of these small worms , being usable in many teqniques. And great fish catchers too

[Munkin]

The only thing I would change from what you read is to use Green Pumkin as a worm color. What he wrote years ago still works today and has counted for so many fish for me when the bite is tough.

 

Allen

[Bluebasser86]

Yep, one of the best fish getters at one of the lakes I fish often that gets pounded this time of year. I'm confident I can fish behind anyone and catch fish out there with a slider, it just works that well there right now. Don't shake it, don't hop it, just barely drag it. It's painfully slow fishing, but it works so good when they're on it and it catches surprisingly big fish.