Starting Power, Ending Finesse - What about the converse?

[islandbass]

We all know that general rule that when the power (and by this I mean the bigger and heavier lures) approach isn’t producing, we typically downsize and creep toward smaller presentations to the point you might employing the finesse stuff. 
 

My question is — Does anyone or has anyone started finesse, or on the lighter/smaller side, realized it wasn’t producing and actually upsized or moved on up like George and Louise Jefferson? And if so, did it wind up working?

 

I skunked out at Lake Fenwick yesterday, and I started in the middle with a 1/4 oz. T-rig set up, going senko to craw to brush hog. Through and above submerged vegetation without success. Next, I worked 3/8 and 1/4 oz spinnerbaits systematically also without success. I put away the bc rig and drop shotted a roboworm. 
 

I ran out of time and needed to run a errand for the Mrs. It didn’t help that  my hands were cold to the point it was getting hard to make a fist, and I was wearing thin gloves. 
 

I started in the middle, then went up and down. Still didn’t produce. ??

Oddly enough, there was another guy bass fishing too. It looked like he was fishing a weightless 3” senko. He never changed up so his approach the “stick to your guns” no matter what method (which can also work) didn’t work either. ?He also went home skunked. 
 

 

 

 

 

[Bankbeater]

In the spring and fall I will up size before I will go smaller.  There have been a lot of times when a 1/4 or a 3/8 bait will not get bit, but the bass will keep biting a bigger or more fuller bait like a 1/2 or 3/4 ounce.

[FryDog62]

I routinely start with finesse on higher pressured lakes where I’m familiar with a handful of high percentage spots. These spots will get hammered throughout the day, so I get there early and pick them apart best I can with finesse... then move to search mode (power) as the other boats start to show up. 
 

 

[TOXIC]

Not saying it doesn’t happen but I have never seen a bite go from finesse to power.  I will fish more power based baits if that’s what the fish want and by that I mean crankbaits and a few larger baits but I most often fish finesse because that is where the numbers are for me.  

[PotatoLake]

Bluebird day, I start with finesse. Cloudy windy, I start with power.

[fishwizzard]

There are definitely days where I have started with a very subtle presentation and slowly move towards ones that create more and more of a racket until I start catching.

 

It’s also somewhat frustration based, like if I’ve spent a couple hours trying to grind one out with no luck I will generally gravitate towards more “aggressive” presentations are the premise that if the bass are unwilling to bite I can at least ruin their quiet afternoon of knitting or whatever else the hell they’re doing down there. 

[ironbjorn]

Not quite the same thing you're discussing in your OP, OP, but the last couple of seasons has seen me go almost entirely power fishing. I noticed a gradual decline in my finesse success, so I started going bigger as my go-to with a lot of success. I think a lot of my power fishing success in 2020 and 2021 has a lot to do with the fact that basically everyone is finesse fishing and a lot of anglers are impatient. Impatience leads to switching over too fast and on the other end of the spectrum laziness. I think the bass are seeing a lot less power lures than ever before and therefore they're working - for me - as well as they ever have if not better than they ever have.

[Jig Man]

The time of day and weather is the biggest factor for me.  If I can arrive in a crepuscular period then a spinnerbait, crankbait, or spook will be first to hit the water.  If it is sunny and calm then out comes the worm brush hog junior, and Ned.

[Bird]

Pre-spawn is a simple game plan but after that I stick with the same regime.

 

Start out power fishing, covering water " early morning " with top water, buzzbaits, ploppers and spooks. 

Always have a spinnerbait tied on.

I'm basically moving fairly quickly picking up active fish.

 

Then I slow way down giving my arms a break and move on to slower presentations and look for cover. I may hang out at 1 submerged tree for 30 minutes or more working something T-rig. 

 

And finally start reading the graph and looking for channels and fish. Really enjoy vertical fishing the drop-shot mid day.

 

Really enjoy the diversity of bass fishing.

[JustJames]

I change presentation/techniques  first before considering upside or downsize doesn’t matter finesse or power. If I fish, fluke Senko or Fatika and moving/hoping slowly doesn’t work, I go with hard jerk and fast either a long the bottom or up high in water column. Same when I fish lipless, spinnerbait or chatterbait, if burning back doesn’t work then I go yo-yoing or just swim slowly a long bottom.

[Mike L]

20 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

I change presentation/techniques  first before considering upside or downsize doesn’t matter finesse or power. If I fish, fluke Senko or Fatika and moving/hoping slowly doesn’t work, I go with hard jerk and fast either a long the bottom or up high in water column. Same when I fish lipless, spinnerbait or chatterbait, if burning back doesn’t work then I go yo-yoing or just swim slowly a long bottom.

Ditto

 

As I’ve said many times…

I don’t Ned, Drop, Shake or Wack. 

 

I’ll drag, swim, hop, yo yo, change color, add or subtract flash, speed up or slow down before any of all that. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[Bdnoble84]

Yes, i have had days where i started finesse, then went more aggressive and did better. It isnt as much downsizing or upsizing as it is presentation. I was convinced i would have the best luck being slow and methodical but didnt have success, but as soon as i got aggressive got nailed. Sometimes its burning a spinnerbait or ripping a jerkbait, but it could be switching from a finesse work to a jig im working fast and ripping off the bottoe.

[Derek1]

I fish from the bank. So when I walk up to the spot I’m gonna fish. I start with pitching whatever finessier bait I’m using that day at the shoreline and whatever close cover I can see. I do that  Before I run a spinnerbait or more aggressive bait through the immediate area. That helps to pick off any fish that are up tight to the shore line as opposed to possibly chasing them off. 

[papajoe222]

The only two ways I will start out with small baits, or a finesse approach would be if conditions were tough and I knew the location held fish, or if I knew the fish were keying on small forage. Otherwise, I'm in search mode and that calls for faster moving presentations. I have, on more than one occasion, used small baits when searching under cold front conditions.

[cyclops2]

The FIRST rule of fishing is

 

 They do not have to bite.

 

The last rule of fishing is.

 

They did not bite.      Keep coming back. They will be biting again.

[softwateronly]

6 hours ago, ironbjorn said:

Not quite the same thing you're discussing in your OP, OP, but the last couple of seasons has seen me go almost entirely power fishing. I noticed a gradual decline in my finesse success, so I started going bigger as my go-to with a lot of success. I think a lot of my power fishing success in 2020 and 2021 has a lot to do with the fact that basically everyone is finesse fishing and a lot of anglers are impatient. Impatience leads to switching over too fast and on the other end of the spectrum laziness. I think the bass are seeing a lot less power lures than ever before and therefore they're working - for me - as well as they ever have if not better than they ever have.

 

I don't know if it's me or others, but I see the same trend on my little lake (275 acres) as @ironbjorn, bigger baits lend themselves toward bigger fish most of the time.  And with the water very clear, bigger but subtle action is my starting point.  5" beast rigged swimbaits, 4-5" trailer on a swim jig, 1/2oz trimmed skirt flipping jig and full size craw trailer are my starting points unless I'm on a specific bite.  2 out of those 3 are always on deck regardless.

 

scott

[Team9nine]

I've switched over the years as I've aged and gotten away from tournament fishing. Go back 10, 20, or 30 years ago and it was power, first, next and last, with the only exception being horribly stingy waters with predominantly small bass (like the Ohio R.). Now days, it's probably 80% finesse first, and often all day without change. Power comes out to play just when I feel like throwing it, usually when I'm after a specific bite due to weather or water conditions, or sometimes when finesse has been slow and I just want to check out a few more areas in the little time I have left to fish. Both are fun when they work, and I don't really care how I catch them anymore, as long as I DO catch them. 

[WRB]

Depends when the bass actively feeding, for me is usually during low light period, no reason to finesse active bass.

I consider wacky rigged weightless Senko a finesse presentation and like drop shot or slip shot it’s s l o w.

Jigs are my go to lure so that’s is what I start with most of the time. Prefer big swimbaits during bright light and often start fishing big lures after slower finesse presentations.

Whatever is working that is what I am using.

Tom

 

[Basser2021]

17 hours ago, islandbass said:

 

My question is — Does anyone or has anyone started finesse, or on the lighter/smaller side, realized it wasn’t producing and actually upsized or moved on up like George and Louise Jefferson? And if so, did it wind up working?
 

 

 

 

 

I do this depending on where I'm fishing. If I'm fishing ponds or streams I always start out finesse. If I'm fishing a lake or river then I start out power fishing. 

[Mr. Aquarium]

When I go, I have both power and finesse. Like I toss a tube or t-rig , a flippin jig and an 8 inch swimbait.  I’ll fish them all before I move to a different spot. Some times I’ll get smaller fish on a smaller bait, small craw bait, smaller swimbait smaller jig, I’ll increase the size to see if I can get bigger fish.   I’ll get fish on a small t rig and try an 8 inch swimbait. Completely different baits. 

[king fisher]

Yes if you consider starting off fishing a spook slowly, my finesse presentation , then switching to a buzz bait until the wind picks up, change, and finish the day with a spinnerbait, or square bill.   That is cold water, winter fishing in my part of Mexico.

[islandbass]

7 hours ago, king fisher said:

Yes if you consider starting off fishing a spook slowly, my finesse presentation , then switching to a buzz bait until the wind picks up, change, and finish the day with a spinnerbait, or square bill.   That is cold water, winter fishing in my part of Mexico.

I’ll trade that for western Washington fishing from the shore in winter. Got passport, will travel, lol. My wife is from Mexico, but when I’m there I prefer saltwater fishing. How weird is that? What a disconnect. ???

[padon]

its a time situation. i can cover more water and hopefully find some active fish with the power presentations. if i slow down with finesse then i wont get to cover as many spots. now if im convinced there are fish where im fishing i will slow down with a dropshot ned etc. however i will say with the amount of bait in our water relying on a feeding bite in summer is tough. sometimes you need to upsize your bait and make it move to get a reaction bite.

[TOXIC]

It just so happens we were fishing a power plant lake yesterday and noticed there was a small tournament going on.  We were in a cove with some docks and a feeder stream in the back.  As we started into the cove, fishing from the outside, a tournament boat came roaring in the cove, driver jumped on the front deck and dropped the trolling motor in front of the docks, made a dozen back to back casts with a spinnerbait, stowed the TM, and roared out of the cove.  We proceeded to the docks, made about 4 casts with Ned rigs and put what would be 2 good keepers in the boat for this lake.  We also caught a few more smaller fish but as I said, we were just fun fishing.  That’s why I gravitate to finesse.  

[AManWearingAHat]

I fish for what's biting so I flip a coin where I'm going to start. I generally gravitate towards finesse because it puts more fish (temporarily) in the boat, but usually a lower percentage of "keepers". The inverse is true for me for power fishing. Taking size over quantity. 

I just fish for fun though. I have no desire to ever enter a tournament. Fishing is supposed to be relaxing