I went from power fishing to just about 100% finessee

[BigAngus752]

On 6/20/2023 at 6:03 AM, BigAngus752 said:

I would agree that finesse is excellent on a "tough bite" day, especially due to pressure, but I actually use it less than I used to.  Yesterday was a perfect example.  High skies, tiny breeze, summer pattern and no one (that I saw) was catching anything including me.  I went the opposite way and put on a heavier tungsten weight and a Berkley MaxScent Kingtail.  I wore that worm out and when I opened my box I grabbed a Zoom Ol' Monster because I wanted to see if it was the MaxScent that was getting them or the size.  I then wore out TWO Ol' Monsters before I went home.  Had a guy at the ramp ask me what the heck I was doing.  I try to keep an open mind only because these crazy fish seem to swing to extremes. 

 

When I go back Friday I know I'll try a giant worm because I have a bad habit of fishing history, but it could very well end up being a Ned rig day. 

UPDATE:

I went back Fri evening and caught them on both an Ol' Monster and a Zoom finesse worm with the biggest (4lb 3oz) being on the finesse worm with an unpegged 1/16 tungsten weight.  Three just over 3lb-ers on the Ol' Monster.  What's that mean?  On the fishes know...

[Fishin Dad]

I would much rather power fish with baitcasting gear.  But when taking my wife or daughters fishing, I almost always hook them up with finesse rigs (drop shot, Ned, wacky) and they do very well with them.  I have even brought them to a few small tourneys and they have contributed without being very good at fishing.  Even after seeing them do that during a slow bite, I still struggle to move to finesse.   I too often try to force power fishing.  I need to move to finesse more quickly and more often.   
It is just hard for me to do. 

[Hook2Jaw]

32 minutes ago, Fishin Dad said:

I would much rather power fish with baitcasting gear.  But when taking my wife or daughters fishing, I almost always hook them up with finesse rigs (drop shot, Ned, wacky) and they do very well with them.  I have even brought them to a few small tourneys and they have contributed without being very good at fishing.  Even after seeing them do that during a slow bite, I still struggle to move to finesse.   I too often try to force power fishing.  I need to move to finesse more quickly and more often.   
It is just hard for me to do. 

I'm the exact opposite of this.  I'll bring six sticks on the kayak, power fish for an hour and hope I can find them eating a moving bait, and then start dragging little worms around.

[Fishin Dad]

31 minutes ago, Hook2Jaw said:

I'm the exact opposite of this.  I'll bring six sticks on the kayak, power fish for an hour and hope I can find them eating a moving bait, and then start dragging little worms around.

The bite has been so weird here this year, I am trying a lot of different things.  Starting with finesse to try and get a limit, trying to force big baits and heavy weights, etc.   I like the idea to start with power fishing to get the active biters first.  That is often my plan too.  I am just too darn slow switching to finesse when I should.  Not sure what is going to happen this year.  It is just a different start to our year up north than usual.  

[king fisher]

I finessed a magnum square bill through the middle of very snaggy trees the last time I was fishing.

[Susky River Rat]

On 6/20/2023 at 12:04 PM, TOXIC said:

I power fish to catch the most aggressive fish first.  If I know there are more there, I will downsize and slow down.”

This is what I do. Unless I feel like the day is a slow down day on conditions.  Faster to slower. Shallower to deeper.

[gim]

3 hours ago, Fishin Dad said:

I like the idea to start with power fishing to get the active biters first.  That is often my plan too.

This is me too. It doesn’t take me very long to switch though. Maybe I’m less stubborn lol

[Fishin Dad]

58 minutes ago, gimruis said:

This is me too. It doesn’t take me very long to switch though. Maybe I’m less stubborn lol

Haha. For sure.  I think I just want it to work so bad I can’t get away from it.  I love skipping a jig with a heavy rod and putting the onions to em.  

Goal for the season = don’t listen to my stupid brain, listen to fish and believe them!!

[Dye99]

I came up as a pup in Texas power fishing.

 

Now in north Idaho I chase small mouth. I really tried to power fish them but my numbers are always better with spinning tackle and smaller baits.

I have been getting back in bait casters with the whole BFS mentality as of late, but I do love to use spinning tackle.

Fighting a 6 lb smallie on 8lb test and a lite drop shot rod is pretty dang fun!

[LonnieP]

9 hours ago, Fishin Dad said:

I would much rather power fish with baitcasting gear.  But when taking my wife or daughters fishing, I almost always hook them up with finesse rigs (drop shot, Ned, wacky) and they do very well with them.  I have even brought them to a few small tourneys and they have contributed without being very good at fishing.  Even after seeing them do that during a slow bite, I still struggle to move to finesse.   I too often try to force power fishing.  I need to move to finesse more quickly and more often.   
It is just hard for me to do. 

I’m the same way. Once in a blue moon I’ll break out the spinning rod and throw a dropshot or something, but after 5 or 10 minutes I get bored out of my mind and go back to throwing a jig or crankbait. 

[roadwarrior]

On 6/21/2023 at 9:53 AM, ol'crickety said:

Can you suggest one at half the price of ^this^ on

I have the rod for you. Check your PMs.

[1984isNOW]

On 6/21/2023 at 11:47 AM, waymont said:

I have the Victory version of this rod, and it's a fantastic rod. I use it for chatterbaits, whopper ploppers, and 5/8oz wake baits. It can also be good for bigger square bills too.

Great easy to fish rod.

Could you or anybody else with the experience/knowledge compare this (the 7'2heavy mod) to the 7'3 heavy mod fast flipin rod in the same line? I grabbed it because I have really liked a swimjig and spinnerbait and chatterbait on the 7'2 MHMF target crank, but feel I want a little more back bone. The lure range kept me away from the ripnchatter, but then again those can be a little arbitrary and misleading.

 

Does Croix stay consistent within lines? Will 7'3 h MF kind of be a middle ground to the 7'2mhmf and 72HM, or a totally different blank and mandrel and feel?

[ChrisD46]

On 6/19/2023 at 11:45 PM, RHuff said:

 

That is an exaggeration, of course.. but I do find that I finesse fish about 3 times as much as I power fish now.. In tournaments it’s about all I trust.. Something tells me both active and inactive fish will sometimes bite a finesse bait but an active fish will bite a power bait but an inactive fish will hardly chase down that same power bait…  Wacky Rig, Ned Rig, Spin Jig, and a finesse crankbait is nearly all I throw anymore when money is on the line… If I could ever learn to catch fish with a drop shot i’d be dangerous… 

 

Sometimes I break out the spinnerbait and chatterbait.. sometimes the jerk bait but that is about it anymore..

I believe a lot has to do with the design and development of finesse baits than ever before providing a lot more offerings for finesse style fishing .

[Ktho]

On 6/20/2023 at 6:17 AM, Catt said:

Finesse: skillful handling of a situation : adroit maneuvering

 

Adroit: having or showing skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations

 

Don't know where this idea that finesse means small, tiny, or light weight. 

 

Might make more sense to know this is also a common definition. Smaller/lighter is always going to be more finesse when applying this definition. It's also why I reckon "finesse" labelled baits are lighter, more slender, smaller, and less commotion causing than their full size counterparts. 

 

verb

1. 1.

   do (something) in a subtle and delicate manner.