What are your favorite finesse fishing techniques and why?

[FishTax]

Shaky head or finesse jig. Why- because fish bite them of course!

[MIbassyaker]

1. Jigead + worm -  Maybe cheating, but I'd include all variations of this: Jigworm, Shakyhead, Slider, Ned, etc. Different techniques and applications, but all variations on the same theme.

 

2. Weightless t-rigged soft jerkbait --  senko or fluke-style bait rigged weedless. The go-to around weedy cover.  

 

3. Small swimbait or action-tailed grub -- swimming presentation on a light jighead; good finesse option for covering water.

 

4. In-line spinner -- Not the most popular choice, but one of the most consistent fish-catchers ever invented. Finsesse would include Size 3 and down

 

5. Slip-shot creature -- variation of split-shot/mojo rig:  A small t-rigged creature 12-18" behind a bobber stop, with a light barrel weight sliding freely above.

[JHoss]

4 minutes ago, gim said:

I'm automatically skipping over the responses that include the words "drop shot." 🤮

 

In recent years, my top finesse plastic situations have been a Neko, wacky, ned, and tube.  A wacky rigged stick bait skipped under docks has been a favorite presentation of mine, and very effective.

Man, I don't know how you can hate the drop shot but love a ned. 

[gim]

2 minutes ago, JHoss said:

Man, I don't know how you can hate the drop shot but love a ned. 

 

I don't love using a ned rig.  It's something that is a part of my arsenal though.

 

Truth be told I prefer to avoid all of these slower finesse presentations altogether.  I'd rather chuck and wind.  But sometimes that just isn't effective.  I'll swallow my pride to accomplish a goal here.

[JHoss]

4 minutes ago, gim said:

 

I don't love using a ned rig.  It's something that is a part of my arsenal though.

 

Truth be told I prefer to avoid all of these slower finesse presentations altogether.  I'd rather chuck and wind.  But sometimes that just isn't effective.  I'll swallow my pride to accomplish a goal here.

I'm with you on that. For me, a ned is even more frustrating than a drop shot because it's slower to get down and harder to maintain contact.

[A-Jay]

Using finesse fishing techniques for me almost always means

come back another day when the bass are actually feeding.

Just kidding, sort of.

But every once in a while I get lucky.

GP Big TRD did some damage right here.

https://youtu.be/3OXnPQs0bqQ?feature=shared&t=61

A-Jay

[F14A-B]

I’ve done very well on a 1/8 roadrunner. I’ve still got a whole bunch when they were made with Gamakatsu hooks. Plus Freaky Franks.. 

3.75”

[Harold H]

1 hour ago, gim said:

I'm automatically skipping over the responses that include the words "drop shot." 🤮

 

In recent years, my top finesse plastic situations have been a Neko, wacky, ned, and tube.  A wacky rigged stick bait skipped under docks has been a favorite presentation of mine, and very effective.

 

The live bait shops near me have closed so its a pain the rear to locate any, and usually way out of my route.  Plus it's just way too expensive for a one time use and half of it dies on the way to the lake.

Cast net, get all the free bait you need. Live shad are fragile but very good bait, checkout Brandon Lester on youtube, he has some tips on how to keep them healthy longer

[gim]

2 minutes ago, Harold H said:

Cast net, get all the free bait you need. Live shad are fragile but very good bait, checkout Brandon Lester on youtube, he has some tips on how to keep them healthy longer

 

Not legal here

[softwateronly]

A free rigged 3-4" death adder, a very compact grass jig, and a weightless osp dolive stick/spinuts  were my goto finesse baits last year.  I agree with @gim and @A-Jay that I usually prefer to seek out the active bass on more active presentations or just get a 10-12" worm and slowly work the best cover and go for trying to trigger quality fish.

 

scott

[FishAndPlanes]

9 hours ago, FishTax said:

Shaky head or finesse jig. Why- because fish bite them of course!

How do you fish a shaky head? I've only had a handful of bites on them, using Zoom's long trick worms hopping them along the bottom but I find it hard to fish slow like a T-rig. 

[FishAndPlanes]

On 3/18/2025 at 4:58 PM, WRB said:

Slip Shot rig (finesse C-rig) / reaper or hand poured worm.

Drop Shot / wacky or nose hooked worms.

Dart jig w/ 3 1/2”- 4 1:2” ribbon tail worm or swimmer.

Weightless 5” wacky rigged Senko.

The above using spinning tackle w/ 5# UG mono & 7# Sniper FC.

Tom

 

 

 

22 hours ago, AzBassin said:

Neko Rig

Free Rig

Dropshot

 

Ned or lite ball head with twister tail grub

 

small tubes

and lastly 

 

My Mike Ike panic box has charlie brewer small slider grub with slider head

Catch ton bass on slider grub

has tiny paddle tail.

 

oh i also use Shad flies on drop shot

cost me small fortune because of how many I have.  Soaked in Baitfuel

Best kept secrete…. Well no more lol

I see a lot of responses mentioning drop shot. I've never fished a drop shot before, what makes it so deadly over other presentations? I can see the appeal being able to have bottom contact but also have your bait hovering in the water column without a weight on. 

[scaleface]

One I forgot to mention, Beetle Spins. 

[softwateronly]

9 hours ago, FishAndPlanes said:

How do you fish a shaky head? I've only had a handful of bites on them, using Zoom's long trick worms hopping them along the bottom but I find it hard to fish slow like a T-rig. 

 

Not to step on @FishTax's toes, but I find less is more with the shakeyhead.  I drag and semi-slack line bounce/shake and pause most frequently.  I often practice in shallow water to see how hard I can hit it to get the feel for it.  The lightest head I can get away with and still feel in control also seems to help.

 

scott

[JHoss]

10 hours ago, FishAndPlanes said:

I see a lot of responses mentioning drop shot. I've never fished a drop shot before, what makes it so deadly over other presentations? I can see the appeal being able to have bottom contact but also have your bait hovering in the water column without a weight on. 

I'm no expert, but a few advantages for me are:

• Keeps the bait above soft bottoms
• Let's you soak a bait in one spot effectively
• Presents the bait in a way the fish don't see as often
• Just gets bit for some reason or another

 

[bowhunter63]

Hair jigs and Wacky or Neko rigs

[FishTax]

13 hours ago, FishAndPlanes said:

How do you fish a shaky head? I've only had a handful of bites on them, using Zoom's long trick worms hopping them along the bottom but I find it hard to fish slow like a T-rig. 

Search on the forums to find lots of info on things like this but it sounds like you have a good start. I love using a trick worm, I generally use 1/8 or 3/16 weight head. Everyone has their own favorite color. Mine is junebug but I certainly throw many other colors as well depending on conditions, etc. 

 

There are many ways to fish them and you have to try several presentations sometimes to find what they like. I highly recommend testing in very clear water so you can watch what the bait is doing in response to movement of your rod or reel handle. 

I typically lift and drop. Sometimes I do a shake, sometimes I don't. I think less is more though, don't overwork it. How far they want it lifted, how long to pause when it hits bottom, etc are all things to experiment with. I'm not a fan of dragging it, but many other people are. Where I fish, I feel the shells wreck my knots when I drag it and then when I finally get a bite it breaks off. 

I don't throw them up into wood too much, I prefer a jig for that. But I love a SH on a point or pocket. 

Also, if on a spotted bass fishery, SH is probably my #1 bait I'm starting with (depending on conditions and how I'm feeling that day  )

Good luck and tight lines!

2 hours ago, JHoss said:

I'm no expert, but a few advantages for me are:

• Keeps the bait above soft bottoms
• Let's you soak a bait in one spot effectively
• Presents the bait in a way the fish don't see as often
• Just gets bit for some reason or another

 

I agree with all of that and would especially highlight 'soft bottoms', aka muck. In ponds in this area, and many lakes actually, we have slimy muck on bottom that a shaky head or other bottom presentation just don't do well in and a dropshot can shine in those conditions. 

[WRB]

Don’t know how 7” Senko  and Hollow body frog is considered finesse?

Tom

[RB 77]

Easy. Drop Shot deep, Fly-lined Senko shallow. 

[Sp33dSnake]

Old school zoom finesse worms on a T-Rig.  My PB was on a lousy 6" finesse black zoom worm on a Zebco 202, which struggled mightily to haul that 5.5lb bass out of the water.  I thought I had a world record on that thing when I was 12. 

Honestly, finesse worms are still great, I don't mind throwing a skirted jig now and then.  Catch mostly smaller panfish with it, but a bass still occasionally chomps down on 'em.  I also have started running some shakyhead rigs on smaller worms as well.

Mini rattletraps and baby spinners seem to attract more bites than full size lures when there is a lot of pressure.

[Bird]

Drop-shot needs to be fished properly to be effective.

You just don't cast it out and fish it on slack line.

Slight tension to keep the weight on bottom while keeping the bait above, the distance of leader......12"- 15" my preference.

It's very effective here in clear water.

[Bass Rutten]

My top two by far are the dropshot and the flickshake. If those aren’t producing well I’ll sometimes turn to the ned rig, jika rig, and shaky head. I’ll also almost always add a finesse twist to most power fishing techniques too including jerkbaits, crankbaits, chatterbaits, jigs, etc. As for why, I just need bites, the lakes that the club I’m in frequents are very heavily pressured by tournaments, compounded by the fact that the Florida strain bass is the most wary, sensitive, and least aggressive.

[FishAndPlanes]

On 3/20/2025 at 8:53 PM, Bass Rutten said:

My top two by far are the dropshot and the flickshake. If those aren’t producing well I’ll sometimes turn to the ned rig, jika rig, and shaky head. I’ll also almost always add a finesse twist to most power fishing techniques too including jerkbaits, crankbaits, chatterbaits, jigs, etc. As for why, I just need bites, the lakes that the club I’m in frequents are very heavily pressured by tournaments, compounded by the fact that the Florida strain bass is the most wary, sensitive, and least aggressive.

Never heard of the flickshake worm before. How do you rig and fish it? Would love to learn more about this, thanks. 

 

[WRB]

1 hour ago, FishAndPlanes said:

Never heard of the flickshake worm before. How do you rig and fish it? Would love to learn more about this, thanks. 

 

Wacky rig drop shot or flick shake Jackall jig.

Green pumpkin candy and  cola top colors

[Bass Rutten]

Originally known as inchi wacky aka flickshake, jig wacky, and weighted wacky. Something to get you started…

https://urbanfishinghq.blogspot.com/2011/01/flick-shaking-deadliest-bass-technique.html?m=1