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.