Different Finesse Techniques For Bass And How To Fish Them

If you ask a dozen anglers what the best way to catch bass is, you’re probably going to get a dozen different answers. There are so many ways to catch bass, from pulling topwater frogs over vegetation to casting deep diving crankbaits, it can be hard to figure out just the right method to land a big bass. One great option for catching these fish, especially when conditions are tough, is using finesse techniques. 

When it comes to using finesse techniques for bass, there are lots of techniques and factors to consider. 

Let’s start with what finesse fishing actually is. Basically, when you’re trying finesse techniques for bass, you’re going to be using lighter, smaller tackle. Your presentations are going to be much more subtle than what you’d use when bass are extremely aggressive. Finesse fishing techniques shine best when the conditions are tough. You’ll want to try this out when the water is cold, or when you know you’re in an area that has had heavy fishing pressure. 

Before we get into the actual setups to try, we have to consider the main gear to use for finesse fishing. Most of the time, finesse fishing is going to be done with a 6 foot to 7 foot long spinning rod. Medium light to medium is the best power to go with. As for line, you’ll usually want something in the 6 to 10-pound-test range. The types of line will vary depending on the setup, but many are best used with a braided main line, followed by a fluorocarbon leader. This gives you the strength benefit of using braid, while also giving you the stealth benefit of the fluorocarbon.

Next, let’s talk about some of the best finesse techniques to use for bass. Here are a few options, along with how and where to use them: 

One great option for finesse fishing is the shaky head. First, you’ll need a shaky head jig, usually around 1/8 oz or smaller. Then, you’ll want a soft plastic finesse or trick worm rigged up on it. The colors will depend on the water clarity, among other factors, but try your best to keep the colors as toned down as possible.

Once it’s rigged up, you’ll want to cast it near cover or structure and allow it to sink all the way to the bottom. Slow is the name of the game with a shaky head. You can twitch your rod tip slightly as you slowly drag it along the bottom and back to you.

The drop shot rig is another great option, especially when the fish are slightly suspended. This rig will use a small hook tied a few inches above a sinker. Then, you’ll want to put a finesse style worm or another subtle soft plastic onto the hook.

To fish it, you’ll want to cast it out, or drop it below the boat. Let the sinker hit the bottom and then every once in awhile you can twitch your rod to give some movement to the soft plastic. Don’t overdo it though, as just letting it sit there is effective for really picky bass.

The wacky rig and the neko rig are two fairly similar rigs, with the main difference being whether you have weight on the line or not. For both options, you want to put your hook through a soft plastic worm. For the wacky rig, go right through the middle. For the neko rig, add a weight to the nose of the plastic, and then put your hook through just behind the head of the plastic.

You’ll want to fish these near shallow cover, and just let it slowly sink to the bottom on its own. With both of these you’ll want to add subtle twitches as you slowly retrieve it, pausing consistently to attract fish.

The finesse tube method involves a 3 to 4 inch tube bait rigged on a light jighead. These tubes are designed to mimic some of the most common baitfish and craws in the area that bass will want to eat.

To fish the finesse tube, it’s best to cast it around areas of fairly dense cover. As you retrieve it, you can drag it along bottom, pull it up off the bottom to let it sink down slowly, or add the occasional twitch to get some extra movement.