I noticed posts about finesse jigs and the Mojo rig, not to name all of the other countless finesse presentations. Downsizing involves not only lures, but weight, blades (spinnerbaits), line, skirt length, hook size and a few other things. Under what circumstances would you downsize? Do you ever mix it up with large baits followed by downsized baits or when conditions warrant it, stay with one-size-fits-all?

when I get short or soft strikes sometimes I down size and it helps.

Where are you in the lower Hudson Valley?

Just north of West Point.

In a highly pressured situation I downsize sometimes but In the end on the lakes I fish downsizing will get you more bites, period. They might not be the big bites but they will be bites nonetheless. That being said I usually start with bigger baits and If I'm not catching fish I downsize.

I normally start the day with normal size offerings, 1/2oz spinnerbaits, 5.5" and 4.5" jerkbaits, 1/2oz jigs and 7" to 8" worms but that is if the conditions have been stable. After that start I listen to the fish, if I'm doing well but catching bass on the smaller side I may upsize my baits to include 10" worms and big creature baits or large topwaters, but if I'm not catching anything and bites are hard to come by, then it is time to downsize. There are times I will start out with finesse, those are times when the conditions dictate to go finesse or down size, like post frontal days, or during the early spring/late winter when the water is still cold, but other than that I let the fish tell me when to down size.

Go big or go home !

 

I downsize when I take my kid fishing and I´m interested in him catching a mess of dinks instead of him getting bored, otherwise I keep on fsihing with the same baits I always fish. To me "finessing" is not about tying itsy bitsy teeny tiny baits, it´s about fishing thoroughly and thoroughly every spot.

When my usual stuff is not working. Or the water is in the 40's

To me down sizing is in my ritual of lures I start off with. I throw a variety of different lures, colors and sizes.

The really small lure for down sizing is my micro or mini strike king spinner bait. On the mini I use a normal 5" skirt trying to bulk up the width. Sometimes a short wider spinner bait looks like a thanksgiving dinner. Other than that I try to keep my cranks to 2" long anyway.

There are many reasons for me to to downsize my presentations for success. Fish mood is a big one,When fish are neutral or inactive smaller baits often seal the deal better than larger offering. Cold fronts, ultra clear water & fishing pressure are many other reasons to go smaller.

Downsizing success is sometimes a matter of matching the food source. Key in on profile, colour and action, At times using smaller lures is the only way your bait will get noticed.

I don't really downsize anything but weights for rate of fall.  If I'm getting bumped lots, I'll change colors first, then just change baits.

 

Of course, I usually try to match whatever the fish are eating. 

Almost every time I go out in clear water... some of the biggest bass I've ever caught were on finesse jigs/lures.

I am more of a finesse fishing guy, so most times I do start out already downsized, but I feel that it does the best either in cold weather or during the hot summer afternoons when nothing seems to be working. 

Cold and/or clear water almost always calls for me to downsize. If my normal stuff isn't working in other conditions I'll downsize also. 

It's exceedingly rare for what I'm trying to do.

 

Tournament fishing vs trophy hunting, there are going to be different answers for both IMO.

No clouds, no wind, no stain = no size. But as always, I let the fish decide.

Never downsize baits, just fish slower, and adjust weight sizes according to depth, wind, etc. I fish the same Lobsters and 10" worms I fish in 40 degree water, and in 80 degree water.

I only downsize when I switch to a different species of fish. Don't really use huge lures to where I would downsize..

If the fish have been biting but seem to stop rather suddenly, I'll downsize before I move to another location or to a different type bait-especially if the weather seems to have changed.

About the only time is when I take a kid and want to go mutlispecies. You sure can catch a lot of big crappie on a 1/8-1/4oz cranks.

The smallest lure I throw is a baby brush hog

when I get short or soft strikes sometimes I down size and it helps.

Where are you in the lower Hudson Valley?

 

This is the only time I'll downsize my lures. When I get short strikes on a spinnerbait, down sizing helps.

I don't fish tournaments, so I'm not interested in putting five in the live well as fast as possible.  I'm content with the notion that the bigger bass prefer bigger baits.  I never downsize.

The only time I really downsize if I am going after panfish.  The little dink bass don't seem to have a problem hitting a 1/2 jig with a big, bulky trailer on it.