recently I've been fishing alot of senkos (weightless,texas rigged,wacky) on a spinning setup (10lb braid to a six# flouro leader) its just what has been producing bites for me recently. Whats your go to rig when the bite gets tough?

I throw all that stuff on standard casting gear.  I don't consider it "finesse."  I do have finesse casting gear as well that casts 1/8oz. 

Well what do you consider "finesse"?

Ned rig, 1/8 shakey head with trick worm, flick shake, 1/8 jighead w/ 3" grub, etc.  I guess the term "finesse" has many definitions to different people.  IMO I think of lighter stuff, but everyone has their own definition.

Yea I was under the impression it just refered to fishing very light line, with a natural presentation in pretty clear water. But I have never heard of a Ned rig.

I have several finesse rods and reels.

 

6' 6" M/F Vendetta/President 20lb braid/10lb fluoro leader-keitechs/wacky rig

7' 3" ML/F Ethos/President 5lb Maxima-DS

6' 10" ML/XF LTB/Supreme XT 10lb braid/8lb leader-Ned Rig/grubs

6' 10" M/F LTB/Stradic CI4 10lb braid/10lb leader-shakyheads

3 inch wacky senkos, 1/16oz flickshakes, 2.8 keitechs, 1/16oz shakeyheads, dropshot, and the neko rig.

Dropshots, and flick shake are my two favorite!

Drop shots&wacky rigs.

Dropshot (roboworm or dreamshot) or t-rig powerworm (pumpkinseed w/ bullet sinker and bead).

When things get tough, wacky rig weightless and let 'er sink slow.  Takes tons of patience though, which I don't always have!

"Shakey Head" - Owner Ultrahead Finesse Ball Heads 1/8"oz to 3/16"oz with Strike King 3X Elaztech Finesse Worms. The buoyancy of these worms are incredible! 8# fluoro (spinning)....Great rig when the bite is tough!

Finesse for me is currently a 3/16 oz. lure as 1/8 oz. is hard to cast any distance and with any accuracy (for moi).  My true finesse reel (PXL) hasn't been spooled yet, so I am hoping that 1/8 oz. (true weight) will be possible this year.  Current rod / reel combos (baitcasting only) that handle 3/16 oz. well are

 

Carbonlite / 7' ML Crankin Stick

Carbonlite / 7' Light Falcon Expert

TD-Z 105H / 7' ML Fenwick HMG

 

I feel that a couple other combos would also handle that weight, but haven't gone that low yet with them.  The Fenwick Smallmouth 6' 10" MF / Curado 51E is one such combo.

 

There are quite a few reels that should handle the weights you are using.....if paired with the proper rod.

 

I have to say that on the water casting distances with any of the above 3 combos is pretty much a dead heat.  I am impressed with the Carbonlites, but would have to say the 105H / HMG is my favorite of those three.

Finesse to me is under 1/4 oz total weight. Since most low profile baitcasters and a medium rod have no trouble with 1/4oz weights. Which means nothing special is required. Aside from spinning gear when you need a specialized setup to throw a lightweight bait,that's finesse to me. However the rod being of the right power plays a huge role in this. The reel in a sense just holds your line and reels it back up. Though finesse reels usually have a very light spool to aid in startup of your cast. A 5" weightless senko wouldn't be finesse by my definition. A 4" would be the starting point. My finesse casting setup is a Phenix Recon 713 ml and a Daiwa Px68 with #10 power pro.

Nosed hook Trick Worm on a split shot rig.

Not all 1/4oz is created equal. This morning I was throwing a 1/4oz Husky Jerk with a XT1000 - Yumeya shallow spool, Loomis CR721 IMX and 20# Suffix 832 and I was extremely disappointed in the distance that I was getting. If that was a 1/4oz bullet weight, I think that I would have spooled my reel.