I've been watching videos of Roland and Scott Martin fishing the Pan Am tournament in Cornwall ON. on the St. Lawrence.  It looks like they are using small ned rigs, but I don't know how you get a small jig head down to the bottom in the heavy current of the St. Lawrence.  At 15 feet or more, I found it almost impossible to keep anything less than half an ounce on the bottom.  Now perhaps they were just fishing sheltered areas.  They were in an area I've never been.

 

How do you fish a finesse bait in heavy current? (when I fished in Waddington, the current was about 5mph).  Do you just go heavy?

I just use heavy sinkers , although i dont throw neds. If current is 5mph i go somewhere else 

I usually go to Neco or shakey head, but throwing the ned up current can give good movement of the bait naturally and throwing down helps with detection.  I just don't give it a lot of time before changing tactics

That’s a problem I have when fishing small rivers near me for smallies. It is hard to put any action on it because it moves like two feet because of the current when I take it off the bottom

7 hours ago, Sweet Tater Pie said:

That’s a problem I have when fishing small rivers near me for smallies. It is hard to put any action on it because it moves like two feet because of the current when I take it off the bottom

I dont know why that's a problem.  Most of their natural bait is doing that too

Fish are opportunists with no hands.....something floats by...they grab...taste...spit...or swim off with it.  I like a longer rod and lighter line....holding the rod high and bringing the bait back towards me....worked on the Columbia rather well...should work out here.

17 hours ago, Sweet Tater Pie said:

That’s a problem I have when fishing small rivers near me for smallies. It is hard to put any action on it because it moves like two feet because of the current when I take it off the bottom

I've had spectacular success with Neds on windy days by just letting the wind work it.  I toss it a little upwind of where I want it, let it sink, and leave a little slack in the line.  The wind blows the slack and the little Ned twitches around.  The fish seem to LOVE that.  I literally do nothing but reel in the fish.  And don't worry, if the bass are there you won't wait long.  

13 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

I dont know why that's a problem.  Most of their natural bait is doing that too

 

3 hours ago, BigAngus752 said:

I've had spectacular success with Neds on windy days by just letting the wind work it.  I toss it a little upwind of where I want it, let it sink, and leave a little slack in the line.  The wind blows the slack and the little Ned twitches around.  The fish seem to LOVE that.  I literally do nothing but reel in the fish.  And don't worry, if the bass are there you won't wait long.  

 Greats Points Thanks