3 minutes ago, jlb6 said:

Sounds like there are slight variations in what we consider to be finesse vs power fishing which could be geographical or based on our preferred style of fishing.

Yes, I've noticed this part in the responses to my OP as well.  I probably should have clarified what I consider to be power fishing vs finesse fishing better.

I'm usually on the water before sunrise...and always throw a buzz-bait / plopper / Jitterbug to start the day. Nothing better than a good top-water strike to get the blood flowing!

 

I then typically move to my "power fishing" techniques to see if I can get a bite going -- spinner baits, lipless cranks, cranks, jig-n-craw, t-rigged worm, jerkbait.

 

If those are not producing, I move to NED, Drop-shot, finesse worms, and weightless Senko or a Slug-Go. These I consider my "finesse" rigs.

 

If I had a choice, I would throw a buzz-bait or plopper all day long. But I like catching fish...not just trying to catch fish.

For me the only bait that works in summer but not winter is topwater. Otherwise I use the same lures in both seasons. Location and presentation may change some but you can catch fish on cranks, spinnerbaits, bladed jigs, and lipless all year long. 

I'm not very good or patient with topwater and I have a much higher catch rate with finesse jigs than I do with any kind of spin/buzzbait, popper, or crankbait. Chatterbaits do very well for me, but fished slow and sort of like a ned rig. The waters I fish are higher topwater and live bait pressure though so it makes sense to break from that a bit

When I started out all I threw was moving baits: cranks, topwater (whopper plopper), some swimbaits etc.  I caught far fewer fish, but the fish I did catch were generally larger. I got skunked or nearly skunked many times. 

 

Since then I start out with something moving, then settle on finesse, usually a senko, ned rig, texas rigged craw of some kind. I catch more fish, but they tend to be smaller.  Rarely get skunked.