Can a recreational Bass angler (with no boat but rents a boat occasionally) get away with not having a Finesse game...??

AND..................

Still be able to be as affective or all around as the next recreational bass angler who might or might not have a finesse game also.....???

The reason I ask is:

1) I HATE finesse bass fishing. It is too slow and boring.

2) I don't have the patience to tie different rigs on different hooks and weights on a million different colored plastics for changing conditions.

3) Rod and reel for finesse: MORE $$$$$$$$.

4) I LOVE power/reaction type fishing. Way more fun and exciting fight with the fish (in my opinion).

Just need some persuasion I guess. If it does MAKE A DIFFERENCE to have a finesse game than I will consider it definitely.

Also...can someone define what "Finesse Fishing" really is? I label finesse as anyone using (plastics, dropshot, texas/carolina rig, shaky head, flipping and pitching, close in/bottom contact fishing).

Carrot_Stix

Finesse fishing-light lures and equipment generally spinning gear with 8-6lb line.

Power fishing-baitcasting rod, 10-on up line generally flipping, pitching, cranking, spinnerbaits.

Reaction fishing- a fast pace way to fish looking for active fish or you are presenting the bait in a way that the bass will bite out of instinct.(flipping, pitching, cranking, spinnerbaits, plastics can also be reaction fishing)

It is always a good idea to be well rounded if what your doing isn't working.

Unless your fishing for meat or cash I see no reason to use a method that you hate,

I mean what's the point?

As sport fisherman we are out there to have fun.

i dont think finesse fishing is limited to small baits. i think its more of the way you present your bait.

if your power fishing tactics are working you dont need to finesse fish. its just another tool in the box.

I do not agree with the finesse = itsy bitsy teeny tiny bait & hair thin line definition, to me that 's ultra light/light fishing. To me finesse it 's a matter of approach and speed.

For example, dead sticking a 6" senko tied to 12-15 lb test on a medium heavy rod is finesse fishing.

I had some luck finesse fishing last weekend:

GMAN 3/4 oz Mop jig/ Rage Tail Lobster. The

presentation is about the size of a softball in

the water.

8-)

What's been said here is excellent thus far. The problem you may encounter, by not using finesse in your arsenal, is that you are placing limits on yourself. Don't forget, fishing from shore, you're already limited (spot wise), unless, of course, you have the freedom to move about your shorelines unrestricted by trees, brush and boat houses, etc..

In other words, let's say you have two narrow access areas to fish from and that's about it. To pound those with power fishing techniques will only go so far. You really need to work them in greater detail and with slower speeds, so that you can get the maximum strike potential out of the area. If you don't, you may experience more than your share of fish-less outings! Don't even begin to think that you can force fish into taking your offering under any circumstances. You have to figure out what they want and give them just that - if you expect to be successful.

Flipping is the ultimate in power fishing techniques, pitching requires a little less power. Just because a lure is fished on or near the bottom doesn't make it finesse fishing; big swim baits, jig & pig, T-rigged big plastic worms fished on or near the bottom slowly is still power fishing.

KVD doesn't like to finesse fish, however his largest bass was caught using a finesse presentation.

If you bass fish in highly pressured lakes, then slowing down to saturate a small area with finesse lures can sometimes be the only presentation that works. The more active the bass are, the less need to use finesse presentations. You can power fish all day and hope the bass turn on or finesse fish for inactive when the bass are not active, it's your choice to fish however you want.

WRB

To echo what several other guys have said on this thread, be mindful that finesse fishing is more of an attitude than an equipment thing.  There will be days when a slow down, finesse approach will work and a higher speed reaction bait approach won't.  And visa versa.

Consider where you're at as a fisherman.  Is this a year where you need to hone the skills you got or is this a year to learn new techniques or some of both.  If you are bank bound most of the time, this could be the year to focus your resources on getting a boat.

Get a copy of  Charlie Brewer's book  Slider Fishing and see if that doesn't alter your thinking on what is and what ain't finesse.

Finesse is one of those "it will work most all the time" you just have to have patience.

This morning I tried half my tacklebox and couldn't even get a nibble so I grabbed a rod with a 6" black senko and on the first cast working it very slowly back to me, wham ! a 3 # LMB picked it up and ate that senko.

Sometimes we want a bite so bad we get in too big of a hurry and just start throwing lures.

I completely agree with Avid on this. If you don't like it, don't do it!

With that said, there are are times when a finesse technique will work better than a power one in my experience. Tuesday I caught some nice fish on a 5" spider grub fished on a 1/2 oz non-skirted football jig. I was bouncing it quickly down rip rap, and swimming it as it reached the bottom of the incline. I moved fairly fast down the shore. A classic power technique. Yesterday I fished the same lake, and same areas. Same technique as the day before, nothing. I slowed down my jig/grub presentation, nothing. Crankbait, spinnerbait, C-rig, nothing. I couldn't buy a bite. When I started using a 1/8 oz shakeyhead and a Zoom Trickworm I started catching fish, including one very nice female largemouth full of eggs and a couple of good smallies. My partner caught a nice smallmouth on a wacky rigged Senko knock-off.

So in summary :, you don't have to use or do anything you don't like, but if you don't find a finesse technique or two that works for you, you will limit your success IMHO. Good luck. 8-)

The answer to the question, "Can a recreational Bass angler (with no boat but rents a boat occasionally) get away with not having a Finesse game...??" Sure, and you can catch less fish, as well! If you have enough weapons in your arsenal to satisfy the requirements of the water you fish on a regular basis, and a "finesse technique" is not appropriate, don't bother. On the other hand, there is a time on your lake where it is probably appropriate. Let me get windy cause I got nuttin better to do today. The lake I fish the most is crystal clear. Like most mid-Atlantic lakes, it has die off/back of vegetation so that in the early spring weeds are not a factor. At this time of year, I can use a Carolina rig, if I choose. But, by May, the weeds in this lake will be up a couple feet and a carolina rigs is useless. By June, the fish have moved into 10-20 and the weeds are up to five feet and thick. Particularly in the heat of the day, if I want to catch bass, I have to make contact with those weeds, because that is where the bass are hiding that time of year, down in that shady dark water where they blend in with those weeds and move silently through those weed stalks....like sharks. Now, I can use big heavy jigs or pin a beaver with 1oz weight, and drop down into the weeds, but you are going to get very tired pretty quickly and I only do that when I know there is a log or a rock or some other specific thing down in the weeds. I can also rip a lipless through the weeds, but baring regular success, that get's tiring as well. What I do a lot of the time, particularly through June, is, I work a 5" Senko on heavy #4 hook, with a 10 foot fluoro leader on 15 lb. Spiderwire, across the tops of those weeds...hehehe. It is natural for those fish to be looking up, and here comes Mr. Senko tickling the tops of the weeds or floating done into the first foot. The senko allows me to make contact with the weeds without constantly having to pull them off the other choices. So, in my situation, this finesse thing makes sense. It may not be for you. That said, a senko is a great shallow water bait that can be worked at just about any speed you can think of, and is much less prone to getting hung up on logs, etc., than even a spinner bait. As for expense, I'll bet if you go over to the flea market forum and state your case and tell people you need a spinning outfit, someone will put you into a decent rig for under a $100. Then go out and get a pack of Zoom or anyone's flukes, and a five, I think I use, extra wide gap hook, and rig it weedless. Throw it down a bank and work it back to you in rhythmic short jerks so it darts from side to side, and then you tell me you don't want that in your arsenal come spring time. It is not a search and destroy weapon. It is not a crankbait fan casted across a great area to see if you can scare up a fish. It is more subtle, but I can't imagine what kind of water you are fishing that wouldn't have a period of time where Senkos and such would be appropriate. Take the leap. You won't be sorry, and you have this entire board to help you through the rough spots....hahaha.

Was watching a video the other day from another site, don't know if that's ok to post about, but he talked about power fishing being more to do with how fast the boat was going, and getting more casts in..dunno if that's relevant, but as long as we're talking about "power" fishing, i really like how he defines it.

Yes. Speed, lure finishes, proper sky and water conditions, or location choices can get you by.

But not adding finesse techniques (basically light tackle, in my mind, which does not preclude "power fishing") does remove a worthwhile method that really shines in certain circumstances -usually clear waters, esp with little cover, and when bass are keying on very small prey.

If you are not already sold on "finesse" techniques then you probably have not run across the right circumstances, didn't recognize them, or did not give them a fair shake. Or you were able to avoid them, having learned to adapt very well when finesse presentations would shine. However, I've had certain areas in my waters that I would avoid bc I didn't catch fish there. But that can be only bc my Goto's didn't fit the area well.

Was watching a video the other day from ., don't know if that's ok to post about, but he talked about power fishing being more to do with how fast the boat was going, and getting more casts in..dunno if that's relevant, but as long as we're talking about "power" fishing, i really like how he defines it.

i saw that too

I had some luck finesse fishing last weekend:

GMAN 3/4 oz Mop jig/ Rage Tail Lobster. The

presentation is about the size of a softball in

the water.

8-)

Jesus RW... What do you use for trolling?  A two-lb Catfish hooked through the dorsal?    ;D

What's been said here is excellent thus far. The problem you may encounter, by not using finesse in your arsenal, is that you are placing limits on yourself. Don't forget, fishing from shore, you're already limited (spot wise), unless, of course, you have the freedom to move about your shorelines unrestricted by trees, brush and boat houses, etc..

In other words, let's say you have two narrow access areas to fish from and that's about it. To pound those with power fishing techniques will only go so far. You really need to work them in greater detail and with slower speeds, so that you can get the maximum strike potential out of the area. If you don't, you may experience more than your share of fish-less outings! Don't even begin to think that you can force fish into taking your offering under any circumstances. You have to figure out what they want and give them just that - if you expect to be successful.

x2. i myself have no boat and i am restricted to fishing on foot. when i started using finesse my strike ratio sky rocketed! it doesnt mean you have to go out and get all new gear, just think a little more methodically and not as halfhazardly and you should see improved results.

As stated by basspimple, you don't have to go get all new gear to finesse fish.

You can use any method of fishing you please with any different rod/reel/line setup. However, going out and getting a setup that is made for finesse fishing might help you work the bait a little better, better hookups, etc. But you can still throw a texas rig on whatever you have. Sometimes you just have to be a little creative.

Can a recreational Bass angler (with no boat but rents a boat occasionally) get away with not having a Finesse game...??

Finesse: skillful handling of a situation : adroit maneuvering

Adroit: : having or showing skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations

Nope

Look at it this way, or that 's how I look at it:

Power fishing.- Machine gunning

Finesse fishing.- Delivering milk