Immediately you can increase your fishing success by avoiding the hottest parts of the day. Believe me, you don't really want to be charcoal broiled in a boat at noon anyway! Take your efforts to the cooler mornings and evenings when the sun sits lower on the horizon and casts deep shadows into the fishes watery world. Night-time can also be a very productive time during the dog days as well.
Unfortunately for people like myself who elect to compete in bass tournaments during the hottest months of July and August and cook our brains for the fun of it, we find other ways of enticing fish to the boat.
My definition of finesse fishing is to offer the fish a lure or bait in the most natural looking state and in a manner that makes it irresistible to ignore. Sounds simple enough and if we practiced finesse fishing at any time on the water we would be assured of greater success always.....right? Wrong!
During bass tournaments on days when the sun will be high in the sky, my partner and I will offer the fish big flashy spinnerbaits or wobbling crankbaits during the first couple hours of the morning. (Remember that tournaments are usually held between the hours of 7AM and 4PM). By 11 AM on any given tournament day we had better have a livewell full of fish or our plan of attack was out of whack! That gives us the rest of the day to search out bigger and better fish which will hopefully take us to the winners circle.
In the mornings not only Bass but most other warmwater gamefish species such as walleye react well to typical lures. As the sun slides up the fish slide down and spend the remainder of the bright day seeking seclusion with food being the last thing on their mind.
Into the picture enters the finesse baits or lures. One of my favorite finesse lures is the versatile tube bait or "Gitzit" by brand name. Similar in appearance to a lead jig and rubber curly tail bait or Mister Twister, the tube bait is merely a tube with the lead head inserted inside. The offering is subtle in appearance, totally lacks built in action and may be readily overlooked as a potential fish catcher by the novice angler. I'm not exactly sure myself why these baits are readily accepted by all gamefish but they help us place high in the tournament standings and that is good enough for me!
I've never attempted to troll a tube bait. It may be productive. I generally cast the bait out over or near some form of underwater structure. The tuber sinks moderately slow and usually in circles. Coming in sizes from 2 to 4 inches and weights of 1/16 to 1/4 ounce the tube jig can be adjusted to sink slower if stuffed with cotton batten, styrofoam or packed with Fish Formula attractant "Gel". Glass rattles may also be added inside the tube in order to attract fish in murkier waters. For the best response put a small minnow on the hook and slide it part way up inside the tube. Live worms work well also.
Once the tube bait hits bottom (or even before), twitch the end of your line and watch the bait jump up and dart to the side. Let it fall again and repeat. Walleye and Bass just love these things when fished with light 6 to 8 pound test line. This is a technique that is the fish catcher of the '90's and once you have gained some confidence in it by catching a few fish it will be hard for you to use anything else.
Another fish catching, summer time finesse bait that I rely upon is the small 4 inch rubber worm either rigged Carolina style or splitshotted. Carolina rigged is done by first slipping a bullet head slip type sinker onto your line, point forward. Attach a small black swivel followed by three to four feet of mono with your hook attached to the end. You can now place a small rubber or live worm onto this hook. Depending on whether you are fishing in heavy cover or not, you can rig it hook exposed or weedless by doubling the hook back and burying the point into the worm. This is also a great system for live minnows and leeches!
Split-shotting is accomplished by similar except using a small three way swivel and attaching a dropper line of mono with enough split shot lead sinkers attached to take it to bottom and another mono lead to your hook. Again, small rubber worms, minnows, leeches or crayfish will work you well.
Subtly enticing the fish to strike is the entire secret behind finesse fishing. Finessing fish on heavily travelled bodies of water may be the only way to catch them at any time. Regardless of the situation, expand your fish catching potential and begin trying a couple of techniques of the 90's and put some of those fish you catch back to be caught for tomorrow!
