Practical Bait Finesse Fishing for Bass

Since bait finesse first burst onto the U.S. fishing scene a handful of years ago, it has evolved from a novel, enthusiast-driven subgenre into a critical finesse fishing component for serious bass anglers. Now firmly cemented in our rod lockers, bait finesse (often referred to as BFS or BF) has made us question the necessity of spinning tackle for light line tactics. While we still treasure our spinning rods, and find situations where they are imperative, we have discovered a number of reasons to replace them with bait finesse setups for everyday bass fishing.

In situations where it’s beneficial to switch to straight fluorocarbon, like clear water, bait finesse gear makes it practical to ditch the braid. Unlike spinning tackle, which is subject to line twists or line jumping off of the spool, casting gear manages fluorocarbon with ease, while still giving you the option to use braid-to-leader when it's advantageous.

Another situation where fluorocarbon is beneficial for finesse fishing is single hook applications, like small jigs and swimbaits. The added stretch of fluorocarbon helps prevent straightening out light wire hooks and bolsters your stealth around finicky fish. By eliminating a connection knot you also remove a possible fail point, and make re-tying quicker, saving you valuable time in a tournament setting.

One of the strongest mechanical advantages afforded by bait finesse is the ability to make short, accurate pitches with small baits. While it’s possible with spinning gear, the efficiency and pinpoint precision is unmatched with a BFS setup. Not only does it make it easy to place tiny lures into tight spots around docks and small pockets of vegetation, it also allows you to control line release with your thumb instead of a bale. This increased control helps slow your bait down before it lands, creating a softer, stealthier entry - an important factor when fishing around shallow and/or clear water. Whether you’re flicking a minnow a few feet from your bow, or picking apart boat docks with a 3-inch Senko, it’s easy to put small baits right on the money with a finely-tuned bait finesse setup.

As the popularity of bait finesse has increased over the past couple years, the definition of “finesse” has changed. Baits continue to get smaller and smaller as the casting capabilities of bait finesse reels improve, making it possible to effectively fish baits that were deemed “too small” just a couple years ago. Even traditional medium-light spinning tackle can be a touch too heavy to effectively fish diminutive morsels, like a Lucky Craft LC 0.1 FTS Squarebill Crankbait. With bait finesse gear you can now effectively launch small baits weighing 1/16oz or even lighter, making it easy to match the hatch when bass are keyed in on fry or bite-sized baitfish.

For applications that demand top-end speed, like tiny chatterbaits or lipless cranks, it’s worth noting that you can lose a few inches per turn with a bait finesse reel when compared to a larger 3000+ size spinning reel. Outside of that caveat, you can usually improve casting distance with your favorite finesse baits by implementing bfs gear, especially on the lighter end of the spectrum.

When BFS fishing first started to grab a foothold in the States, small jerkbaits, crankbaits, and swimbaits were the applications that anglers gravitated towards first. As bait finesse gear became more accessible, anglers started branching out with other techniques, like the float ‘n fly and spybaits. Simultaneously, companies rushed to downsize all sorts of baits, like topwaters and vibrating jigs, growing the breadth of the bait finesse category very quickly.

The increased versatility of bait finesse tackle diminishes some of the nicheness originally associated with the high-end tackle, improving the practicality for anglers looking to replace spinning setups. Some of these techniques even experience better performance with casting gear, like increased torque for cranking and ease of manipulation when walking small poppers and spook-style baits.

The popularity of BF has coincided with the rise of forward-facing sonar and TONS of small, minnow-style baits. Check out our BFS for FFS article to see all of the reasons you should consider bait finesse gear simply for improving the effectiveness of your forward facing sonar.

On a bass boat, it’s important to maximize every inch of space, especially on the front deck where you’re going to spend the majority of your time. By nature, casting rods are typically stored on the port side of the boat opposite the driver so they are less likely to contact the console, while spinning rods are stored on the starboard side as they are short and able to lie “flat” on one side. By swapping your spinning tackle out for bait finesse casting gear, and channeling your inner Bryan Thrift, you can integrate most of your finesse gear into your casting rod selection and clear out a lot of deck space. This also translates to your rod locker if it has casting specific storage. By increasing your total carrying capacity and decluttering your front deck you can stay organized and keep more tools at your disposal - a critical element for tournament bass anglers.

Possibly the strongest selling point for the implementation of bait finesse gear is the fun factor. Drop stepping and delivering a powerful hook set with a neko rig and having a 2-pounder double your rod over like an 8-pounder just elevates the excitement of finesse fishing. Every time you lock horns with a decent fish, it feels like a big one. And when you finally connect with a big one, the experience is borderline addicting. Outside of bass fishing, you can also implement bait finesse for a whole host of other species, like crappie and trout fishing to boost your fun factor.