Tips for Finessing Bass, Walleyes, and Pike

• It’s a well-known fact that when the fishing is tough you have to rely on a finesse approach to generate a bite. My definition of finesse is to use lively bait and keep it in front of the fish long enough for one to commit.

• For bass a great finesse approach is to anchor your boat along the edge of the vegetation on the side of a point and using an eighth-ounce split shot and a number-two hook cast a lively leech out and let it set there squirming right on the weedline. Those big bass holding there, even when they are slightly negative about feeding, can’t resist a leech struggling to get off the bottom.

• For walleyes add a colored bead (orange is my favorite) right above the hook on your Roach Rig (live-bait rig). This little splash of color can trigger a walleye to come over and take a look, which can result in that fish biting on that bait.

• For pike the typical finesse approach is to dangle a lively sucker minnow below a bobber in cabbage, coontail or milfoil. This is a good approach which can be made better by using a red hook. The Bleeding Bait hooks are tremendous triggers when using live bait suspended under a bobber.

• A finesse approach is all about a slow presentation that keeps the bait in the fish zone for extended periods of time. Tight boat control and keeping a sharp eye on the sonar play a big part when aiming for success with a finesse approach.