Category: Striped Bass

Many Americans can not wait for spring/summer to roll around, because that means lake time. Lake time means fishing! No matter what your fishing experience is, all fishermen just want to catch as many fish as possible. Some fishermen believe that all you need to catch more fish, is practice. Fish every chance you get and you will get better. Yes, that is true; but there is also one very important aspect (or maybe a few) that most fishermen do not consider, unless they are professionals. If your job is fishing, and you are in every tournament available then you know what we are going to discuss first. After the main concept we will throw in a few other tips and tricks.

There is one particular thing that seperates a good fisherman from a great fisherman, knowledge. Yes, you can watch “how-to” videos on youtube, but most of those famous youtubers have the knowledge that we are going to talk about.

Learning this knowledge means getting out and learning it, not watching or hearing someone explain it on a PC or smartphone video. They are informational, yes. But ‘hands on’ is even better. Knowing the area, the surroundings, the water, and the specifics about the species you are trying to catch is going to be more productive than anything. We are briefly going to touch on some of the best things to observe and learn to improve your fishing.

Decide what species fish you are targeting

First and foremost you need to observe and learn about the species you are fishing for. Focus on their underwater movements, what stimulates them, and be aware of the prime locations where they hang out. Find out when and where they hang out, what the best time of day is to fish (whether it is in the morning, evening or in the dark), when they spawn, and when they feed.

I did a 100-person survey on my Facebook page and asked if people like trout fishing more or Bass Fishing more. Here are the results

Learn water characteristics of your chosen species.

Water characteristics are very important as well. Learn the temperatures of water that the fish prefer, the clarity of the water, and be very aware of the tides and currents.

What is nature serving you?

A lot of anglers rely on modern technology, like fishfinders. But do not ignore nature. Nature is an important aspect of catching an abundance of fish. The wind, birds (or lack of), the presence of baitfish, and the calmness of the water are only a few tell-tale signs of a good or bad fishing day.

What are the best lures for your chosen fish?

You also want to obtain extensive knowledge on the best lure(s) to attract your specific target. This goes hand in hand with learning all you can about the fish you want to catch. Weather, time of day, and season are things that will determine what lure is best, as well as what kind of live bait they like. Some lures are made to replicate live bait and work extremely well. If you figure out the lures, then you know what to take with you and you are not wasting fishing time by changing lures. An extension of knowing the lures; learn which hooks and fishing line are essential for the lures you are  using.

Learn what forage and vegetation your species fish prefer.

Another aspect that will help you improve your fishing; learn the forage and vegetation that the fish prefer. Certain fish like to hang close to or hide under specific forage or underwater structures. Along with this, find out what other places or objects they like to hang around or under; such as docks, bridges, and coves.

You have to be willing to be a student of nature, to learn and observe everything you can that is affiliated to fishing and improving your fishing skills. Some young men (and women) had a grandpa or father that was very knowledgeable about fishing and the area. Others went out fishing with dad just to bond or have fun. A relaxing day after a long week of work, school, and chores. Not worried, at all, about catching anything or improving their fishing.

You can check out a fish habitat conservation lesson here

Other considerations

Then you have the professionals who know the in’s and outs of a particular species and their 24/7 habitat and routines. They are on a mission, everytime they are on the water, to improve their fishing. They study the fishing reports, the tide schedule, and always have their television on the weather channel. You can also find a seasoned angler in the area, who grew up there and they could teach you everything that you need to know. They can share their tips and tricks with you.

If you are going to go fishing in a new state or body of water, you can also hire a fishing guide. Fishing guides know the area like the back of their hand. The majority of fishing guides grew up in the area that they guide in, started fishing as a toddler, and have made fishing their life. They will take you out on their boat, and teach you the essentials on catching fish. From the weather, to lures, rods and reels, and techniques. Some can be affordable and some a little more expensive, but well worth the money.

If you want some easy tips and tricks to improve your fishing, we are going to give you those now.

Practice casting

One way to improve your fishing is to practice casting. You can do this on or off of the water. All you need to do is find an object or target and cast until you can hit that target. This will help you to be able to cast your line right on top of where the fish are.

Learn a couple of knots

Practice your knots. Knots are on of the most important parts to fishing, but are also one of the most overlooked things. Following fishing blogs, like ours, to get tips and tricks on how to improve fishing. You can also gain knowledge on the best lures, live baits, rods, reels and anything else you want to know or learn.

Keep your hooks sharp

When your hooks start to get dull change them! You want the best hook-ups possible and you can

only achieve that with sharp hooks. Make sure your rods and reels are clean. This is vital to your fishing success. If everything is clean, it will work properly when you hit the water.

There ya go folks! How to improve your fishing. I hope you enjoyed the article and get some great results from our suggestions. Stop by again soon to what else we will have in store for you.

If you are having trouble getting fish to take the bait but you can see them chase your lure, you can check out this article that may help you pinpoint why.

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In conjunction with and continuing with previous article; ‘when fish are jumping but not biting’, what do you do when you notice the fish are following your lure right up to the boat/shore and then they turn and swim away? A lot of the same principles apply here as with the earlier article. The same principles apply as far as trying to determine whether it is going to be a good or bad fishing day, the moment you arrive at your destination. Here we are going to cover some other possibilities of why this happens and what you can do to remedy the situation.

Mix up your retrieval speed

Before you go out on the water or find a cozy quiet place on the shoreline, evaluate the weather and what nature is telling you. Come up with a plan on how you want to approach fishing for the day. Stick to the plan, have fun, and be patient. As the day progresses, nature will continue to give you hints about the fish and whether it is a good day to catch them. Make sure that you have all the most popular lures for the type of fish you are seeking out. Color, size, trailers, and any extras that you can think of.

If you can physically see the fish following your lure, you get excited. You think this is the one, it is going to strike, and then BOOM; it turns and swims away. Your heart sinks, and you cast again. Some anglers believe that the fish are telling you something. They are suggesting that something is not quite right. You are on the right path, doing the right things, but something is just a little bit ‘off’ and it is causing them to swim away instead of bite.

When this happens, you will then need to begin the process of elimination and experimentation. They obviously like something about the lure you are using but dislike another aspect of it. The easiest thing that you can try is your retrieval speed. But if they are following your lure now, is that really the issue? Some would say that it is not, but others would say that you should still mix it up and find out for sure.

Try mixing up the color.

Your next possibility is going to be changing the color of the lure. Not the style/type, just the color. Maybe they like the lure you are using and the size you are enticing them with, but the color is not quite what they are looking for. So, you go through your tackle box and retrieve your various colors. Make sure to give each new change time to work (or not work). As you are changing the lure colors, experiment with the speed of retrieval or the way you are jigging the lure.

Change lure size but go back to original color.

If changing colors doesn’t seem to be working, then some anglers suggest that you go back to your original color but change the size of the lure. Go down a size and see if something smaller is what they are craving. See if your jigging method with a smaller lure entices the attack. It may get a little boring but try to be patient. They are following but not biting the lure for a reason. It is just going to take a little time to figure out what they want. You can also try moving to a shadier spot and trying out some topwater lures. But don’t get discouraged if you don’t figure it out. It just may not be the day to catch any fish. But only to be able to observe them.

Try adding a trailer

One other way that anglers have suggested, who have had this exact same issue with picky fish; if you are using a jig or a spinner bait, try adding a trailer. If none of these options are working for you it possibly may just not be your lucky day. The fish are just there to tease you and make your mouth water, thinking of the amazing ways that you can cook them up.

Do you need to attack from a boat or on shore?

As with our earlier article, read nature. What is the atmosphere telling you? Is it calm, quiet, cool, cloudy, and are there birds present? If there are birds present, then you will need to decide if you want to launch your boat into the water or if you may have more luck from the shore. There are so many variables and speculations on why you are or are not having any luck catching fish. Especially when you can clearly see other anglers catching them right and left.

Maybe just relax…

If you are on vacation and fishing in a completely new area, take a break. Have lunch at a local café or go hang out at the local bait shop and see what the locals are saying. They will know the area extremely well and can tell you different things to try, the ‘lucky’ spots for certain species, the perfect time of day, bait/lure to use, and anything else that may help you out.

If a certain species of fish is ‘teasing’ you by following your lure, and then shunning it maybe you need to try fishing for a different species all together. Completely change your lure/bait and see if you can entice a different fish to strike. It may just be that a species isn’t interested or hungry at that point and instead of stressing yourself out, by trying to figure out what they want, aim for something else. Many bodies of water that hold fish, have many different species swimming around together. You may have to change location completely or you may just have to worry about casting further out. Completely change to top water and go find a nice quiet cove. Troll out deeper or closer to ledges or forage and see what you can entice. There are so many different reasons why fish do what they do and not even an expert has all the answers as to why you are not catching fish.

When most fishermen go out, it is to relax and unwind from a busy week at work. So, try to focus on that. Enjoy your unwinding time (or your vacation) and not focus so much on why they are not biting. Enjoy the water and the company, if someone comes along, and enjoy nature. Catching fish for a meal or 2 is just a bonus.

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There is no question that fishing is something that has brought together literally millions, perhaps even billions, of people over the centuries. Many fond memories have been made between father and son, nephew and uncle, aunt and niece, and between childhood friends as well.

Indeed, in the 90’s country music video “Feed Jake” by Pirates of the Mississippi, there is a scene where two young boys are headed out to a lake with fishing poles in hand! However, much like this ancient pastime, the art of debating things seems to be a pastime that is old as society itself.

Of course, you might be asking, just what is there to debate when it comes to fishing? Well, as it turns out, actually plenty of things. One of the most pressing would be this question: is fishing considered a sport or simply just a hobby? Either way, it seems that everyone has an opinion on that age-old question.

Since a sport should include physical exertion and skill in order to compete against others or yourself, we can definitely say that “yes” Fishing is a sport.

When it comes to fully gauging whether fishing is a sport or not, there seems to be several camps. In one arena, we have what I call the “PETA camp”, and frankly, they are pretty adamant that no, it’s not a sport, because fishing is simply just a leisure activity that all individuals can do and requires no skill whatsoever, so how could it ever be a sport? (Hey, don’t flame me, I’m just telling you how they view it) In other words, they believe that fishing isn’t a sport simply because anybody can do it.  

Another camp agrees that yes, anybody can do fishing, but it still can be regarded as a competitive sport simply because it does require some degree of skill and, at the same time, it can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life regardless of age, sex, size, strength, or even disability. Either way, all it takes is a couple of hours worth of research before you realize that there is a litany of forums where some are adamant that it is a sport while other forums are just as adamant that it absolutely is not a sport whatsoever.

Of course, things definitely get interesting when a venerable internet sports institution such as Bleacher Report weighs in on this topic. Interestingly enough, they seemed to take a rather wishy-washy approach to whether fishing can be considered a sport or not. One of the first things they did was ask themselves several questions regarding the status of whether fishing could be considered a sport:

Question: Does fishing require any sort of intense exercise or any special abilities?

Answer: At times, it sure does.

Question: Do you need some physical skills to do fishing in an effective manner?

Answer: Sometimes.

Question: Is fishing considered a competition?

Answer: In many instances, yes.

Still, there are some people in yet another camp, and these individuals say that yes, fishing is indeed a sport, but only in the proper context. These individuals say that simply driving out on a frozen lake, drilling a hole, plugging in your generator, dropping your line, and enjoying some brewskis is not a sport, even if you occasionally get a tug on your line. The same goes for simply riding around on your motorboat and dragging a line here and there; in their eyes, it’s not a sport, even if the fisherman occasionally flexes his muscles to get a small catfish here and there. However, even in this case, there are some who would disagree.

Of course, there are some cases where you can definitely argue that fishing is a sport. In the case of hauling in a 50-pound bass in a bass fishing tournament, then yes, it is a sport. However, despite the fact that Bleacher Report seems to only feel it is a sport sometimes, many would argue that fishing is always a sport, and here are a few reasons why:

Both Anglers and Athletes Can Find a Lot of Common Ground

When most people think of athletics, they only think of those who can dribble a basketball, hit a baseball, throw a football, or bowl a 300 game. However, ask even the most junior fishing angler, and they will tell you that it takes an incredible amount of skill to be able to reel in even a catfish. All breeds of fish have a tendency to fight the line, and do you have the energy, stamina, and strength in order to properly haul it in? Fishing isn’t as easy as it seems, no, not at all. I mean, how

much literature has been written regarding how difficult it is to reel in a fish? Literally a whole library! The book “The Old Man and the Sea” is just the beginning. “Wicked Tuna” is one of many shows dedicated to the ancient discipline of fishing.

All of the above experiences are just in reference to your everyday, ordinary fisherman. What of the big-game fisherman? Trust me, those that go after that huge, giant fish are completely wiped out after fighting a fish that is on par with Andre the Giant in aquatic form. They may not show it when they pose with that catch for that picture, but that smile simply means that they are “tired, but happy.” These championship fishermen are every bit as tired as someone who has gone toe-to-toe with a heavyweight boxer or a rock-solid UFC fighter. Seriously, if you don’t think that it’s a workout to land a 50-pound tuna, then think again.

Like other athletes, anglers follow many strict personal regimens.

Additionally, you should be aware that if you talk to any angler out there, they will consider themselves to be an athlete even if no one else does. They will take their fishing discipline seriously, and they will have certain pillars in their lives that they will swear by for top-notch performance. Like other athletes, they will have certain training, diet, sleep, and studying regimens that they will follow religiously. They will always want to make sure that they get enough sleep, simply because they realize that they would have slower reflexes while on the boat the next day. Heaven forbid they miss some serious fish movement in the water below the boat simply because of sleep deprivation!

The experienced angler also realizes that they must have a balanced diet in order to function properly. Most anglers will have an arsenal of food choices to make sure they have all of the minerals they need for a day out on the water. Snacks such as eggs, bacon, coffee, and energy drinks have become a staple for many fishermen. Alternately, some anglers will go with granola bars or other healthy snacks. Still, other anglers will often swear by sunflower seeds, nuts, or beef jerky.

Either way, whatever habits an individual angler might have, they all have one common denominator: all of them have a drive to succeed, and they all realize that the only way to do this is through understanding the science of their fishing passion.

Fishing can improve your physical health.

If you approach it right, fishing can definitely improve your physical health, much like any other sport. Fishing will take a worn-out couch potato and give them something to do with their time that actually takes physical activity to pull off effectively. For one thing, you often will have to make your way through some rocky natural terrain to get to your fishing spot. Additionally, you will often have to find a location for building your fishing line, providing valuable muscular exercise. Casting and reeling on a repeated basis will help you work on your eye-hand coordination. Finally, the activity of fishing has been recognized as a low-stress way to work on your hands, forearms, wrists, biceps, shoulders, and triceps. Perhaps not surprisingly, there are many psychologists and counselors who recommend fishing activities for injured veterans as well!

Like many other sports, fishing promotes your well-being in a variety of different areas.

It is actually a proven fact that angling is a very therapeutic thing for someone to do. Of course, there are many other sports that you can go with, and that’s your prerogative. However, many of these other sports are very tedious, and they can cause extreme stress, broken bones, or could even be life threatening. Continue to try these sports if that strikes your fancy, but all the while fishing is sitting on the sidelines, promising you a refuge from all of the stress of your hustling city life, and it’s even a sport that won’t pressure you, unlike bull riding or car racing, for example.

The best way to sum it up is that fishing will be a serene way for you to pass your time. You cast your line out on that lake and you get a well-deserved break from all of the stressors in your life. Of course, if you prefer running sprints in football, having a hockey puck flying at you in hockey, or diving for a line-drive in baseball that is up to you.

Considering all of the stressors regarding these other options, fishing would seem to be quite a bit more appealing to many other hobbyists.

Like other sports, you will learn discipline, perseverance, and leadership.

There is no question that sports teach us a lot about ourselves. We learn many essential leadership lessons from many of the most popular sports such as football, basketball, hockey, and track and field. However, you definitely shouldn’t leave fishing out of that loop. First of all, fishing still has a team element to it simply because you usually do it with other people. This is especially true in a fishing tournament as the amount of fish you catch is directly contingent to how well your fishing team does.

Of course, it’s a no-brainer that fishing teaches perseverance, simply because it takes a lot of practice and skill to land some of the largest fish on your targeted lake! Of course, it’s also a no-brainer that getting your children involved in fishing is more than letting them just play XBOX or Playstation all day long. However, even for adults, the sport of fishing will help you develop strength, flexibility, stamina, hand-eye coordination, and focus. These are not only skills that will help you in sports but also on the job and in society as well.

Moreover, these are skills that we learn just by being out on the water by ourselves. When we enter into a fishing competition, we actually have to step out of our comfort zone and that is when we experience all kinds of thrills, challenges, and we gain more understanding of our chosen sport. This is where team dynamics and sportsmanship come in for sure.

You will get a serious sense of accomplishment when you fish.

Finally, like any other normal sport, fishing will give you a sense of accomplishment. You definitely fish for different reasons, whether it be for combating stress, solitude, sanctuary, or even doing it competitively. However, whatever your main purpose might be, there is nothing like the feeling of satisfaction you receive when you feel that first tug on your fishing line. Your happiness and contentment is truly unparalleled.

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One of the best things about fishing is that it truly gives you a sense of belonging within the world. Fishing is one of those pastimes where you can get out in nature and experience much more than just the water and your rod and reel. You also see how the birds interact with the water and how the wind blows across the lake. You are at peace with the world.

Part of the reason for this would have to be because fishing is not just a sport, but it is also a way to stay in tune with our ancient, primeval ancestors. You see, fishing is actually one of the oldest sports in the world because it hearkens back to when we were just a hunter-gatherer type of society. Considering that fishing teaches you so much about your world and society at large, don’t let anyone tell you that it isn’t a sport. It truly is, because even if you aren’t entering into tournaments, you are still competing with the fish and within your own records as well. It’s time to enjoy the oldest sport in the world!

Bluegill Story

Story: I took my son to Veterans Memorial Park in Boulder city Nevada where we fished for bluegill. In the morning up until about 11 AM we had no luck but we were using tiny worms and we were not fishing in a very good location at the pond. We left the pond to go get some lunch and while we were out we picked up some fat juicy nightcrawlers. When we return to the pond there was a spot open that looked like a better place. My son and I took that spot and we were using about 1/3 to 1/4 of a worm on a tiny hook. In the next two or three hours we each carton bluegill and as a bonus I caught one turtle of course sweetheart everything go as we like to practice catch and release if we can. We had a great time and we knocked em dead on the bluegill.

As a fisherman, if you have spent enough time in the hobby, then it wasn’t long before you realized that there are many more variations to fishing than what the beginner might notice. Indeed, there are many different ways to fish, including the utilization of many different baits.

Of course, most people simply just use live bait, but with all due respect, others realize there is a whole world of fishing that these individuals are missing out on. Indeed, there are fishing hobbyists who have worked for years perfecting different techniques to get finicky fish to come out of their shell and bite their bait.

This is especially true for bass, who is known for being one of the smarter varieties of fish. Of course, this is a good option for those who want a challenge. Moreover, one of the best ways to land this elusive bass would be through the discipline of finesse fishing.

Finesse Fishing Explained

What is finesse fishing, you ask? Well, it’s simply yet another method in the fisherman’s arsenal for coaxing out finicky fish. Of course, it takes some practice to get it right; it’s not something where you can go out immediately on the lake and do it absolutely right. Finesse fishing is all about attention to detail. It’s all about finding the correct placement for your bait and the correct location for your rod and reel. It is basically about finding a certain specific way to present your bait to the fish. Naturally, this method of fishing is very detail-oriented, and proponents of this fishing method are very careful about every item within their fishing equipment.

Of course, this all begs the question: which rod is best for this type of fishing? Well, that is definitely open to a lot of debate among finesse fishermen, so here is some extra information regarding the discipline of finesse fishing:

Finesse Fishing: A Brief Introduction

We’re getting down to the nitty-gritty here, but first things first: you have to understand what the word finesse means and what “finesse” means in relation to fishing in the first place. The word “finesse” is defined as “intricate and refined.” Thus, when it comes to fishing, this simply means that no detail is overlooked. Take a look at some of these extra considerations.

Finesse Fishing is More of a Small-Handed Fishing Version Rather Than a Heavy-Handed One.

What do we mean by that? Well, the best explanation is that finesse fishing for such species as bass will entail utilizing such equipment as a spinner with smaller action, a soft plastic that is much thinner than normal, and a spinning action with a subdued action that will still feature a good spinning gear.

This is in direct contract with the normal heavy bass fishing methods, which usually feature such things as a huge, bulky lure, a fast-moving production, and a bait casting operation with a lot of heavy action. This is all well and good, and it does catch a lot of bass throughout the year. However, these methods do not allow

for such things as the clear water, cold fronts, or the fishing pressure scaring the bass away. If you want to fish for bass all-year-round under most circumstances, you will need to have more than one fishing method in your arsenal. This is where finesse fishing methods come in.

Now that you’ve realized that finesse fishing DOES have a purpose, let’s have a look at some of the best rods for the practice:

So Just What Makes a Good Finesse Bass Fishing Rod Anyway?

Now that we’ve laid the groundwork for those who are beginners in finesse bass fishing, it’s time to discuss the importance of using the right rod for this type of fishing. Either way you slice it, selecting the best rod for finesse fishing is a topic all to itself, and there is naturally a lot of debate regarding which one is best.

The job of this blog entry is not to promote one rod over the other, but whichever brand you select, there are some must-have characteristics and attitudes you need in order for you to have the best finesse fishing experience:

When it comes to the bass fishing old-timers, take their views of finesse fishing rods with a grain of salt,

Chances are, anyone who has been bass fishing out on the lake for any length of time has either considered or went ahead and tried finesse bass fishing. This discipline is like everything else; some have tried it and liked it, but some have tried it and not cared for it.

Those who don’t care for finesse bass fishing will usually immediately criticize the rods that are used for the finesse strategy. Their complaints will usually go something like, “Well, these finesse bass fishing rods are good for nothing whippy spinning rods that only work part of the time. Seriously, you need to have a tight line paired with a tiny bait, or it’s nothing more than a piece of junk!”

Yes, they will get THAT adamant about it. However, this description isn’t necessarily true, and you owe it to yourself to decide on your own what you think about finesse spinning rods. Of course, this leads us to our next point.

Finesse bass fishing rods are actually quite versatile and durable.

Naturally, when it comes to finesse bass fishing rods, not all of them are created equal. When selecting the best finesse fishing rod, it will often boil down to four words: shock absorption and backbone.

That’s right: if you are looking for the best way to catch these stubborn basses out of season or in less-than-perfect weather, you need a rod that can withstand just how tough these little creatures can be!

The shock absorption on your finesse rod will allow you to withstand an incredible fight from even the most stubborn bass. Moreover, the shock absorption on a fishing line will also help you be able to land this bass without the hook being torn straight through the little one’s mouth entirely.

Naturally, it can be difficult to find a finesse fishing rod with the right shock absorption or backbone, but like everything else in life, it pays to read the fine print. Much like you read the small details on all your grocery store items in order to prevent an allergic reaction, you should do the same with your fishing rods to make sure they can handle a stubborn bass.

Finesse rods need to have the right configuration for your needs.

Along these same lines, you should go with a rod that is precisely calibrated for this bass fishing strategy. Many anglers have found success with a rod that has a 70/30 calibration.

That is, the rod will have a 70 percent backbone, which means that the rod will remain stiff and continue to hold up even under the immense pressure of even the strongest and most determined bass. Simply put, even though bass might appear to be small, there are some of these creatures that are so ripped that they have been known to break many different fishing rods.

This is why you want a rod that is 70 percent stiff, if just for the purpose of having the strength to control that fish in his watery domain. Moreover, you have to realize that you are trying to fish for these basses in the same place that you would normally cast a regular spinner or a jig.

Hence, yet another reason why you need a rod with at least a 70 percent stiffness. However, do be aware that even if you keep in mind getting a rod with this degree of stiffness, we still aren’t done yet.

That’s right: we also need a rod that has the 30 percent calibration as well. Having a rod with a 30 percent tip means that you are able to withstand a lot of shock to the bottom part of the rod that usually comes with casting all of these light lures. This also means that your rod will have the flexibility to keep the line strong even when you do encounter a stubborn fish.

Of course, there is no question that this rod is very versatile. However, there is definitely one small problem: if you aren’t an experienced angler, how can you tell if you are handling (or planning to buy) an appropriate 70/30 rod? Usually, a good rule of thumb is to simply just know how to properly handle the rod.

For starters, you should simply just test the model yourself. You would do this by holding the rod with your left hand, and then run your fingers along the handle by the reel seat. At the same time, you should also pull down on the rod tip with your right hand.

Watch carefully, seeing just where the tip begins to stop flexing. If you have an authentic 70/30 fishing rod, you will immediately notice that it stops flexing just about a third of the way down the shaft of the rod. The beauty of this method is that you can employ this practice with just about any rod you are considering buying in order to fully determine the true action of the piece.

While 70/30 is a good calibration to keep in mind for those just starting out in finesse fishing, this calibration is by no means the only model that you can use.

After you have gotten some practice with finesse fishing under your belt, you also could consider a 60/40 model, simply because many finesse fishermen do not like to stick with just one calibration. Additionally, some finesse guys like a 60/40 rod because it will usually hold up better for a litany of light wire fishing activities.

Many finesse fishermen also like this model because it is great for either split shotting, drop shotting, or any other occasion where you might be fishing with a smaller hook.

The length of your rod is important too.

Of course, you also should pay attention to the length of your finesse rod as well. Interestingly enough, there really isn’t any one length that will work best; it kind of depends on what goals you have in mind. For example, you might want a rod that is 6 1/2 feet if you are fishing in a tightly covered area or if you

are putting your bait out in an area that has a lot of debris, such as boulders, rocks, branches, or dock beams. Alternately, you might want to go with the slightly longer seven-foot finesse rod model if you intend to make longer casts out into the water.

A seven-footer is also good for finding the bigger fish that stay further out and might normally be more easily spooked.

Find your own “lingo” for what kind of finesse rod you are looking for.

When you are shopping for a finesse rod for the first couple of times, one of the things you immediately realize is that there is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” description among rod and reel companies.

Simply put, it varies. Some companies will say their rod is “medium”, and that’s all well and good, but you could take that exact same rod to another company and they might classify it as “medium/heavy” or even “medium/light” with another company!

This is why it is so useful for you to simply go with the 70/30, 60/40, or 80/20 method. Yes, it might sound like you are talking about motor oil calibrations, but it’s a lot less confusing and much easier to get the rod you want that way.

Don’t be afraid to experiment!

Finally, there is no getting around the fact that you might need to go through some trial-and-error before you find the best rod for this type of fishing. This means being patient and trying out different rods until you find the one that is best for your own unique finesse fishing situation. Simply put, the best rod for finesse fishing is the one that fully meets your unique finesse angling expectations. There is no “one-size-fits-all” variety. Just try everything out until you find the right one for you.