Finesse Fishing 101: The Drop Shot & Shaky Head

Finesse tactics have revolutionized bass fishing. In the past, if you weren’t getting bit throwing traditional presentations like spinnerbaits, cranks, or flipping – “they just weren’t biting.” That’s no longer the case. More and more anglers are finding that switching to finesse tactics can generate strikes when everything else fails, making “they’re just not biting” a phrase seldom uttered by serious anglers. The drop shot and the shaky head are two of the most popular finesse presentations for a reason. They get bit. Here’s a little more on when and where each shines best.

Drop Shot

Explore The Perfect Drop Shot Combo

The drop shot provides finesse baits like the PlasmaTail maximum wiggle and maximum angler control by moving the weight to the end of the line. For that reason, the drop shot excels in deep clear water, around docks, rocks, and other hardcovers. In clear water, the drop shot's subtle wiggle and up-off-the-bottom posture make it the ultimate clear water finesse presentation.

Shaky Head

Explore Karl's Favorite Shaky Head Gear

Still called the “jig worm” by old-school anglers, the shakey head can be used to succeed around any type of cover. Because it’s weedless and ability to fish deep, the shakey head dominates on weed lines, deep brush, laydowns, and ledges. It’s also great along with rip rap, docks, and other manmade structures like bridge pilings and seawalls.