Finessse Flipping: Tossing Finesse Baits In Heavy Cover

Finesse flipping is a great option when flipping a jig or big worm into heavy cover fails to trigger a strike, try a finesse bait and get ready to set the hook. Flipping finesse lures presents different profiles and actions to bass holding tight to thick cover. The smaller lures also give you a chance to slip a bait easier into the hiding places of big bass, whereas big bulky lures tend to hang up in the thick cover.Here’s a look at three finesse lures you should try flipping into thick cover when fishing pressure or cold fronts turn bass into picky eaters.

Finesse Flipping Tubes

Finesse flipping a tube presents a shad-imitation profile and has more action than a bulky jig and plastic chunk. When you flip a jig in a bush, it falls straight down and when you hop it up, the jig comes straight up and goes straight back down. When you pop up a tube, it has an erratic action coming up and going back down. It never falls the same way twice, so this erratic action triggers more strikes.The type of cover dictates whether you should Texas rig your tube with either a 1/8- or 3/16-ounce bullet weight. If you are flipping shallow cover that you can slip the lure into easily, use a 1/8-ounce weight, but for thicker wood cover or matted weeds try the 3/16-ounce sinker.I never peg my sinker when fishing a tube bait so it will fall freely and create more action. When you pop up the tube, the sinker slides down the line and cause the bait to hesitate. That makes it suspend for just a second and gives it an erratic fall on the way down. Attach the flipping tube to a 4/0 or 5/0 extra wide gap hook for the best hookset.For finesse flipping in clear water, try a tube in a smoke color with red and black flakes. For dirty water, flip a black neon or green pumpkin/chartreuse tail tube. On lakes with heavy vegetation, choose tubes in green hues such as watermelon or green pumpkin.The tube can be presented in the same flipping fashion as a jig and chunk. Flip the tube to specific targets in the cover and let it drop to the bottom. Pop it off the bottom once or twice, then bring it out of the cover and let it fall on the outside of the cover one time. If that doesn’t trigger a strike, reel it in and present it to the next target.

Finesse Flipping Soft Jerkbaits

This lure offers a different profile and falls slower in the target zone when flipped into heavy cover. Instead of resembling a worm or crawfish, the jerkbait looks more like a shad falling in front of a bass.For flipping in clear water or when bass are finicky, try a 5-inch jerkbait on a 3/0 hook. When fishing dirty water or for aggressive bass, choose a 6-inch jerkbait and stick it on a 4/0 or 5/0 hook. Jerkbaits in shad hues work best in clear water, while chartreuse models are best for murky conditions.The jerkbait is most effective with the least amount of weight added to it. If possible flip the lure without any weight, but in most situations a little weight is needed to present the lure in tight places. Use a 1/8- or 3/16-ounce screw-lock bullet weight to flip the jerkbait into those hard-to-reach areas. Nail weights also work, but make sure you place the weights through the side of the jerkbait rather than lengthwise, which inhibits the lure’s action.Standing timber or flooded willows are prime cover to flip the jerkbait. Flip the weighted lure to the target, let it fall to the bottom, hop it once or twitch and then try a different spot. When flipping the weightless lure, let it fall a couple of feet and twitch it a couple of times before reeling it in.

Flipping Finesse Worms

This subtle lure is thinner and has less action than bulky jigs or most styles of plastic worms so give it a try when bites are hard to get in heavy cover.Texas rig this worm with a 1/8- or 3/16-ounce weight and a 3/0 light wire worm hook.Choosing a worm color depends on the water conditions. This technique usually works best in stained water so try black or red shad. For clear-water presentations, pick transparent colors such as watermelon.The finesse worm’s straight, slender body makes it ideal for flipping into tight places. Flip it to a target, slowly hop it up and down a couple of times and then move on to another target. The bite is usually the same as any other worm, but bass seem to hang onto the little worm pretty well to give you a better chance for a hookup.