Exploring Evolving Bass Finesse Minnow Tactics

Finesse fishing’s popularity has surged in recent years as more anglers turn to downsized baits and light tackle for tricking bites from big bass. The following shares how several innovative products from Rapala and Rapala respected brands are contributing to finesse fishing’s evolution and helping anglers catch more bass. 

Despite only being around for less than two years, CrushCity soft baits have significantly moved the needle with respect to bait selection for one of the hottest finesse bass presentations — a soft plastic minnow on a jig. No disrespect to the uber-potent Ned rig, of course.

Take the Mooch Minnow, for example, a 3-1/2-inch soft bait made of ultra-durable Super TPE that’s seen overnight success. With a slender profile and a tapering tail outfitted with two, small tabs, the Mooch Minnow has a lifelike tail-kicking, swimming action bass can’t resist. Even better, perhaps, is an angler has the option of cutting off the tail tabs to give the bait more freedom and cause it to roll more, and show bass something a little different. Regardless of if it’s fished as it or without tabs, Super TPE’s buoyancy ensures the Mooch Minnow stays upright (i.e., horizontal) and delivers a subtle, enticing swim whether fished straight-down, cast and retrieved, or slowly strolled behind the boat.

The Freeloader is also worth having. Made of Rapala’s PVC formula and measuring 4-1/4 inches, this shad-profiled bait exudes an enticing yet subtle quivering action thanks to its tall, flat sides and unique ribbed pin tail. Common for many elite Rapala bass pros is having both the Freeloader and Mooch Minnow on-deck, and in rotation as conditions and bass activity changes throughout the day.

Deserving accolades, too, is The Jerk. This jerk-shad style bait is exclusive to the Canadian market, and ideal for moping (aka “hanging a minnow”), hover-strolling and casting presentations. Originally released in a 3-3/4-inch size, the new 5-inch version has proven to be as potent for hooking largemouth and smallmouth bass.

CrushCity’s cornucopia of finesse minnows doesn’t stop here, though. What would a soft-bait collection be without paddletail swimbaits, after all? 

One reliable bass slayer is The Suspect. This 2.75-inch, Super TPE bait’s thin profile is perfect for sweet-talking strikes in clear water and high-pressure situations. Formidable, too, are the new 2-1/2-inch Mayor (PVC) and 3-inch Heavy Hitter (Super TPE). Both share a similar shad profile, enticing kicking action and tantalizing belly roll.

Tip: CrushCity plastics come in a rainbow of colours suitable for all baitfish scenarios anglers may encounter.

Denser than lead, a tungsten jig or drop-shot weight produces a stronger sonar return and is more easily seen on the electronic’s display.  As a result, a tungsten jig or tungsten weight can help improve an angler’s  presentation precision — whether jigging below the boat and video-gaming bass with 2D sonar, or casting to specific fish scanned with forward facing sonar.

The new RedLine Series Tungsten Swimbait Jig is an excellent choice for the finesse minnow tactics described here. Featuring an ultra-sharp, strong hook, it also has a conical keeper that locks CrushCity Super TPE and PVC baits in place, and ensures proper balance for natural, swimming presentations. 

The RedLine Series Tungsten Ned Head Jig is another must-have. Along with a premium RedLine hook and conical keeper benefits, this tungsten Ned-rig jig has a unique, versatile head shape, allowing the angler to easily alternate from an open-water swimming technique to a bottom-oriented retrieve from one cast to the next.  

The Tungsten Moon Eye Jig is another winner. Outfitted with realistic, 3D holographic eyes and offered in captivating colours, this jig packs a proven persuasion ideal for soft-bait minnow tactics, and has a strong, 1X, high-carbon steel hook that’s all business.

Looking beyond jigs, the B.E.T. (Big Eye Teardrop) Drop Shot Weight is ideal for drop-shotting and free-rigging techniques. Complementing its advantageous teardrop shape, are a built-in swivel to reduce line twist and a convenient tie-direct eye, which keeps the weight secured on the end of your line. 

CrushCity’s soft-plastic minnows have also proven potent on finesse Carolina rigs. Here, the extreme hardness of a Tungsten Worm Weight provides a better feel for structure and helps pinpoint high-percentage bass locations.

Tip: The Drop Shot, Wacky Neko and Hybrid Wide Gap models within the RedLine Series are perfect for today’s most popular bass fishing finesse rigs.

Having the right fishing line and rod setup is crucial to success with finesse presentations. This is why, in response to evolving bass fishing techniques, Sufix created Revolve, an ultra-thin, sensitive, finesse braid. Revolve features optimized tensile strength, along with body characteristics that reduce annoying wind knots and deliver smooth, hassle-free performance. Available in green and high-vis neon lime in 6-, 8-, 10- and 12-pound strengths, Revolve finesse braid is perfect for pairing with Advance Fluorocarbon Leader.

A high-performance rod is another crucial piece of equipment for finessing bass. Here, an angler need look no further than 13 Fishing’s new Myth and Oath medium-light spinning rods. Precision-tuned, Japanese PVG40T and PVG36T Banks with Cross Carbon Overlay send finesse minnows sailing the proverbial country mile with excellent accuracy, and deliver the sensitivity required for maintaining feel of finesse presentations and detecting light strikes.

CrushCity soft-plastic minnows, VMC RedLine Hooks and tungsten jigs and weights, Sufix fishing line, and 13 Fishing rods and reels deliver everything you need for catching smallmouth and largemouth bass using today’s latest finesse fishing techniques. All these innovative products are widely available, so there’s no reason not to have these precision tools in your boat or shore-fishing arsenal.