BLOG: Anti finesse

I was strapped for time and rushed to hitch up the boat then head to the ramp. I quickly threw a few things into the boat and took off. My mind was racing and didn't have a chance to settle into fishing mode before I eased back on the throttle to stop at the first location. Reaching for a rod I rummaged around to find my box of lighter finesse jig heads missing as were my coils of light leader. With no time to head back I reluctantly tied on some 20lb leader and a 1/8oz jig head then threaded on a curly tail grub - bream fishing with this setup this would be interesting. I missed the first bite but the telltale peg teeth indentations left on the jig head had bream written all over it.

I went on to catch eight bream that session - all on 20lb leader and a heavy jighead that didn't flutter seductively but plummeted straight to the shallow bottom. My retrieve was a little more aggressive than normal and I was soon thinking that finesse fishing is not always the only option over the flats.

On one end of the spectrum you can imitate a wounded baitfish or crustacean with a delicate presentation and retrieve, however, on the other hand a fleeing prawn of healthy baitfish desperate for survival would flee as quickly as possible. This is where a little anti finesse comes into play by mimicking something that wants to get the hell out of there and employing a more violent retrieve to trigger an attack response before the predator has a chance to see your heavy leader or jig head.

The fish in our busy waterways seem accustomed to a little noise and disturbance, maybe a little anti finesse is right up their alley ?