Photo: Jimmy Reese
When talking about finesse fishing, the drop-shot is always mentioned and with good reason. It works. Jimmy Reese is a noted drop-shot angler agrees and says “it’s a given”. Here are his other three top finesse rigs for fall bass fishing.
Finesse Jig
Jigs are usually not seen as finesse baits, but the size and way that Jimmy Reese fishes them in the fall allows it to fit into the category. “In the fall the grass is starting to die and there is less and less of it. Because of this, it is something I always look for in the fall because the fish will be close to what’s left of it,” began Reese. He said this starts to occur when the water temperature drops into the 60’s, but when it hits the mid 60-degree mark it is excellent.
One way Reese fishes this dying grass is with a lightweight ¼-ounce, jig coupled with a Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits five-inch, Double Tail Grub. Among his favorite color combinations is a brown jig with a purple soft plastic trailer.
“I cast it out to the edges of grass and will rip it to trigger a strike and they usually will hit it as it is falling. Since it is so light it has the perfect action and won’t dig down into the grass,” he added.
He fishes the jig on a Douglas Outdoors DXC 755F X-Matrix rod, 7.1:1 reel and 12- to 15-lb P-Line fluorocarbon, with 15-lb being what he uses most often.
Shaky Head
The shaky head is another go-to fall finesse bait for Jimmy Reese.
“During the fall it all about finding the baitfish first, so really you can use a variety of soft plastics once you find them. Working the shaky head with a constant shake on the bottom is great this time of year and if there are baitfish around it will definitely get bit,” he said.
Some of his favorite baits are the 5.75 and 6.5-inch Yamamoto Kut Tail worms in Green Pumpkin with the tail dipped in chartreuse. He fishes these baits on a 3/16-ounce Frenzy Nail jighead and uses a Douglas Outdoors 764F X-Matrix rod. One thing he does with a shaky head is upsize his line size more than he does with other finesse techniques on a spinning rod.
“I like a 20- to 30-lb P-Line braid and up to 12-lb fluorocarbon leader,” said Reese. “I use a leader of around 20-feet as well since I am using that heavier braid.”
Skipping Docks
Another of Reese’s favorite fall finesse techniques is skipping docks with a Senko.
“The key for me is to find the shallow sides of each dock. Even if they are deep docks, often the biggest fish are on the shallow part of the docks in the fall,” he said.
His reasoning is that the shallower water cools faster during this time of year and is where the bass will congregate during a change in the seasons.
The right equipment is crucial for skipping effectively and using baits to preserve his baits is crucial.
“I use a five-inch Senko 90 percent of the time and it is almost always the Green Pumpkin/watermelon laminate color. One thing I do is fish it with a 3/O Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot hook and a Frenzy Baits Wacky Saddle to hold it in place,” he added.
The rod he uses is something he has been working on for the past several months, a 6’6” spinning rod with a fast-action that is made by Douglas Outdoors that allows for easy skipping with the shorter length. It is in the prototype stage, but he said those who skip docks often will love it. He uses a medium-sized spinning reel and 30-lb P-Line TCB braid and 8-lb P-Line fluorocarbon leader to round out his skipping setup.
Locating Fish
To find places to fish, Reese relies heavily on his electronics.
“Vegetation is so important this time of year and it is when I will use my Lowrance SideScan to search for areas that still have it. As it gets colder it is harder to see the vegetation without help from your electronics,” he said.
On some lakes he relies on past knowledge of where the grass typically grows during the summer and then uses his electronics to refine the areas and search for new ones.
Baitfish are another must this time of year and that is when Reese will turn his eyes to his Lowrance units and the DownScan feature as well as StructureScan 3D. “These are good tools for finding baitfish, but it is also how I find rock piles and other deep structure,” he added.
According to Jimmy Reese fall fishing is all about finding grass and baitfish. While many techniques work this time of year, finesse fishing is a way to quickly load the boat as the fish begin to feed in preparation for the winter.
Photo: FLW Outdoors
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