Finesse-Fishing Blog
The Finesse-Fishing Blog will highlight new pages on the Finesse-Fishing.com site and follow developments in ultralight spinfishing and ultralight baitcasting for trout.
Jul 09, 2018
The thrill is back!
I grew up fishing with my father, great grandfather, and occasionally my great uncle. It was primarily done on the lakes in the midlands and upstate
Jul 04, 2018
What a surprise
Let me just start by saying I have been a die hard fly fisherman for most of my life. I started out with a spinning rod when I was younger but was convinced
Jul 02, 2018
Spoon Fishing and Spinner Fishing
One of my fishing and hunting buddies manages a private Bass Pond. Once or twice a year, I get the privilege of helping cull the middle class of fish.
Jun 24, 2018
Shimano Trout One Rods
The Shimano Trout One rods are really very nice rods that in some ways I like better than the comparably priced Daiwas. The Trout One Native Special rods come in spinning and baitcasting versions. The Trout One Area Special rods are all spinning rods.
The Shimano Trout One NS (Native Special) S53UL is very nice, very light, very capable rod designed for stream trout. Shimano designed the Trout One NS with a fast taper, giving the rod a firm midsection and a relatively soft tip. The firm midsection gives you the ability to work lures up to 7 grams (1/4 ounce) and the relatively soft tip will allow the rod to cast a 1 gram lure (1/32 oz).
The Shimano Trout One Area Special 66XUL-F was designed specifically for fishing lakes, where you do not have to fight the current as well as the fish. The Area Special was designed for trout, but it is a versatile rod. Softer and longer than the NS (native special) the Area Special 66XUL-F and would be an ideal rod for panfish. It will handle modest smallmouth bass, particularly in clear lakes free from wood and weeds.
Jun 19, 2018
At the vise
Ever since Chris led me to the dark side I've been devouring everything I can find concerning ultralight spin fishing. Notable finds were Erne St. Clare's
May 27, 2018
GDPR
After carefully reviewing the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), I have reluctantly concluded that I can no longer offer any goods or services to residents of the European Union or the European Economic Area.
Whereas the goals of the GDPR are laudable, I have concluded that it will be absolutely impossible for a small, one-man company in the US to be fully compliant. The penalties for noncompliance are horrendous.
Apr 13, 2018
Smith Edge Diamond Spoons Give you the "Edge"
I never thought I would be enthused about Spin fishing. I have come to the Dark Side from the TenkaraBum site. It is Walter's fault that I bought the
Continue reading "Smith Edge Diamond Spoons Give you the "Edge""
Mar 06, 2018
Troutist and Daiwa are a great pair!
Went fishing today on the Salt River in Arizona and had an amazing day! Just received my Troutist Darkness 4lb test line and my Daiwa Crusader gold and
Mar 01, 2018
Daiwa Dr. Minnow jointed
The Daiwa Dr. Minnow jointed is now my favourite must have trout lure. Fantastic for small stream trouting and will attract other species as well. Here
Feb 24, 2018
Nearly "Finessed" a Steelhead!
I went steelhead fishing a few days ago (2/21) and upon arrival at the creek, it was totally blown out due to the recent snow melt. I decided to head
Feb 21, 2018
Daiwa BFS Combo
Hi all . With the warm weather on the eastern shore I was out fishing. I am really getting to like my Alphas Air 7.2L and Purelist 52ULB . When I first
Jan 04, 2018
Nice day with the Crusaders
Went to a C&R pond today for some trout action. Ended up with 9 on the gold tiger 2.5 Crusader and one on the Yozuri Pins minnow. Nice fish most were 14-16.
Dec 02, 2017
Daiwa Gekkabijin 70-ULS Mebaru rod.
I have found the Daiwa Gekkabijin 70-ULS Mebaru rod to be excellent for panfish in farm ponds and small streams. It casts very light lures easily and is
Nov 26, 2017
Trip Report - 11-25-17
With all the concentration on the Daiwa Spoons recently, it is easy to forget about the C'ultiva ajing jigs and plastics. Word to the wise: "Don't!"
Sometimes the fish want fast and flashy. Sometimes they want slow and subtle. Saturday turned out to be a slow and subtle day.
Nov 23, 2017
Black Friday Sale
The Finesse-Fishing.com Black Friday Sale will start at 11 AM Eastern Time on Friday, November 24. That may sound unreasonably late to someone in NY, but it is 8 AM for anglers on the West Coast.
For some things that will be on sale, only one item is available. People all across the country deserve an equal chance.
Nov 07, 2017
Single Hook Lures for Trout
Single hook lures for trout just make sense. Most trout anglers release their catch but releasing a fish doesn't guarantee its survival. Scientific studies have shown that spin fishing causes greater post-release mortality than fly fishing. I am sure the type of rod and reel have nothing to do with it. It's the treble hooks that are the problem. Treble hooks cause more damage and take longer to remove than single hooks. The longer a trout is out of water the greater the chance it will die after release - even if it looks fine swimming away. Single hook lures save trout.
Nov 03, 2017
Ditching Treble Hooks
Since I started using my new finesse spinning rod, I wanted to carry over my catch and release ethics from tenkara/fly fishing to my spin fishing. Part
Oct 24, 2017
It’s all about the pursuit......
I love fishing! I have been fishing since I was a child and the love affair continues. As I have grown older, fishing is as much about the entire experience
Oct 23, 2017
Daiwa Ajing X 68L-S
Hey all. I got my Ajing X 68L-S a few days ago. The quick and professional service that Chris provides. It is the only L rated JDM rod I have. All the
Oct 16, 2017
Trip Report - 10-14-17
Very recently I received two Area Bum rods from Daiwa, the 4-piece 60XUL-4 and the extra, extra ultralight 56XXUL-S. On Sunday I took the 60XUL-4 out for a spin.
We don't have many pay-to-fish lakes in the US, but we have lots of lakes and untold miles of streams that are stocked with trout - as are the "Areas" in Japan. Most probably aren't stocked as heavily, or with fish that are quite as large, but then most aren't quite as pressured either.
Although the Area Bum rods are relatively soft, full flex rods designed for light lines (3lb max), they are quite capable of landing very nice fish as long as you don't have to battle the current as well as the fish (and as long as you have a reel with a nice drag, like the Daiwa Luvias 1003).
Sunday was also my fist chance to use the Yo-Zuri Pins Minnow (single hook) - which are just 2" long and weigh just 2 grams (about 1/16 oz).
Warning:
The hooks are sharp.
The coffee's hot.
The fish are slippery when wet.