By Tackle Warehouse | March 2024
Finesse jigs provide bass with a compact and approachable profile that remains productive throughout the year in clear waters, but especially during the Springtime. In this video, Bass Master Classic and Forest Wood Champion Luke Clausen walks us through his favorite finesse jig modifications, his ideal finesse jig setup, and describes how to adjust your approach for cold-water scenarios.
During the Spring bass spend more time off the lake bottom, so a slower rate of fall is often needed to grab their attention to allow them to track it down. Luke downsizes his finesse jig trailer with a Z-Man Finesse TRD Worm to create a streamlined presentation that falls slowly thanks to its highly buoyant 10X Tough Elaztech construction. The slender profile of the Finesse TRD Worm mimics the profile of a tube and creates very little action to attract pressured fish that require a less intrusive presentation.
The spider-cut finesse skirt on a Dirty Jigs Luke Clausen Finesse Jig is designed to slow down its rate of fall through the water column. For most situations Luke encounters, he opts for a 3/8oz finesse jig and adjusts the fall rate by trimming the spider-cut skirt based on the water temperature. In colder 40-degree waters, he trims nothing off the skirt to allow it to capture as much water as possible, as it acts like a parachute, slowing down its descent to the lake bottom.
As the water continues to warm during the Spring, Luke trims the spider-cut skirt near the collar to further reduce the profile and increase its rate of fall, sometimes even removing it completely when he wants to get the jig down fast or is fishing deeper water.
Originally regarded as finesse-rig only for deep, clear, Ozark fisheries, Luke learned over the years that this deadly combination excels in both clear and stained water and the fish want a ‘do-nothing’ style of jig trailer. Shop Luke Clausen’s Finesse Jig Gear below!
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