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By Barry Stanley

August 22, 2011

Until recently, I couldn’t even spell “finesse” much less fish that way.  I consider myself, quite proudly, as a power fisherman who thinks 12lb test line is best used to sew up special girlie garments.  Not that there is anything wrong with girlie things, I am just saying 12lb line is a little light for my taste.  I am also one of those ol’ dogs that you cannot teach new tricks.  This is where the rub comes in; I do not like getting beat, which was happening more and more, especially during those dog days of summer.  Sure, I could still sneak up on them drop shotters from time to time and put it on them, but not with any consistency.

So this past winter I set out to learn all I could about “finesse” fishing.  My friends simply will not understand so please do not tell anyone.  Probably have to turn in my flippin’ stick or something if they find out.   After delving into the what-fors and what-nots, I met up with my salvation: the Yamamoto Shad Shape worm.  Some of my compadres will tell you it was not very long ago that I bought a new drop-shot rod/reel and it lay in the bottom of my rod locker for over a year and never saw a lick of daylight.  Now I always factor in a finesse bite when I pre-fish, just to make sure I am not missing something.  It might not be my first presentation, not even my third, but if the conditions call for it I am comfortable going to it.

I know what some of you are thinking: Stanley’s on the Yamamoto Pro Staff so he has to fish their baits.  There’s a bit of truth to that, of course I’m going to recommend GYCB product, but the Shad Shape is just one of many baits sold by Yamamoto.  I could have picked the Kut Tail or the small Senkos but the Shad Shape does something those others do not do as well: It the best bait when it comes to mimicking baitfish.  Rig it how you like, the shad shape worm simply out fishes just about any other finesse bait out there.  I have proven it more than once, most recently at a tournament on Elephant Butte here in New Mexico.

I think you get the picture when I say I was a late bloomer when it comes to finesse fishing.  Some of you may recall a couple articles I penned last year (09/10 & 01/11) recounting my dismal showing in the New Mexico BASS Federation Nation circuit.  I can truthfully say I did not pick up a drop-shot rod until the last event, and by then I was totally out of the running to make the state team.  Some of us just need more butt kickings than others.

Rigging

I like to rig the Shad Shape on a drop shot using an open hook pinned through the nose of the bait.  Don’t make long casts just put it out in front of you about 10-15 feet.  Let it hit the bottom and then get busy shaking it.  Sometimes I have to shake, drag, and shake to get bit.  Sometimes I have to deadstick it either on a tight line or lying on the bottom.  I encourage you to experiment with presentations that prove to be effective in that moment, keeping an open-mind to any needed adjustment.  Bass will want respond differently to different presentations throughout the day so keep changing up when the bite slows.

Try Texas rigging the Shad Shape on a #1 Sugoi hook when fishing around trees and brush.  Best not to fish it inside as the weight will hang up and you will be retying constantly.  Hey, on second thought, fish it inside and you will be doing your part to help with the cash flow.  Okay, seriously, get it close to the bush without getting hung up. The fish will come out of the bush for a nibble but don’t go to sleep on the pick up or they will retreat back in.

Try rigging it wacky style either open hook or with the new Gamakatsu wacky hook so it is more weedless, which allows you to get in places most finesse anglers never go.  If you want to split shot it, I have had the best luck using either a 2/0 - 1/16 or 3/32oz weighed hook, the kind you use with fluke style baits.  This will keep the bait from rolling and eliminate the dreaded twisted line after about 20-30 casts.  It is best to use a split shot just a little heavier than the weighted hook so you get the correct presentation.

My favorite presentation outside a drop shot is on a light Owner wacky jig head either nosed hooked or wacky style.  This is a great way to cover those large, rocky flats that do not have many trees on them.  You just fan cast it around and if there is a bass within sight or feel of it, you will be bit.  This lets you cover water faster and possibly get that extra fish you need to have a good day.  Most of these riggings/presentations are shown in the back of the 2011 Yamamoto catalog, which offer great pictures to compare.

Equipment

I use a spinning rod/reel to throw this bait the majority of the time.  Sure, you can use a bait caster but I believe it lessens your choices of presentations.  It is difficult to throw light baits into the wind with any kind of accuracy.  I like a 6-1/2 to 7 foot rod, medium or medium light depending on presentation.  I like reels that fall into the medium-to-medium large sizes.  The larger reels have better drags and it seems I have less line problems.  This is really a personal preference so go with what you feel comfortable using.

My line choices are either Mono or Fluorocarbon in 6-8 or 10-pound test. If conditions will let me, I will go as high as 12 pound especially when I am on lakes with larger than average bass.  For example, Lake Amistad in the spring with stained water.  There are some new braids coming out and I am going to give them a work out and see if they improve hook sets and less line breakage. These braid blends are specifically made for spinning reels.  Berkley and Tuff Line are just a few brands getting into this new generation line.

I like go with the lightest weight possible that keeps me in contact with the bottom.  On windy days, I will go as heavy as 3/8oz just to keep the bow out of my line.  Most of the time I use the long slender weights because I fish mostly rocky lakes and they seem to get hung up less than the tear drop style.  Not too concerned with which material I use, either tungsten or lead.  I go with the best hooks available and right now, they are either Yamamoto Sugoi or Gamakatsu.  I use the biggest hook I can get away with and not hinder my catch rate.  The styles are drop shot, octopus, EWGs, and wacky along with small darter heads, leaded wacky style and weighed hooks.

Colors

Someone once said if he could only use one color of worm it would have to be black.  Luckily, we do not have to make that choice or Yamamoto would sure have a bunch of baits collecting dust.  The color chart in the new Yamamoto catalog would make a punk rocker jealous.  Somehow a rocker with either #156 or #229 hair just doesn’t have the same appeal as a Senko in the same color, could be it’s just me though.   Never leave home without some of these colors in your tackle box.  In order of preference:  305, 323, 306, 150, 031, 214, 176, and 912.  Colors 938 and 939 are going to get a chance to prove their worth very soon.  So many colors, so little time.  There are others but these are all great colors that match just about any baitfish out there.

There are many ways to fish a Shad Shape worm and I bet you can come up with a few more on your own.  Just remember, there is only one way to fish the Shad Shape worm wrong and that is to not fish it at all.

Here is a head’s up on some new baits to give a try:  The new D-Shad is going to be a winner.  It might not look like much but take a closer look and you will see some fine detail that went into it.  Also, the bigger size Flappin’ Hog is an unbelievable flippin’ baits when larger bass are the target.

Please support your local tackle store before they are the next passenger pigeon and fade off into history.  They provide a great service and you just might meet your next best friend there.  If they do not carry Yamamoto baits, I’ll bet you they would if asked.  If you do not have a tackle store near you, get on line at www.baits.com and get you some Shad Shape worms.  They just may be the ticket that gets that one BIG bite you keep shooting for.  Good luck and maybe I will see you on the water.

Barry Stanley is sponsored by:

Legend Boats www.legendmarine.com

Mercury Outboards www.mercurymarine.com

Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits www.baits.com

Inside Line.com magazine

Ultimate Bass Team Tour director www.ultimatebassteams.com