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Smallmouth Bass checklist · Finesse

Z-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheads for Tennessee Smallmouth Bass Fishing

The single most reliable smallmouth bait on Tennessee rock. Drag it slowly.

Check price on Amazon →The full smallmouth bass checklist

Why it is on the list

Why the Z-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheads is on the smallmouth bass checklist

The single most reliable smallmouth bait on Tennessee rock. Drag it slowly.

FinesseZ-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheadsThe single most reliable smallmouth bait on Tennessee rock. Drag it slowly.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

These are affiliate links. Buying through them pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you, and it is how the site stays free.

How it is used here

Using a finesse like this on Tennessee water

A lure imitates what the fish is eating, and in Tennessee that is mostly shad and bluegill in the reservoirs, crawfish on the rocky lakes and smallmouth rivers, and insects and small minnows in the trout water. The lures on each checklist are the ones that match the forage on that kind of water and have caught fish here for years, not this season’s catalogue.

Colour follows the water. Natural shad and green pumpkin in the clear highland lakes like Norris and Dale Hollow; chartreuse, white and black in the stained water of Reelfoot, Kentucky Lake’s creeks and the Cumberland. The What’s biting pages on this site say which lures are working each month.

Where to use it

Tennessee water for the Z-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheads

Where to use itBarren ForkPublic access, limits and what else swims in Barren Fork.See the spots →Where to use itBarren Fork RiverPublic access, limits and what else swims in Barren Fork River.See the spots →Where to use itBoone LakePublic access, limits and what else swims in Boone Lake.See the spots →Where to use itBuffalo RiverPublic access, limits and what else swims in Buffalo River.See the spots →Where to use itCalf Killer RiverPublic access, limits and what else swims in Calf Killer River.See the spots →Where to use itCenter Hill LakePublic access, limits and what else swims in Center Hill Lake.See the spots →

The Z-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheads is on the smallmouth bass checklist because it works on Tennessee water.

Goes with

What the Z-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheads pairs with on the smallmouth bass list

The rest of the smallmouth bass checklist, each with its own page.

RodSt. Croix Bass X 7 ft medium spinning rodLight enough for a Ned rig, with enough backbone for a 5 lb fish in current.Why it is on the list →ReelPflueger President 30 spinning reelSmooth drag at a fair price. Fill it with braid and a leader.Why it is on the list →LinePowerPro braid 10 lb with a Seaguar fluorocarbon leader 8 lbBraid for feel, a fluoro leader so the bait is not tied to a visible line.Why it is on the list →TubeStrike King Coffee Tube, 3.5 inA tube on a 1/4 oz head for gravel bars and bluff ends.Why it is on the list →JerkbaitRapala X-Rap 10Cold water, 45 to 55 degrees. Long pauses between twitches.Why it is on the list →SwimbaitKeitech Swing Impact FAT 3.8 inOn a 1/4 oz head around shad schools in fall.Why it is on the list →
All 10 items

The Z-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheads is on the smallmouth bass checklist because it works on Tennessee water.

Common questions

Z-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheads questions

What is the Z-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheads for?

The single most reliable smallmouth bait on Tennessee rock. Drag it slowly. It is the finesse on the smallmouth bass checklist on this site, and it earns its place because it works on Tennessee water, not because it is new.

Which fish is the Z-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheads good for in Tennessee?

The smallmouth bass checklist covers smallmouth bass, spotted bass, rock bass. A lure imitates what the fish is eating, and in Tennessee that is mostly shad and bluegill in the reservoirs, crawfish on the rocky lakes and smallmouth rivers, and insects and small minnows in the trout water.

Where would I use the Z-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheads?

On the Tennessee water that holds smallmouth bass: Barren Fork, Barren Fork River, Boone Lake, Buffalo River among others. Each water page on this site lists the public access points and what swims there.

What goes with the Z-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheads?

The rest of the smallmouth bass checklist, starting with St. Croix Bass X 7 ft medium spinning rod, Pflueger President 30 spinning reel, PowerPro braid 10 lb with a Seaguar fluorocarbon leader 8 lb. The checklist page has all 10 items.

How much does the Z-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheads cost?

The Amazon link on this page shows today’s price. The checklist items are standard tackle rather than premium gear, and the bait shops on the county pages carry most of them.

Can I buy the Z-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheads in Tennessee instead?

Yes. Every county page on this site lists the bait shops, marinas and big box stores that carry tackle, with phone numbers and directions.

Is this an affiliate link?

Yes. The link goes to Amazon with this site’s tag and pays a small commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on the list was chosen for commission.

Do I need a licence to use it?

Anyone 13 or older needs a Tennessee fishing licence, plus the trout privilege for trout. The licence page on this site has prices and limits.

Keep going

More Tennessee water, and who fishes it

Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits