Is Powerfishing Relatively New? 2025

Texas Hawg Hunter reply :

It seems like everyone now talks about power fishing and in all four seasons. Even during the winter, many articles say fish crankbaits etc... rather than "slow" plastics and jigs.

Is this a relatively new development in fishing (i.e., past 15-20 years)? I don't seem to remember Jimmy Houston and Bill Dance talking this way back in the 80s and early 90s growing up. I could be totally off though.

Catt reply :

Nope we been Bubba Fishing for years

Tony L. reply :

The practice is nothing new, I think that it is just the name that is. Obviously, people have been using crankbaits, spinners, and other moving baits for decades- they were just calling it "fishing". Now that more and more specialty techniques and fishing styles are popping up or migrating over from other places, we are starting to categorize the old ones differently to keep them all straight. Not much changing in the way we use these baits, just what we call it.

Driftb reply :

Go ahead and "power fish" the Upper Delaware river anytime from now until March. Let me know if you catch anything. A week ago in 42 degree water I was catching 15-25 smallies per trip on blades in 35-70 feet of water. I was also catching walleye shallower on jerkbaits and soft plastics. The water temperature plummeted this week, and is now hovering at about 34. This week, I caught five smallies on blades, one on a jig and netted 30 legal walleye on jigs. I have caught a few smallies on jigs in 32.1 degree water, but one usually has to fish very slow, and right on the bottom. I know that lake water tends to be warmer, even under the ice, so fish right on the bottom may well be quite active. Occasionally you'll see a blitz and the smallies will feed actively in extremely cold water, but even so, I doubt that "Power fishing" is going to be the big bite. Just sayin.

Ozark_Basser reply :

Think back to when the Rapala Original floater came out.....Yeah it's been around that long or longer lol.

HoosierHawgs reply :

I wouldn't say that its a new technique. If there is a true 'new' style of fishing, I would say its Finesse. Not because no one ever did it, but because the advancements in Bass Spinning Gear, Braided and Fluorocarbon Lines, and Plastic Lures, has caused it to be a much more popular technique.

Raul reply :

Man, is there another way to fish ? Cuz down here in the deep South we just fish with our everyday common ordinary spinnerbaits with blades the size of hubcaps, cranks that make swimbaits look like minners, anaconda size worms with 50 cal bullet sinkers and mop size jigs with an entire pig skin as trailer ..... Been doing it since ....... Geez, I'm getting old, I can't even remember for how long.

J Francho reply :

I think that as bass fishing diversified, got more exposure, there was a desire to label or brand techniques. Finesse, Power, whatever you want to call it has been around a long time. You can finesse a 1 oz. jig. You can power fish a grub. I will say this, I always think of "finesse" as describing the gear used to hook and land bass. Conversely, when I think power fishing, I think of the way you fish the bait.

Catt reply :

In my little brain the word "power" in power fishing is a verb!

Wayne P. reply :

George Perry was "power fishing" when he caught the world record largemouth bass in 1932.

Raul reply :

On 12/3/2014 at 10:28 PM, J Francho said:
I think that as bass fishing diversified, got more exposure, there was a desire to label or brand techniques. Finesse, Power, whatever you want to call it has been around a long time. You can finesse a 1 oz. jig. You can power fish a grub. I will say this, I always think of "finesse" as describing the gear used to hook and land bass. Conversely, when I think power fishing, I think of the way you fish the bait.

To me it´s not about gear but about speed, for me "finessing" is deliberately fishing very slow every nook, crack, limb in a spot. So I can power fish a 1/32 oz marabou jig just by fishing it fast.

J Francho reply :

On 12/4/2014 at 1:18 AM, Raul said:
To me it´s not about gear but about speed, for me "finessing" is deliberately fishing very slow every nook, crack, limb in a spot. So I can power fish a 1/32 oz marabou jig just by fishing it fast.

Finesse as a noun and a verb (not relating to bridge)

Noun: intricate and refined delicacy.

Verb: do (something) in a subtle and delicate manner.

Speed isn't mentioned.

Dwight Hottle reply :

On 12/4/2014 at 1:23 AM, J Francho said:

Finesse as a noun and a verb (not relating to bridge)

Noun: intricate and refined delicacy.

Verb: do (something) in a subtle and delicate manner.

Speed isn't mentioned.

Yea but Webster wasn't a fisherman.

Chris S reply :

When I hear the term Power Fishing KVD comes to mind, never heard that term until he came on the scene.

J Francho reply :

On 12/4/2014 at 2:16 AM, Dwight Hottle said:
Yea but Webster wasn't a fisherman.

Merriam did, though. That wasn't from Webster, though. This one is:

1: refinement or delicacy of workmanship, structure, or texture

2: skillful handling of a situation : adroit maneuvering

Finesse <> slow.

Texas Hawg Hunter reply :

On 12/4/2014 at 2:27 AM, Chris S said:
When I hear the term Power Fishing KVD comes to mind, never heard that term until he came on the scene.

Exactly. I was thinking he ushered in the modern era with the "power fishing" movement.

J Francho reply :

Seemed to me this was brought up back when Larry Nixon was tearing things up. KVD was still an up and coming amateur.

Need input from the old farts!

Catt reply :

On 12/4/2014 at 2:34 AM, J Francho said:

Merriam did, though. That wasn't from Webster, though. This one is:

1: refinement or delicacy of workmanship, structure, or texture

2: skillful handling of a situation : adroit maneuvering

Finesse <> slow.

Adroit - Merrian - Webster

Having or showing skill, cleaverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations.

That's me

J Francho reply :

I actually love the word "adroit." One of those $10 vocab words from 10th grade you never get to use.

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

On 12/4/2014 at 2:57 AM, J Francho said:
I actually love the word "adroit." One of those $10 vocab words from 10th grade you never get to use.

Especially if you don't want to be called a tool after you leave the dock. lol

J Francho reply :

I don't care what they say after I leave the dock. When we get back to the dock, all they'll be doing is complaining about handing their money over to me, anyway.

WRB reply :

Before plugs were called crankbaits and Nick Creme invented rubber worms all bass anglers power fished by todays divination.

I don't recall when the term was coined regarding bass fishing. The bow mounted trolling motor always running at moderate speed when anglers pounded the bank is one source. The tournament pros called Dee Thomas a power fisherman because he powered the bass out of the water with his long rod when flipping.

The term has many definitions depending on your perspective.

I like the definition of trolling motor on high and anglers casting non stop at the bank as "power fishing".

Tom

mjseverson24 reply :

Power fishing to me is putting the bait in the places that has the highest chances of success, and skipping over the parts of the cast least likely to catch a fish, so you get more casts in, but you sacrifice the chance for the fish in the more unusual locations...

Mitch

Driftb reply :

My take on "power fishing " is that it works best when fish are somewhat aggressive and close to the bank, weededges or other visible features. Moving the boat almost constantly and hitting the likeliest spots, fishing the drop with a heavy jig, or jerkbaits, spinnerbaits or crankbaits. Kind of the opposite of finnesse fishing, with smaller lures, light line and slow retrieves.

greentrout reply :

When I think of power fishing: Denny Brauer and flipping the jig comes to mind. He changed a lot of things...

Old school basser...

Catt reply :

Power Fishing: Long rods, heavy line, big baits use for fishing heavy cover.

In early tournaments it was called Bubba Fishing, the only difference was "Bubba" used short pistol grip rods.

Leaving your trolling motor on high while working a shore line was & is called "Run & Gun".

Nick Creme invented the plastic worm not rubber!

5fishlimit reply :

I consider "power fishing" to be techniques that require me to be constantly reeling in - crankbaits, spinnerbaits, etc.

I consider "finesse fishing" to be presentations that do not require me to impart most of the needed action - dropshot, senkos, etc.

I don't believe it has to be determined by the actual size of the lure being used.

Teal reply :

I just fish. Lol. What you call it doesn't matter... I just fish

WRB reply :

On 12/6/2014 at 6:52 PM, Catt said:

Power Fishing: Long rods, heavy line, big baits use for fishing heavy cover.

In early tournaments it was called Bubba Fishing, the only difference was "Bubba" used short pistol grip rods.

Leaving your trolling motor on high while working a shore line was & is called "Run & Gun".

Nick Creme invented the plastic worm not rubber!

Dee Thomas won the Bassmaster Bull Shoals tournament in '75 flipping with a long rod.

Nick Creme worm is plastic, however called rubber worms for decades before correctly called plastic worms.

Run and Gun is running around the lake with your boat and stopping at various spots, is another definition.

Regional differences in interpretation of terms.

Tom

Megastink reply :

I think the Term is new, within the last ten or so years. But people have been using power techniques for decades.

Team9nine reply :

On 12/9/2014 at 4:14 AM, Megastink said:
I think the Term is new, within the last ten or so years. But people have been using power techniques for decades.

As Megastink mentioned, we can argue all day about what is or isn't considered "power fishing" and how long it has been practiced, but in regards to the term itself, the earliest article/story I've been able to find which used the term as applied to bass fishing and bass pros dates back to very early 2001. Would be curious to see if anyone can document its use previous to that in any similar story, article, book, etc.

-T9

J Francho reply :

Seems like I heard the term earlier in In-Fisherman, but that might be about right.

Catt reply :

Bass fishing archives *

Fish'N Impossible reply :

^{my understanding of "Power" Fishing has nothing to do with the lures you choose, it is speed and targets. You fish non stop trolling motor down always moving and only cast to high probability locations with yout lures; pitch to the dark spot on a stump, cast you spinnerbait through that small grass line and so on. stopping to soak a lure or shake it more than twice and your finessing it.}

hawgenvy reply :

According to KVD (from the KVD website), power fishing is "about maximizing your time with the lures and techniques required to catch fish under current conditions." Isn't that what every basser tries to do except when he's feeling too lazy to try? "Power fishing" seems to be a meaningless and subjective term that can cover almost anything but sitting on the bank in a folding chair with a cane pole and a cork, kind of dozing off, and the night crawler has been finessed off your tiny hook by a little bream a half hour ago. Now, that's definitely not power fishing. But maybe what I do is, even when it's from the bank.

Sam reply :

Kevin VanDam is given the credit for the term "power fishing" due to the way he fishes his hard baits.

I have no idea who coined the phrase.

As stated above, power fishing has been around for many, many years.

Catt reply :

Kevin VanDam = Power Fishing

basscatcher8 reply :

Power fishing to me has always been fishing something for a reaction strike. Cranks, buzz baits, spinner baits. Your just running it through an area to fire a fishes instinct to kill it, if nothing fires from a target your casting to move onto the next. And that instinct is there all year long no matter how cold or warm it is in the water. But like y'all have said its different definition for different people. That's whats great about fishing is you can do everything your own way and can be different from the next guy but your both right and both having success. That's why to me copying pro techniques doesn't make sense. You can take parts of what they are doing and work it into your own routine but they are doing what works for them you gotta find what works for you.

FunkJishing reply :

^{when i think of power fishing i think of people fishing heavy structure with heavy equipment such as braided line, heavy action flipping sticks using techinques like punching mats or anything that would require them to use more power than usual to get a fish into the boat. sometimes you gotta drag a fish to the boat with an extra 3 pounds of weeds on your line, or yank a fish from over a laydown. thats what i think of as "power fishing"}

J Francho reply :

Two articles that feature different versions of "power fishing." Suppose it depends on who you ask.

http://www.bassmaster.com/node/98467

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/flipping_pitching_fishing.html

Chris S reply :

Ike give his answer and I think it matches a lot of our answers as well. Hit it and get it! from 2009

Patrick Morrow reply :

I do not user term "power" fishing, but if I had to define it then- heavy line, bigger lures(read crankbaits), casting in so called "hot-spots" where fish would likely be.

Alonerankin2 reply :

I didn't hear the term in the late 70's or thru- out the 80's and on into the 90's... Seems a 21 century term.. What does it mean?, idk.. But I do think of KVD and his hyper approach to spinner baiting when I hear it.

Team9nine reply :

On 12/9/2014 at 10:17 AM, Catt said:
Bass fishing archives *

Contacted Terry over at BFA and they're going to dig into it and see what the oldest reference of "power fishing" in an article they can find is. Terry was thinking late 90s.

On 12/10/2014 at 4:12 AM, Alonerankin2 said:
I didn't hear the term in the late 70's or thru- out the 80's and on into the 90's... Seems a 21 century term.. What does it mean?, idk.. But I do think of KVD and his hyper approach to spinner baiting when I hear it.

Looks like it either developed with KVD in the East, or with the one ton jig in the West. Your timing seems to be very close. Curious to see what BFA comes up with...

-T9

gulfcaptain reply :

So what if you "power" fish with a "finesse" approach? Power Finessing?

J Francho reply :

I fish for bass with rod and reel, artificial baits, and what ever it takes to get them to bite. I like to tell what I did, not label it.

As far as labeling your techniques goes, I think it's better to qualify, briefly, what your talking about. Someone says, "I powerfished to the win." I might assume that person used cranks, spinnerbaits, and spooks. Another might think he punched the slop with a jig. Even amongst both top level pros, well experienced members here, and people I whose fishing theories and opinions I respect disagree on what is what. This is different than the old, "What is a Texas Rig?" debate.

Hopefully Team9 can come up with something soon. I'd like to see the early references, and defer to those.

gulfcaptain reply :

Well if we look at fishing equpment as tools, I choose to use the ones that will lead me to succeed. So my prefered fishing style is to succeed in what ever way I have to get the job done with the tools I have. When asked what I did to catch them, well it' simple, I found what they wanted and got them to bite on what I was using.

corn-on-the-rob reply :

to me its about covering water quickly. So I suppose any bait can apply.

J Francho reply :

Is this a power fishing reel?

Chris S reply :

On 12/12/2014 at 5:09 AM, J Francho said:

Is this a power fishing reel?

yes for Swords off Key West in a 1000 feet LOL!!

Catt reply :

On 12/12/2014 at 5:09 AM, J Francho said:

Is this a power fishing reel?

I thought that was KVD's right arm

Alonerankin2 reply :

Yea, the 6 million dollar man!

hawgenvy reply :

I think powerfishing means that after you've worked your bait through the highest percentage zone, like shoreline or structure, you burn the bait back to the boat as fast as you can so you can cast right away to the next spot you think is likely to hold a fish, which is also far enough from the preceding cast to avoid territorial overlap. You don't waste any time fishing the perceived lower percentage areas, namely the water closer to your boat and the water near your prior cast. And you don't waste time between casts.

10613

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