Baitcaster for Weightless Senkos 2024

johnkook73 reply :

Ok I see most people recommend using spinning reels for weightless senkos. I have tried spinning reels in the past and just dont like them very much. Does anyone use baitcasters on a regular basis when using weightless senkos? If so I appreciate what type of reel and rod combo you use and experience with them.

Thanks, KooK

Raul reply :

Quote
Ok I see most people recommend using spinning reels for weightless senkos.
Thanks, KooK

Not really, on the contrary, the anglers that fish with spinning reels are a minority.

Practically any baitcaster will cast a senko because they are quite heavy, most people fish with a MH rod.

WCCT reply :

I use a Quantum PT Energy in the 6:3 to 1 ratio paired with a Loomis custom built GLX 7' MH. I really like the power the rod gives you.

Red reply :

abu garcia 5501 on a 6' MH berkley bionix, 12lb test line

.ghoti. reply :

For 5" and 6" Senkos, I use a 7' MH Johnny Morris Sig Series rod, Quantum Energy PT 7:1 reel, 12lb test Trilene and a 5/0 Gammy EWG hook.

For 4" Senkos, it's a 6'9" ML BPS Pro Finesse rod, Johnny Morris 6.3:1 reel, 10lb test Trilene and a 2/0 Gammy EWG hook.

Cheers,

fish-fighting-illini reply :

I thought I saw once that they highly recommend the Diawa pixy for light lures.

You might do a search as I'm not 100% sure.

Pintail55 reply :

Curado paired w/ a med/hvy G lommis with 12 lb. bps xps fluoro.

My fishing consists of 85% weightless plastics and I have never run into a problem throwing weightless w/ casters.

FishTank reply :

For anything lighter than a 5in Senko I use spinning gear but I have had great success with a Shimano Calcutta 251, a G. Loomis BCR803 and 14lb Gamma. This combo works great for Senkos, Yum Dingers, Fat Ikas, etc. The only thing bad about using a baitcaster for weightless plastic, is when a Senko or whatever breaks, flies off and leaves you with the mother of all backlashes. For finesse fishing I like my Quantum Energy PTi-a 20 spinning reel,a St. Croix Avid 6' ML and 6lb P-Line Floroclear. I hit a nice 4+lb small mouth today on this set up with a Zoom Finesse worm and a Tru-Tungsten Weed Wacker jig head.

kms399 reply :

sure you can use a baitcaster for senkos I have a 7' med-hvy avid with a shimano citica and 30# power pro that works fine but i would highly suggest getting used to a spinning outfit. It is very hard to skip senko's under docks with a baitcaster, backlash city.

George Welcome reply :

Senkos are the farthest thing from being a light lure and also are very aerodynamic. I just about spool my chronarchs with this bait cast weightless.

CyBasser reply :

You should definitely not have any problems with senkos (or other similar stickbaits) with b/c reels. Some reels may have slightly less casting distance with the 4" models, but the 5", 6", and 7" are a breeze to cast - even in heavy wind.

I have had no problems at all with Shimano Scorpion, TD Advantage Super Tuned, or Revo STX....

largemouthslayer reply :

Shimano Curado 7" ST Croix Avid #15 floro..... The reason some people use spinning gear is if the Senko flies off you get a bad birds nest .....since i've gone wacky I use 3/8 tubing slide it over the bait and it last 10 times longer .....but I perfer a baitcaster 98% of the time , although withall the finesse fishing alot of guys are using spinning gear. But not needed for Senko's they work great with a baitcaster.

johnkook73 reply :

Thanks for the feedback guys, I see alot of people like Shimanos. My buddy got me hooked on the Bass Pro Rick Clunn Series which I have no complaints so far. I think I am going to purchase another Shimano Baitcaster, Ive used them in the past and they are great.

lubina reply :

GLX BCR864 ( Senko rod ) with TD-Z.

telecaster reply :

Shimano50Mg,on a 7'mf StCroix Legend with 10#P-Line Evolution. I throw all plastics on that set-up.

ILfisherman reply :

I wouldn't fish a senko, or any other soft plastic for that matter, without a baitcaster. BPS MH rod, Pflueger Trion, 15# mono....all gravy baby!!

roadwarrior reply :

I fish all soft plastics with spinning tackle, specifically a 7' MF rod and #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft. I think I get more bites with lighter equipment, but George Welcome and his clients might prove that theory wrong! 8-)

I used to fish Senkos and other plastics with my jig rod. As long as the bait doesn't fly off, that works just fine. However, if your bait does go airborne, a baitcasting rig takes on the appearance of cotton candy. It doesn't happen too often, but when it does it's a mess.

Bean Counter reply :

Quantum Accurist on a 6'8" St Croix Avid MH. I can throw a weightless Senko a long way.

wickyman reply :

Most people will tell you that a bait casting rod/reel is overkill for a senko. My father in law throws everything on his abu garcia revo s. I personally think that, unless you are throwing a 3/8 spinner, or something heavier, you should use a spinning rod. I have 2 spinning rods set up for senko style worms, and my top water lures... Jigs and such are thrown on my abu garcia reels. I use a 7ft MH shakespeare Intrepid IM-7. It is a quality rod, for the price. It competes, in my eyes, with many more expensive rods! It is a little heavy for my liking though, and the length is something left to be desired... I prefer a shorter rod usually, but it handles itself very well!

Lucky Craft Man reply :

I use a Shimano Curado 100 D with 12 lb. Yo-Zuri hybrid Line on a GLX BRC893 Senko Rod (I know RW would be proud of me for having this set-up). I can launch a senko a mile with this outfit. The only downside is when I get a hit on the end of an extremely long cast (setting the hook can be a challenge). The moral of the story is like everyone else said, senkos can easily be fished with a baitcaster.

roadwarrior reply :

Man, great rig...that's THE BOMB!

8-)

George Welcome reply :

"Most people will tell you that a bait casting rod/reel is overkill for a senko."

You would be very hard pressed to back that one up!

-badhabit- reply :

Quote
"Most people will tell you that a bait casting rod/reel is overkill for a senko."
You would be very hard pressed to back that one up!

I also agree 110%.

I can cast 5" Senkos (or even Super Flukes) with any of my TD-X HSDF, TD-Z, or TD-ito reels on 6'10" MH or H G-Blanks rods all with 17lb test Trilene XT all day long with no problems (and do a lot).

I have never even owned a spinning rod in my life & at 46 yrs old I don't ever intend to. You know what they say about old dogs and new tricks.................. it's the same with old hicks

wickyman reply :

The thing I hate about any cast longer than 10 yards, is the fact that once that fish takes your bait, they tend to swim off before you know it, and you have to break water with the line, to set the hook properly! Any pole, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if you cast 10 yards, or less, but once you get up in the 15 yards or so, then you are catching a lot of problems! I try to keep my casts in the 5-8 yards, as that is about how far I am from timber, and such when I fish out here on Clear Lake. I find a lot of channels where they are no wider than 40 feet at the most, from bank to bank, so I cast parallel to the banks. Still, casting any further requires too much extra muscle to get it out there, so it's pointless.

I began using a 3/8th ounce pepper jig last night, in brown and purple, and it hit well, but after a while I became tired, and now I am feeling it in between my shoulder blades... I work out in my spare time, but this is a place that I rarely work, and you too will begin to feel it on longer casting... lol JMO.

JaseOne reply :

I recently got into fishing and have been reading up on this site about baitcasters. I recently got into bass fishing as I had been targeting trout. For bass, I have tried crankbaits and spoons (as I used these for trout) but nothing has been as effective as senkos. So because I like new toys I decided to pick up an abu garcia 5501 (12lb test) and try it.

Baitcasters are a challenge because of the birdnest effect, but after ruining a spool of new line I got the hang of it. As a newbie, I would suggest practicing with either a casting weight or a heavy kastmaster with the hook removed to get the hang of it. Also heavier lures and worms are better to start unless you get one of the baitcasters that are used to cast lighter stuff like the daiwa pixy or somthing like that or even the abu 2500 series may be good for lighter lines and lighter lures.

All that said, with my bc, I can cast 4 and 5 inch senkos with it. But it really depends on where you will be fishing. In creeks and rivers it works pretty good especially if you need to hit a spot across the water but in a little canal or around close brush/weeds where you need more of touch I have difficulty. All in all I have been more sucessfull with my spinning reel as I am more used to it, but I love using the baitcaster.

roadwarrior reply :

JaseOne,

Welcome aboard!

TxBuddha reply :

Falcon LowRider Weightless Worm Rod

Shimano Citica 100

12# Sufix Elite or P-Line CX

Works for flukes just as well!

Ky_Lake_Dude reply :

Quantum Energy PT 6:3:1 reel with 6ft 10in MH All Star American Classic or Daiwa Procaster 6:2:1 with 7ft MH Berkely Ligtninrod. With 17lb Stren Original

SneakySnook reply :

I use a daiwa zillion on a 7' custom g-loomis imx rod. I have no problems with this set-up.

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Baitcaster for Weightless Senkos 2024

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