Help Me Gain Confidence In The Senko 2024
JellyMan reply :
I have tried on numerous occasions to fish a Senko. I have fished it wide gap and wacky. Nothing! Then I slap on my producing plastics and I get bit.
What is the deal! Why are so many people swearing by these baits? I know it's not a long time but I tried once for an hour and then switched baits and got bit.
I must be the only one. I've got 4 bags of them and they sit and taunt me to throw them.
HeavyDluxe reply :
What other plastics are you throwing that produce? What, if any, differences do you notice in how you fish the two?
Here's the first thing I read about senko fishing: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/13845-guaranteed-to-catch-bass/
PondBoss reply :
You're not alone, I can't buy a bite on a Senko. I have several packs and have thrown them for long periods and zilch! Switch to a worm or craw in similar colors and it's almost automatic to get bit. Maybe it's just dumb luck?
JellyMan reply :
On 3/18/2013 at 9:52 AM, PondBoss said:You're not alone, I can't buy a bite on a Senko. I have several packs and have thrown them for long periods and zilch! Switch to a worm or craw in similar colors and it's almost automatic to get bit. Maybe it's just dumb luck?
I'm sayin man. I HAVE researched on how to fish these baits and it makes no difference.
JimmyKing reply :
I almost feel like I'm cheating when I use a senko. I found a spot last year under a shade tree on a pressured lake where I was pulling decent sized large mouths out one right after the other on a weightless senko. One guy came over and said he didn't even know there were fish that big in the lake.
Scott F reply :
A couple of things that I did not see in the archived thread that works for me. For best results, use them in relatively clear water. These baits have little action so the bass have to see them to eat them. Use braided line. In many cases the hits are hard to detect. There should be a little slack line, but not much. Braided line floats. Watch the line as the bait slowly sinks. When a bass sucks in the bait, the line will twitch. Be patient. Don't try to fish them in very deep water. After you let the bait sink, reel in a bit and give it a twitch, let it sink again. I personally don't like wacky rigging. I Texas rig them with no weight. Rigged straight like that, when you twitch them, they move erratically like a jerkbait should, that is a powerful trigger. Like was said in the other thread, you have to fish them slow. More than likely, if you aren't getting bit, you aren't letting the bait sink long enough or you aren't noticing when you are getting bites. The floating line is a huge advantage in seeing when you get a hit.
OkeechobeeAngler reply :
Have you tried wacky rigged in a red shad color ? I've slayed on that color all over S. FL.
Blues19 reply :
try a farm pond if possible. I always try to gain confidence in a bait at a farm pond. You know the fish are always close when you are fishing a farm pond. I would try a 5" watermelon red or Green Pumpkin senko on a 3/o EWG hook
Comfortably Numb reply :
I have a friend that is a great jig fisherman but does not do as well with Sticks. With rod tip high, he pops the jigs off the bottom and has alot of confidence in them. He fishes the sticks too aggresively and fast IMO.
I on the other hand consider myself a very good stick fisher and struggle with a jig. I fish wacky and let the stick sink without imparting much action. Just a lift and twitch now and then.
I have fished with people that never fished before and they catch plenty on the sticks.
They work best in shallow water in the spring. I almost always skip cast them right to the bank under trees and docks.
Its an idiot-proof bait and maybe why I like it so much 
eyedabassman reply :
like I always say if you can't catch fish on a Senko' Take up Golf!
lmbfisherman reply :
On 3/18/2013 at 9:13 AM, JellyMan said:I have tried on numerous occasions to fish a Senko. I have fished it wide gap and wacky. Nothing! Then I slap on my producing plastics and I get bit.
What is the deal! Why are so many people swearing by these baits? I know it's not a long time but I tried once for an hour and then switched baits and got bit.
I must be the only one. I've got 4 bags of them and they sit and taunt me to throw them.
I know how you feel. Everyone states it's easy! Catches lots of fish! I have tried senkos and other stick baits and I have yet to catch anything with them. I have Texas Rigged them, wacky rigged, and even tried drop shots. I've tried to do it for a whole outing and got skunked. Forced myself to get better, it just steered me away from them even more. I have 4 bags of them too and also bought the Yum Dingers and BPS Stik-Os (using all types of colours). Still yet to catch anything with them. This will be a topic I'll be following. At least now I can take comfort that I'm not alone. Hello Jellyman, I TOO suck at Senkos.
lmbfisherman reply :
On 3/18/2013 at 11:33 AM, Comfortably Numb said:I have a friend that is a great jig fisherman but does not do as well with Sticks. With rod tip high, he pops the jigs off the bottom and has alot of confidence in them. He fishes the sticks too aggresively and fast IMO.
I on the other hand consider myself a very good stick fisher and struggle with a jig. I fish wacky and let the stick sink without imparting much action. Just a lift and twitch now and then.
I have fished with people that never fished before and they catch plenty on the sticks.
They work best in shallow water in the spring. I almost always skip cast them right to the bank under trees and docks.
Its an idiot-proof bait and maybe why I like it so much
I love Jigs and am very confident in them. It sounds just like me, however I'm not sure about fishing too fast. I do have the patience to dead stick fishing, so I don't think that is the problem. I definitely will have to continue trying though as I must be an all around fisherman!
eyedabassman reply :
It could be the color you guys are using? Try some other colors and give it another try.
bassh8er reply :
Try slowing down
shootermcbob reply :
I fish them texas rigged weightless, but I use a 5/0 hook. I also use megastrike. I use the technique as described in the archived thread by RoadWarrior.
I have never caught more fish in my life. A couple key things...SLOW DOWN...i actually count so I know I am not going to fast.
Let the bait fall on slack line...very key IMO.
Watch your line
I fish from the bank and often catch fish after a boat or two has trolled down the same bank.
I try to let the bait "fall" after lifting it as many times as possible after each cast each. I think the fall is what really triggers the bite....so the more times it falls, the more chances for a bite.
I use yo-zuri hybrid ultrasoft #6 most times, and have also used power pro in 20 lb...both on 7 foot medium power, fast action spinning rod with spinning reel.
38 Super Fan reply :
Yep, definately try slowing down. I do think it's a tougher lure to fish than many folks let on, it's hard to get a feel for a weightless senko, and it has to be fished super slow.
moguy1973 reply :
What colors have you tried using? I have had a lot of luck on both pearl white and white with silver flake. Also done ok with a watermelon with gold flake.
bass1980 reply :
I use them wacky rig with an O-ring and also a weedless weightless hook for water less than 5ft deep. Deeper water I use a weighted weedless hook to help it sink a bit faster. Keep a bit of slack on the line and watch the lines carefully. This is for when there is tons of vegetation.
For rivers or lakes with areas that has little vegetation I use them weightless on Texas rig.
Not sure why it's not working for you. When I take the wifey out fishing this is what I have her throw. So easy that I can focus on my fishing and not have to every minute tell her how to fish lol. Every good lure has a time and place, maybe that's just not the right time for them.
Bankbeater reply :
What are the conditions you are fishing them in?
Rangerphil reply :
Find a dock, skip a green pumpkin or watermelon colored senko under the dock either wacky rigged or Texas rigged no weight let sink to bottom. Lift rod up twitch it a little let it sink back down. If this does not catch anything then just forget about them and use what you have confidence in!
Felix77 reply :
What size Senkos and what kind of hook. I generally fish the 5" on a 4/0 EWG. I fish them slowly ... Cast it out, let it sink and slowly drag them back to you. An occasional twitch or pop might entice a bite too.
Glenn reply :
Every method, every trick, every secret, every tip known about the Senko can be found here: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/12401-senko-faq-%C2%A0look-here-first/
The Young Gun reply :
The senko is the slowest bait I fish. I've caught walleyes on it SMB and LMB just letting it sit there on a rock in the water.
Sam reply :
Suggestions:
1. Use a 7-foot mecium heavy spinning rod and reel setup.
2. Use 8 or 10-pound flourocarbon line.
3. Rig Wacky using a #1 or 1/0 weedless hook.
4. No added weight on the Senko.
5. Throw out, let fall to bottom, let sit on bottom, move very slowly back to you by lifting your rod tip. Make it float like a butterfly on the way back to the bottom.
6. 1 inch of rod tip movement = 6 inches of bait movement.
7. Always watch your line. If it moves to the left, right, away or towards you, reel in the slack and set the hook.
8. Keep a finger on the line coming off the spinning reel at all times to feel any hits.
9. Small taps can be bream or bluegills.
10. When setting the hook do so above your head and throw your self to the ground or out of the boat.
11. Always have needle nose pliers to remove the hook.
12. Take a pic for us and release bass back into water.
Senkos tear easily so use the shrink wrap tubing when setting up your Wacky rig. I will PM you the details but the guys on this site know it. Will do later today if I don't forget.
Greenpumpkin with black flake (297) works great in all water conditions. You can use a 4, 5 or 6 inch Senko.
Just remember, if the bait stops on the way down; if the bait feels "heavy;" or your line moves, SET THE HOOK HARD OVER YOUR HEAD!
JellyMan reply :
Thanks for the feeback guys. I'm not reading anything I have not tried or already know. I guess I've just not been at the right place at the right time. But like everyone says, confidence is everything and I have about 5% confidence in that bait. Maybe I will try to throw it again this year and see if I cant get bit. These senkos are taking up two slots in my worm box lol.
roadwarrior reply :
On 3/18/2013 at 9:54 PM, JellyMan said:I'm not reading anything I have not tried or already know.
Hmm...
One of the most popular and productive baits ever invented and you can't catch a fish?
Maybe this will help: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/13845-guaranteed-to-catch-bass/
PABASS reply :
What size senko are you using? Your in FL and they can make a great flipping bait since they can go through anything, try using them with a pegged weight. If its open water you fish them a on Carolina rig, in the shallows fish them weightless tex rigged and work it slow like a dying bait fish, I like using pearl for that. Have you watch a senko fail through the water column weightless, they have a very subtle action that fish cant resist that is what you need to take advantage of. Cpt Shane loves using wacky rig senkos in FL and nails them so its not the fish, check out some of his youtube videos as he outlines the colors he uses.
JellyMan reply :
Ive tried them in a pond weightless wacky watermelon and watermelon red and tried them weightless texas rig style hook. Got frustrated and slapped on my Zoom Ultravibe worm watermelon and caught fish. Tried the Senko on the lake as well. Nuthin.
Maybe I just need to try to fish them more. Some have mentioned using them Texas rigged for flipping with a bullet weight. I may try that. Flip some to cover with a 3/8 weight and see what happens.
This was the reason I posted this thread. Everybody swears by them and I don't catch anything on them. I have only met one person in my life that agreed with me. I then meet people who can't catch fish on the baits I catch most of my fish on. This all most likely boils down to a confidence thing and that affects presentation.
Felix77 reply :
Not sure if this will help but it's worth sharing just in case.
I took a friend out fishing with me at a local pond. I told him I catch plenty of fish here so there should be no issues for him (a novice) to catch fish. I rigged him with the exact weightless senko I was using. I caught about a 6 fish over the 2-3 hours we were hanging out after work. He caught none.
In trying to help him I observed how he was fishing it. What I observed was the key to his errors.
I explained how I was fishing it that day. Cast, let it sink, pop it and let it sink and pause. Repeat back to you.
When I merely observed him he could not fish that slow. He always had to so something with the rod or reel and sometimes both. The worm was never coming to rest and ultimately he wasn't presenting it slowly enough for the fish to bite.
I walked him through a cast or 2 and he started presenting it correctly. After I went back to fishing he reverted right back to his old habits.
Morale of the story is that you may not be doing what you think you are doing. Sometimes your version of slow is not slow enough.
Keep working on it. It's an amazing way to catch fish fast once you get the hang of it.
lmbfisherman reply :
On 3/18/2013 at 9:54 PM, JellyMan said:Thanks for the feeback guys. I'm not reading anything I have not tried or already know. I guess I've just not been at the right place at the right time. But like everyone says, confidence is everything and I have about 5% confidence in that bait. Maybe I will try to throw it again this year and see if I cant get bit. These senkos are taking up two slots in my worm box lol.
HAHA Yeah maybe for me too and you have more confidence than I do! Mine is basically at 0%! I also have a whole box of stick baits from BPS (Stik-O) I've tried every color from that stinking box! I hear they work well too. I definitely will keep trying if I continue to fail, maybe I should just let my kids use them and probably will out fish me after.
MCS reply :
Cut them in half and put them on a small darter or tube jig head, 1/16 oz is what I typically use.
you can fish it so many ways like this and catch. I like the tail to be Blue or Chart when I do this.
tomustang reply :
I feel bad for ya JellyMan, generally you could throw a senko in a 1 day old rain puddle and catch something.
Try Black as the color, I have the best results in 5" with it
thehooligan reply :
When fishing is really tough and i cant buy a bite, ill wacky rig a 4 inch smoke senko with an owner wacky hook and its usually one bass after the other. I fish 5 inch senkos as well, i like smoke, and all the green pumpkin/watermelon combinations.
PondBoss reply :
On 3/18/2013 at 9:54 PM, JellyMan said:Thanks for the feeback guys. I'm not reading anything I have not tried or already know. I guess I've just not been at the right place at the right time. But like everyone says, confidence is everything and I have about 5% confidence in that bait. Maybe I will try to throw it again this year and see if I cant get bit. These senkos are taking up two slots in my worm box lol.
Exactly the same here, I have read and read and tried and tried. Almost zero results, I have caught 2 fish on senkos. Both of which hit as soon as it hit the water, so I'm thinking any bait would have done the trick.
rockchalk06 reply :
On 3/19/2013 at 1:06 AM, PondBoss said:Exactly the same here, I have read and read and tried and tried. Almost zero results, I have caught 2 fish on senkos. Both of which hit as soon as it hit the water, so I'm thinking any bait would have done the trick.
I am in the same bait here. I dropped about 100 bucks on Senkos, hooks and on rings am my son has caught one Dink at Guthrie. Me, notta
run23 reply :
sometimes i'll thread the senko down a little deeper on the hook just to change it up. always weightless though for me. also, something i always do when i grab a new senko out of the bag: just grab the head and tail and gently tug them apart. you're basically stretching it. it will noticeably feel different. grab a new one and compare if you have to. this might just be a mental thing for me, but i swear it gives the senko much more waggle on the drop.
The Young Gun reply :
The hardest but best way to gain confidence is just fish it. Once you get one, you'll get two and find the patten. That 7$ bag of plastic will be gone before you know it.
TrapperJ reply :
"Son, you don't work for them they work for you!"
Darren. reply :
Only one way that I know of:
Image source: http://realart.blogspot.com/2010/08/star-trek-spectre-of-gun-from-wikipedia.html
DogBone_384 reply :
On 3/18/2013 at 8:00 PM, Sam said:Suggestions:
1. Use a 7-foot mecium heavy spinning rod and reel setup.
2. Use 8 or 10-pound flourocarbon line.
3. Rig Wacky using a #1 or 1/0 weedless hook.
4. No added weight on the Senko.
5. Throw out, let fall to bottom, let sit on bottom, move very slowly back to you by lifting your rod tip. Make it float like a butterfly on the way back to the bottom.
6. 1 inch of rod tip movement = 6 inches of bait movement.
7. Always watch your line. If it moves to the left, right, away or towards you, reel in the slack and set the hook.
8. Keep a finger on the line coming off the spinning reel at all times to feel any hits.
9. Small taps can be bream or bluegills.
10. When setting the hook do so above your head and throw your self to the ground or out of the boat.
11. Always have needle nose pliers to remove the hook.
12. Take a pic for us and release bass back into water.
Senkos tear easily so use the shrink wrap tubing when setting up your Wacky rig. I will PM you the details but the guys on this site know it. Will do later today if I don't forget.
Greenpumpkin with black flake (297) works great in all water conditions. You can use a 4, 5 or 6 inch Senko.
Just remember, if the bait stops on the way down; if the bait feels "heavy;" or your line moves, SET THE HOOK HARD OVER YOUR HEAD!
I didn't know 1" rod movement equated to a 6" bait movement... Might be my problem, thanks very much, I'll give it a try next time I'm out.
Hogsticker reply :
When in doubt, dead stick it. If the area you're fishing is void of fish it really doesn't matter. You're likely moving the other soft plastics along the bottom where fish generally feed, covering a larger area. If I don't get a strike on the drop and after one twitch once it sinks it's time to reel up and cast it in a slightly different location.
jaybird71 reply :
On 3/18/2013 at 8:00 PM, Sam said:Suggestions:1. Use a 7-foot mecium heavy spinning rod and reel setup.2. Use 8 or 10-pound flourocarbon line.3. Rig Wacky using a #1 or 1/0 weedless hook.4. No added weight on the Senko.5. Throw out, let fall to bottom, let sit on bottom, move very slowly back to you by lifting your rod tip. Make it float like a butterfly on the way back to the bottom.6. 1 inch of rod tip movement = 6 inches of bait movement.7. Always watch your line. If it moves to the left, right, away or towards you, reel in the slack and set the hook.8. Keep a finger on the line coming off the spinning reel at all times to feel any hits.9. Small taps can be bream or bluegills.10. When setting the hook do so above your head and throw your self to the ground or out of the boat.11. Always have needle nose pliers to remove the hook.12. Take a pic for us and release bass back into water. Senkos tear easily so use the shrink wrap tubing when setting up your Wacky rig. I will PM you the details but the guys on this site know it. Will do later today if I don't forget. Greenpumpkin with black flake (297) works great in all water conditions. You can use a 4, 5 or 6 inch Senko. Just remember, if the bait stops on the way down; if the bait feels "heavy;" or your line moves, SET THE HOOK HARD OVER YOUR HEAD!
Your last line here is $ for me!! I hadn't tried a senko for a couple years but recently decided I needed to nurture my experience with it, partially because I have a 6'6" MH spinning setup dedicated to walleye fishing that was feeling neglected & wanted to repurpose. I figured this technique rigged weightless would allow the bait more "flight time" along the edge of a weed line I've been concentrating on lately. Casting just beyond, swimming it just over the top to the edge, then letting it drop and do its magic dance. It took me several misses before I realized how light the bite can be and watching for any line movement/changes is crucial! After that epiphany, I realized my right arm hook setting (I typically fish BC's in my left arm) was too weak (trained more for ultralight spinner fishing for trout when too windy for fly rod). After losing several fish, I made a conscious effort to muscle up my hookset and started landing fish! So if I were to offer any advice to the OP, is it possible you ARE getting bites, just going undetected and not seeing the subtle bite? I mean no insult or disrespect to your angling ability, just a question based on my personal trial/error.
Drewski73 reply :
Youre not alone OP. Senkos and me dont get along either. I can fish Zoom finese worms, or 4.5"/6" roboworms the way described to fish a senko, and I catch a lot of fish using that method. But, with a Senko fished that same way in the same colors, nothing. I fish them on spinning gear with braid and a flouro leader, watch the line for twitches which come often with the other baits Ive mentioned, and never with a Senko. I had one day on Big Bite Baits stick worm, where I got em, but nothing before or since. Really frustrating!
Its ok though, Ive been bitten with the jig bug and thats more fun!
bigbill reply :
I started off using a 1/8oz Carolina rig with a brass weight and a ticker with a 20" or so leader with a weedless hook wacky rigged. The only colors I have used so far is the Amber red flake or a red with gold flakes. I do cast it out and either follow it down as it falls keeping the line snug while watching the rod tip for any bites or twitch it as it falls letting the ticker call out. I just purchased all the colors they offer at mister twister there comidas are on clearance.
The bites as it falls seem to be a double tap on the rod tip.
In twitching it as it falls they just inhale it.
5fishlimit reply :
Senkos are like candy bars for bass! You just have to learn to let them sit. I always had trouble with throwing them out and wanting to start retrieving it, but once I realized that if I let it sink and sit for a minute or two I would start getting strikes it made sense.
I almost exclusively throw a senko when fishing around docks now.
SGT Rico reply :
I have one tip for you. well, maybe three.
Slow down, slow down some more, and then slow down even more. Fishing it so slow, its painful. The fish will tell you how they want it. Just start slow, and up your speed as you fish. You will find the sweet spot.
The only time I haven't had much success with stick baits is when I've fished murky or dirty water.
bigbill reply :
I think we need to use brighter colors in stained & muddy conditions. Like chartreuse colors. Having a rattle and using scents is a plus too.
I use just the salted senko by itself I clear water to slightly stained water at first. In using a weedless hook with a hit and miss the weed guard on the hook will be open if it's a strike/miss. One shot of scent on the next cast is a definite hook up. The scent will make the bass hang on long enough so we can set the hook.
I think we forget the color & size rules with the hard baits also applies to plastic baits we must adjust them to match the water conditions.
basseditor reply :
I got several nice ones today on Senkos. But mainly, IMO, some lakes just aren't Senko lakes. I'm not saying you won't get bit on them, but sometimes it's the lake.
Example, one nearby lake is a very consistent Senko lake and the other is a better fluke lake. Go figure.
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