Learning How To Fish Senkos 2024

junyer357 reply :

yesterday i began my "practical exams" on fishing senkos. I have been reading and reading all i can on here about fishing them up til now, so many thanks to the folks on here for the wealth of knowledge. Yesterday though it was time for some real world learning though. So i did it the way i always have when wanting to learn a new technique, i left the other stuff at home and took ONLY the new lures. I stuck only to rigging it weightless and texsposed for now. Here are the things i learned yesterday at my buddys pond:

1. hot-a-mighty do they work !!! Yesterday was one of the best days in a long while for numbers of bass. Biggest i landed was about 2.5lbs but i broke off a few bigger. Overall i caught 20+ in about 4 hours from 4-dark. I missed many many more though.

5. I am a beleiver now and look forward to learning more to add this to my arsenal of lures and tecniques i use to catch fish...

I welcome comments and tips, especially money savers, on other ideas and things i can do to better myself at this.

Sam reply :

2. I defenitly need to switch to braid over the mono i was using. I used some late on the rod i was letting my gf use and it was easier for me to feel strikes as well as the color (hi vis yellow power pro) was much easier to see for checking fall rate and twitches. I was using 8# mono and broke off repeatedly. It was my only spinning reel, but im researching now for a a better one in the $100 range. I had already upgraded rod to fish these.- USE FLOUROCARBON. 8 POUND TEST ON A SPINNING RIG AND 12 POUNDS ON A BAITCASTER. ALWAYS CHECK LINE FOR NICKS, CUTS AND SCRAPES. CUT OUT DAMAGED LINE. ALWAYS CHECK YOUR KNOT AFTER TWO OR THREE BASS. ALWAYS KEEP A FINGER ON THE LINE COMING OFF THE REEL. REELS IN THE $100 RANGE ARE GOOD BUT SO ARE LESS EXPENSIVE REELS. IT IS THE ROD YOU HAVE TO USE FOR SUCCESS.

3. Due to the softness they will be pricey to use. i was like most i saw in research and only getting 1-2 fish per worm. I do have some mend it glue already i use to do "leg transplants" on my paca craws and will be trying it in the next day or so to extend the life of the broken ones i was able to recover. YES. CHECK OUT THE PLASTIC GLUE AT YOUR FAVORITE TACKLE SHOP OR ON LINE AT CABELA'S OR BPS. TO AVOID TORN UP SENKOS LEARN TO THROW THEM "WACKY RIGGED." USE HEAT SHRINK RAP AROUND THE MIDDLE OF THE WORM (1/8 INCH WIDE) AND HEAT IT UP AND THEN RUN YOUR HOOK BETWEEN THE WRAP AND SKIN. YOU CAN CATCH MANY, MANY BASS ON THIS SETUP.

4. I am going to have to get better at detecting strikes and bites earlier since too often i had deep hooks where the fish was already trying to swallow it. I hate doing that to fish. I am a catch and release only guy and i try to be mindful to minimize time out of water. I want it to become a bigger fish next time. - ALWAYS WATCH YOUR LINE AND KEEP FINGER ON LINE. ANYTHING "DIFFERENT' YOU SET THE HOOK. SOMETIMES THEY WILL HIT A SENKO HARD AND OTHER TIMES THE WILL EITHER SIT THERE WITH IT IN THEIR MOUTHS OR WALK AWAY SLOWLY. WHEN IN DOUBT ALWAYS SET THE HOOK. IF YOU ARE DEEP HOOKING THEM THEN YOU ARE LETTING THEM HAVE IT TOO LONG, AS YOU KNOW.

AND TO HAVE THE BASS HOLD ONTO THE SENKO LONGER USE MEGASTRIKE ON THE SENKO.

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN LEARNING HOW TO RIG AND USE SENKOS.

5. I am a beleiver now and look forward to learning more to add this to my arsenal of lures and tecniques i use to catch fish...

MIbassyaker reply :

I use o-rings on senkos and they last a lot longer. A lot of people don't like that you can't rig the hook 90 degrees from the worm, but I haven't noticed any difference in hook-up rate.

If your mono is breaking off on fish, it's probably because you aren't checking for damage and re-tying often, or your knots are weak. If the latter, braid won't solve the problem. Always check both your knots and line frequently. I go braid when fishing weeds, but I use a mono leader for fishing rocks and trees in rivers, in case I break off I lose only the leader and not a whole bunch of braided line.

The Fisher reply :

If you wacky rig them I recommend you use an O Ring. They will last a lot longer. Every once in awhile I don't use it and don't see any difference in the frequency or quality of hook ups. They just tear easier. You can get them and a tool to put them on at TW. When hooking up a fish on a wacky rig, try to do a side sweep without a hard jerk and you'll usually hook them in the side of the mouth. I use an Owner 1/0 Wacky Hook with no weed guard since my ponds are pretty much clear.

Sometimes I put a 1/8 oz weight on when TX Rigging not wacky so I get a little faster drop. I agree with an earlier post that the rod might be more important than the reel here.

buzzed bait reply :

look up heat shrink tubing for senkos. Better than the o ring in that you can hook perpendicular to the worm. Google for Wayne P's article on wacky rigs.... the heat shrink tube is the way to go.

Raul reply :

Oh dear, another Senko thread.

Mods please lock !!!

There you go, really hard to find right at the beginning of the section:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/12401-senko-faq-%C2%A0look-here-first/

HoosierHawgs reply :

On 6/23/2015 at 1:08 AM, Raul said:

Oh dear, another Senko thread.

Mods please lock !!!

There you go, really hard to find right at the beginning of the section:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/12401-senko-faq-%C2%A0look-here-first/

Looks to me like he spent a bunch of time reading that thread from the OP. He was just sharing his thoughts/experiences with us. Cut him some slack.

junyer357 reply :

On 6/22/2015 at 11:31 PM, Sam said:

1. hot-a-mighty do they work !!! Yesterday was one of the best days in a long while for numbers of bass. Biggest i landed was about 2.5lbs but i broke off a few bigger. Overall i caught 20+ in about 4 hours from 4-dark. I missed many many more though. - OUTSTANDING. KEEP IT UP AND YOU WILL HAVE A LOT OF FUN FISHING SENKOS.

2. I defenitly need to switch to braid over the mono i was using. I used some late on the rod i was letting my gf use and it was easier for me to feel strikes as well as the color (hi vis yellow power pro) was much easier to see for checking fall rate and twitches. I was using 8# mono and broke off repeatedly. It was my only spinning reel, but im researching now for a a better one in the $100 range. I had already upgraded rod to fish these.- USE FLOUROCARBON. 8 POUND TEST ON A SPINNING RIG AND 12 POUNDS ON A BAITCASTER. ALWAYS CHECK LINE FOR NICKS, CUTS AND SCRAPES. CUT OUT DAMAGED LINE. ALWAYS CHECK YOUR KNOT AFTER TWO OR THREE BASS. ALWAYS KEEP A FINGER ON THE LINE COMING OFF THE REEL. REELS IN THE $100 RANGE ARE GOOD BUT SO ARE LESS EXPENSIVE REELS. IT IS THE ROD YOU HAVE TO USE FOR SUCCESS.

Right now im wanting to switch to braid for the increased visibility for myself while i learn how to feel for strikes. I have a good rod i feel for my budget, st croix premier 7'm-f, but my reel is a small cheap shakespeare. Til now it worked fine for crappie jigs and occasional rapalas. Im a firm beleiver in rods matter more than reel overall and start there.

3. Due to the softness they will be pricey to use. i was like most i saw in research and only getting 1-2 fish per worm. I do have some mend it glue already i use to do "leg transplants" on my paca craws and will be trying it in the next day or so to extend the life of the broken ones i was able to recover. YES. CHECK OUT THE PLASTIC GLUE AT YOUR FAVORITE TACKLE SHOP OR ON LINE AT CABELA'S OR BPS. TO AVOID TORN UP SENKOS LEARN TO THROW THEM "WACKY RIGGED." USE HEAT SHRINK RAP AROUND THE MIDDLE OF THE WORM (1/8 INCH WIDE) AND HEAT IT UP AND THEN RUN YOUR HOOK BETWEEN THE WRAP AND SKIN. YOU CAN CATCH MANY, MANY BASS ON THIS SETUP.

I was actually looking at the clear plastic tubing i saw mention id senko faq, since i have it available free through work in small quanities id need. I think a foot or so would last quite a while. Wacky style is next up, i just like to do things in stages and i have far more worm hooks than wacky style currently.

4. I am going to have to get better at detecting strikes and bites earlier since too often i had deep hooks where the fish was already trying to swallow it. I hate doing that to fish. I am a catch and release only guy and i try to be mindful to minimize time out of water. I want it to become a bigger fish next time. - ALWAYS WATCH YOUR LINE AND KEEP FINGER ON LINE. ANYTHING "DIFFERENT' YOU SET THE HOOK. SOMETIMES THEY WILL HIT A SENKO HARD AND OTHER TIMES THE WILL EITHER SIT THERE WITH IT IN THEIR MOUTHS OR WALK AWAY SLOWLY. WHEN IN DOUBT ALWAYS SET THE HOOK. IF YOU ARE DEEP HOOKING THEM THEN YOU ARE LETTING THEM HAVE IT TOO LONG, AS YOU KNOW.

AND TO HAVE THE BASS HOLD ONTO THE SENKO LONGER USE MEGASTRIKE ON THE SENKO.

Is the megabstrike something similar to jj magic and such?

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN LEARNING HOW TO RIG AND USE SENKOS.

5. I am a beleiver now and look forward to learning more to add this to my arsenal of lures and tecniques i use to catch fish...

BASSPATROL247 reply :

Theres other brands of senko style worms that are more durable but not as supple so they have a little different action and work verg well but sometimes the fish want a true "senko" action and sometimes not...i keep several different brands and uss whatever works that day...

junyer357 reply :

Yea. I have tried a few others and fished them wacky as a chaser in the spring for topwater hits. Nothing like the senko though. I was wrong when i figured "eh these are close enough".

BASSPATROL247 reply :

Ive caught as many, but probably more on other brands myself. A small part of that is because of price i tend to throw the cheaper brands more often but somedays if its not a senko they wont bite..

HoosierHawgs reply :

On 6/23/2015 at 4:08 AM, BASSPATROL247 said:
Theres other brands of senko style worms that are more durable but not as supple so they have a little different action and work verg well but sometimes the fish want a true "senko" action and sometimes not...i keep several different brands and uss whatever works that day...

Yeah like the Havoc Money Maker. The Havoc plastic is a little less supple so it has lots of action though.

Scott F reply :

I like braid over fluoro because it floats and is much easier to see the line twitch when you get a hit. Pinch down the barb on the hook to make hook removal MUCH easier even on fish that have swallowed the hook. Yeah, you might lose a fish or two, but it cuts down on the time it takes to release and, no barb penetrates easier so you get better hook sets.

RoLo reply :

On 6/23/2015 at 5:35 AM, BASSPATROL247 said:
Ive caught as many, but probably more on other brands myself.

Same here BP, and price had no bearing whatsoever.

I find it odd that all "stickworms" tend to be pigeonholed as senkos.

For instance, all "crankbaits" aren't called Sonics (they were first) , and all "tubes" aren't called gitzits (they were first).

Conducting your own stickworm comparison is very simple, so why take anyone's word for it?

>> Select a gin-clear pond or lake

>> Rig the contestant stickworms with hooks of identical weight (sink-rate affects the end-waggle)

>> Compare the stickworms based on the intensity of "end-waggle" during a vertical freefall.

This is what I've found when comparing 'unweighted' stickworms:

>> Gambler Ace & Yamamoto Senko are a dead-heat (on some drops the ace looks better, on other drops the senko looks better)

>> Wave Worm Tiki Stick is a middle-of-the-road stickworm, but bass often prefer muted action

>> Yum Dinger provided the least end-waggle, but they're nonetheless popular (sometimes less is more, bass are fickle)

Roger

HoosierHawgs reply :

On 6/23/2015 at 8:30 AM, RoLo said:

Same here BP, and price had no bearing whatsoever.

I find it odd that all "stickworms" tend to be pigeonholed as senkos.

For instance, all "crankbaits" aren't called Sonics (they were first) , and all "tubes" aren't called gitzits (they were first).

Conducting your own stickworm comparison is very simple, so why take anyone's word for it?

>> Select a gin-clear pond or lake

>> Rig the contestant stickworms with hooks of identical weight (sink-rate affects the end-waggle)

>> Compare the stickworms based on the intensity of "end-waggle" during a vertical freefall.

This is what I've found when comparing 'unweighted' stickworms:

>> Gambler Ace & Yamamoto Senko are a dead-heat (on some drops the ace looks better, on other drops the senko looks better)

>> Wave Worm Tiki Stick is a middle-of-the-road stickworm, but bass often prefer muted action

>> Yum Dinger provided the least end-waggle, but they're nonetheless popular (sometimes less is more, bass are fickle)

Roger

That's some interesting findings right there. I've always used Dinger's or BBB Cane Stick (My Favorite) because Senkos are a little too rich for my blood. How much is the Gambler Ace? Do you think there is a big difference in action between baits when Texposing them? I usually use different rigs to see which ones the bass prefer, and based on the cover I'm fishing.

RoLo reply :

On 6/23/2015 at 10:21 AM, jakob1010 said:
That's some interesting findings right there. I've always used Dinger's or BBB Cane Stick (My Favorite) because Senkos are a little too rich for my blood. How much is the Gambler Ace? Do you think there is a big difference in action between baits when Texposing them? I usually use different rigs to see which ones the bass prefer, and based on the cover I'm fishing.

The Senko is 50% more expensive than the Ace. 5" Gambler Ace = 50 cents <> Yamamoto Senko = 75 cents

A Wacky-rigged 5" worm offers two free ends, but each end is only 2-1/2" each long. A T-rigged 5" worm

offers only one free end, but since the free section is 3-1/4" long, it provides more tip waggle than a W-rigged worm.

In Florida's salad bowls, I don't Texpose the point per se, but bury the hook-point completely in plastic.

When fished on braided line, this poses no problem for hook-setting.

Roger

roadwarrior reply :

Hmm...

There is only one "Senko" and lot's of wannabes.

junyer357 reply :

I checked earlier and its about the same for me for an ace or senko. Im able to get senkos for $5.99/10 and ace is $$4.50/8 lso its a few cents diffrence.

I have tried tiki sticks, zoom, and a few more as a topwater "chaser" rigged wacky for spring but none worked as well on their own like the senko did. Only other weightless worm that has worked for me before is a pacacraw and its no bettter as far as durability with its flippers.

junyer357 reply :

So for those of you who fish these more, is there a depth limit for you to fish them? I read about mixed results with a bobber in deeper water mostly to suspend in water column it seems but nothing really in my readings about depth preference. Right now im normally pulling out 10" worms and dropping them off ledges and/or dropping off into channels on big lakes. I just wonder how well these would work in 15'+ of water. I was only throwing in 1-5' last weekend and had trouble detecting bites at times. It seems to me this would be worse with deeper water. Is deeper water normally done and something i can do later with more experience detecting bites or generally not done?

KyBassin reply :

look up the bass pro brand Stik-O senkos. they are an awesome bait with plenty of colors, good action, and you get 16 in a pack.

HoosierHawgs reply :

On 6/28/2015 at 1:47 PM, KyBassin said:
look up the bass pro brand Stik-O senkos. they are an awesome bait with plenty of colors, good action, and you get 16 in a pack.

This week they are on sale for 20% off

junyer357 reply :

Ok. Ill check them out. What about the netbait salt licks? I can pick them up locally (bass pro is over an hour away) have searched and searched on them and basicly came up with squat on results. I like their craws and jig chunks alot. Soft material but not too soft.

MrE1979 reply :

Here are a few things that I do when I fish "senkos". Stop at the local Home Depot and grab some of the skinny electrical tape in multiple colors and use a few wraps around the senko put your hook through the tape. It works like the O ring to not ruin the worm but you can add color to your bait. Sometimes I don't put the hook through the middle of the senko I will hook it 1/3 of the way down it changes the presentation quite a bit. I also carry a lighter with me. When the bait rips heat it up and put it back together. Found it works better than glue.

CeeJay reply :

On 6/28/2015 at 10:54 PM, MrE1979 said:
Here are a few things that I do when I fish "senkos". Stop at the local Home Depot and grab some of the skinny electrical tape in multiple colors and use a few wraps around the senko put your hook through the tape. It works like the O ring to not ruin the worm but you can add color to your bait. Sometimes I don't put the hook through the middle of the senko I will hook it 1/3 of the way down it changes the presentation quite a bit. I also carry a lighter with me. When the bait rips heat it up and put it back together. Found it works better than glue.

That's a really good idea. I'm going to try that tape rigging. Do you put the hook through both tape and the senko's body, or do you insert the hook between the tape and the lure?

MrE1979 reply :

On 6/28/2015 at 11:00 PM, CeeJay said:
That's a really good idea. I'm going to try that tape rigging. Do you put the hook through both tape and the senko's body, or do you insert the hook between the tape and the lure?

I hook through everything. I have used standard size electrical tape also.

MrBigFishSC reply :

Senkos and senko knockoffs do come off easily but they catch tons of fish. Its a trade off. You say your line kept breaking...where? At the hook while landing? Somewhere above the hook say 6 inches? You have to re tie after every 2-3 fish or anytime the fish gets into cover and you pull it out. If breaks occur at the hook you have poor knot. If above you have nicks or old line. Line type doesn't matter that much if it's fresh. I always use a double palomar knot on my worm hooks. This will no doubt start a knot discussion thread!

the reel ess reply :

Your line was probably breaking because they suck this bait down their throats. Then their "teeth" fray the line. It can happen on one good fish even if the line wasn't frayed before the bite. All you can do to stop that is to really watch your line and set if it moves at all-sometimes it won't. If you use a finesse or octopus hook, you don't need a homerun hookset. I use 17# Fireline for this technique and haven't lost one due to breakage yet. But I retie about every trip, stripping off just a few inches.

Jeff H reply :

On 6/23/2015 at 4:06 PM, roadwarrior said:

Hmm...

There is only one "Senko" and lot's of wannabes.

The wannabe's I use are 1/3 the cost, last 3 times longer and catch me a lot of fish! No regrets.

junyer357 reply :

Yea. I have fixed my line issues. I was using some older line on what was my crappie rig. I now have a better reel (pflueger supreme) and power pro slick 8 15# and using a 12# invisx floro leader. Its alot easier to see the yellow braid and im pinching down the barbs so deep set hooks havent been bad last few outings.

hoosierbass07 reply :

On 6/23/2015 at 4:06 PM, roadwarrior said:

Hmm...

There is only one "Senko" and lot's of wannabes.

The Senko = Julius Caesar. Yum-Dinger = Augustus Caesar (Greatest emperor ever).

hoosierbass07 reply :

My favorite way to fish a stick bait like a five inch Yum-Dinger is to use a 3/0 wide gap hook and eight pound Sufix mono line. I Texas rig it and skin hook the hook point. When a bass bites down I assume that Yum-Dinger easily moved down out of the way of the hook point, the bass pulls and I pull on the line and the hook is set! I almost see it like a switch-blade knife. You flip a switch and blade comes out. Bass bites down on stick bait and it easily moves out of the way exposing hook point.

Oh, and I almost always crush the barb down. Fishing is lot easier and more enjoyable with barbs crushed down. Plus getting a hook out of a throat is a lot easier too.

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Learning How To Fish Senkos 2024

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