Senko under a float? 2024

yellowcard129 reply :

I was just wondering if anyone has tried this? Ive heard a senko under a bobber works well in the north country and was thinking of trying it out.

KevO reply :

I've never tried it but it sounds like a good idea. I think wacky rigged would be better than t-rigged.

Back2fishing reply :

last year the first time ever trying a senko type bait. i set it up under a float, it does work . Tho not as well as weightless on a 4/0 hook.

I was able to hook a nice walleye a pike and some sm/mouth bass fishing it under a float.

Kevin

bilgerat reply :

Sounds like it would work well on a slightly windy day with a little chop on the surface. Then it would have a nice wiggle action if wacky rigged.

Frog Turds reply :

Quote
Sounds like it would work well on a slightly windy day with a little chop on the surface. Then it would have a nice wiggle action if wacky rigged.

i'm gonna have to try this sometime, when line watchin is impossible...but i agree, and can definately see it workin wacky'd in the chop...also maybe using a slip bobber to keep it near the bottom as well...hmmm could produce...

i mean hell i thought the whole wacky thing was wacky...til i tried it and it caught fish

Crestliner2008 reply :

I've been using a slip bobber/Senko set-up for the last two seasons and this one as well. It allows to fish two rigs at the same time - legally - and with a partner, it gives us four presentations. I'm usually working a drop shot on my second rig and a partner might be working a spinnerbait or tube. Fishing alone, I've had many doubles; fishing a partner, we've had 4 "quads" over the years. Talk about a lot of fun! Here's what my set-up looks like:

The bobber stops can be found at any sporting goods store - even WalMarts. They have the stop set-ups & small plastic beads in the package. You can find the cigar floats at Dicks; you can use all kinds of slip floats in this application, but after trial & error, I've pretty much settled on this one. It's about 4" long and the bright colors make it easy to see, even in a decent chop.

I've chosen Fireline Chrystal, as my main line, because it stays on the surface of the water, between the float and your rod tip. This makes slack retrieval much easier, as well as hook-sets. And, for me, it's easy to see! The glass bead under the float prevents the eye of the crane swivel from sticking in the bottom of the float. (There actually is a method behind my madness, believe it or not!) It also ads a little weight to help get your Senko down faster.

Do NOT use a barrel swivel! You know....the kind that are used with "snap-swivels". Use a quality crane swivel or ball bearing style only. These turn much easier than the barrel types. The Senko hanging below a bobber, has a tendency to turn....so you will need to avoid line twist, as much as possible. I really like to use the Spro Powerswivels, size #8 or #10. They work as well as any ball bearing swivel, but they are expensive and not easy to find everywhere.

You can use any hook you want; however, I would highly recommend you give this one shown a try (crush down the barb!). I've had excellent results with it. When the bobber goes under, you just start reeling her in! The leader between the hook & swivel is anything you want it to be. If I'm fishing fairly shallow in weedy/wooded conditions for LM, I'll beef it up to about 10# test - or more! But for open water SM fishing, the 6# test cited above is about as good as it gets.

Now....the most important part! How far up the line do you set the bobber stop? This is what I do. I find bait on the structure I'm fishing. Then I attach an ice fishing depth finder - the lead weights with the alligator clips molded into them - to the hook. I lower this boatside until it hits bottom. I adjust the bobber stop so that the float is about 2' underwater. This will be correct, for having your Senko presented 2' ABOVE THE BOTTOM. Got that? Simple...effective. Remove the depth finder, slip on a Senko. Cast it a short distance from the boat. The float will lay flat, until the Senko is at the end of it's travel. Now the float will semi-stand up, bouncing about and imparting a rather dramatic action to your wacky rigged Senko.

Lots of folks have a prejudice against bobbers. I guess they automatically associate it with live bait fishing, but it's quite different. You still need to present your Senko in front of fish and and you have to find them! I've posted here, previously, my technique of how I wacky rig these Senkos, so you can do a search on that. Hope this is of some help to some of you folks.

sal669 reply :

Great info !!! Thanks

.RM. reply :

Crestliner2008,

I contacted the mods this should be permanent if it isn't already..

Quote
Hey guys this should be a sticky or in the tackle box section permanent.

That's great info, I love fishing LM's, Spots, actually anything that swims that way.

Floats are great!

Tight Lines All!!!

Big Phish reply :

After reading this thread I tried it out a couple days ago and believe it or not it worked. I only got one fish in about three hours but it was worth it to leave the float out there while I fished normally.

bassmajor reply :

Quote
Sounds like it would work well on a slightly windy day with a little chop on the surface. Then it would have a nice wiggle action if wacky rigged.

I have luck on this set up also. A little wind gives it a great action.

Jig Thrower reply :

does anyone ever have problem with bluegill pecking at the senko though?

roadwarrior reply :

Quote
Crestliner2008,
I contacted the mods this should be permanent if it isn't already..

Quote
Hey guys this should be a sticky or in the tackle box section permanent.

That's great info, I love fishing LM's, Spots, actually anything that swims that way.

Floats are great!

Tight Lines All!!!

Check it out!

First topic sticky in this section.

Crestliner2008,

Thank you!

-Kent

KelloggBassin reply :

I can vouch for fishing a wacky senko with a bobber.

It has kind of been an inside joke in our bass club because one of our members had won a tournament with this method, but he was catching largemouth.

Our last tournament this past fall was at Burt lake, after having terrible luck trying to catch anything i had pulled up on a weed flat in about 8 ft of water toward the end of the day, fish were surfacing everywhere but for the life of me i couldn't get a bite.

I was throwing a wacky senko on a wide-gap hook, and jokingly told my co-angler i might have better luck with a bobber!

I set the bobber so the senko would be hanging just above the weeds. On my first cast, not even 5 seconds after being in the water the bobber went under, and i landed a 5.08, i had laughed about it just thinking it was a fluke until i went from 0 lbs to just under 18 lbs within an hour! I would definitely suggest using a bobber with a wacky senko to catch some smallies!

dwhite reply :

Quote
I can vouch for fishing a wacky senko with a bobber.
It has kind of been an inside joke in our bass club because one of our members had won a tournament with this method, but he was catching largemouth.

Our last tournament this past fall was at Burt lake, after having terrible luck trying to catch anything i had pulled up on a weed flat in about 8 ft of water toward the end of the day, fish were surfacing everywhere but for the life of me i couldn't get a bite.

I was throwing a wacky senko on a wide-gap hook, and jokingly told my co-angler i might have better luck with a bobber!

I set the bobber so the senko would be hanging just above the weeds. On my first cast, not even 5 seconds after being in the water the bobber went under, and i landed a 5.08, i had laughed about it just thinking it was a fluke until i went from 0 lbs to just under 18 lbs within an hour! I would definitely suggest using a bobber with a wacky senko to catch some smallies!

Exactly how I use it to set the bait just above the weeds or structure, it works GREAT!

acornworm reply :

I've caught bass from the back seat using this method. Most of the time I set the float 8 to 13 feet deep while we are fishing bluffs or deep weed edges. It works!

smashingsmallies reply :

I gotta quick question please. I read about the swivel being some wait to get it down. Is there any time or any depth that any of you would or do put a split shot on?

joshholmes reply :

you want the bait to fall slower. any extra weight will kill the action. this best works on structureless flats where SM are roaming for food in the pre and post spawn

Crestliner2008 reply :

Quote
you want the bait to fall slower. any extra weight will kill the action. this best works on structureless flats where SM are roaming for food in the pre and post spawn

I agree with your first statement, but disagree with the second. I use a float rig most of the year. Have taken a lot of different species that way, including smallies, even in August. And I use it on multi-faceted off-shore structures as well. The key is to locate bait.

joshholmes reply :

ok ill try that. thats just when and where if had the best success

joshholmes reply :

http://www.in-fisherman.com/video

theres a video here called smallmouths in space that explains fishing a stick bait under a float. its under the in-fisherman category

Under the Radar reply :

On 8/24/2009 at 3:11 AM, yellowcard129 said:

I was just wondering if anyone has tried this? Ive heard a senko under a bobber works well in the north country and was thinking of trying it out.

Back2 has it right. put it under a slip bobber wacky rigged. You'll need some wind tho. the wind moving the bobber up and down will impart the motion to the wacky rigged senko. Can be a killer rig at times.

krisjack69 reply :

I have caught bass with a bobber with a 2 inch smoke senko.I caught about a 2 pounder or so with it.that was all they were bite that day.

reo reply :

What type of rod would be good for this? I am thinking long and limber kinda FNF style? but would like to hear from those that have used the technique.

Thanks

reo

TWmann12 reply :

Great thing about senkos under a float is that you can throw them into current and just let them go with the flow. Its more of a horizontal approach instead of letting them sink and bringing them back up and so on.

krisjack69 reply :

I have tried this with the 2 inch senko's in the smoke color few years ago and I caught some good bass with it.I tried the float rig with 5 inch sk ocho with no success but I didn't give it a chance tho.I may do it again one day when it get windy but the pond has lots of turtles and snakes in it.everytime I go seems like I see at least one.I had couple of turtles follow my Pop r today and caught one by the leg with my walk the dog bait which I think was either my spook or sammy.

urp reply :

There was a full article on this in BassMaster a couple of years ago. The guy wacky rigged and floated the Senko just over a submerged weed line. It helps to have a light wind which imparts action to the bobber and hence the Senko. The guy did very well and landed quality fish.

Bob C reply :

I've been doing this for a long time. I put a weight about 15" above the hook and a bobber about 30" above that. I cast to the shallows and reel slowly over the drop off and weeds.

I first tried it to make it easy for my grand son but soon found out this really works good. My wife and I were out last week end and caught 12 in less than 4 hrs.

Lost a couple big ones at the boat.

Bob

RiverFisher13 reply :

A couple weeks ago i heard this technique on a local sports show from Doug Stange for fall small mouth. So last weekend my old man and i went drifting a little local river. dad kept to his normal strategy of standard texas rigging gulp while i was trying this, and lets just say by the end of the day we were both doing this.

Since we were keeping rock bass to clean and the average fish is a little smaller in this river i had to make a few changes to the above presentation so i figured i would share.

Lure: instead of using a senko i used a 5 inch gulg wacky work, cut in half. This worm is thinner and more fluid, i feel you get more action with less movement. This allows you to sit the bait on the structure(strike zone) longer.

Hook: i used a 5/0 gamaktsu oct hook, small enough for the rocky and big enough for the brownies. I also put a 1/16 once split shot sinker directly above. This keeps the bait down in the current.

Bobber: I used a cigar shaped foam pegged bobber, sold everywhere. I ran the bait about 2 feet below surface.

Line: 2lb berkley vanish and a 4.5 foot shakespeare ultra light, its a must for finesse techniques .

Presentation: 3 to 4 short twitches with about a 10 second pause between. They seemed to always hit on the pause.

Location: I was casting this right on top of submerged logs and right next to log piles. I tried the open flats thing but had no luck with it.

I know most you guys probably fish bigger rivers/lakes than i do so you might over look this. But for you guys who cant get to the big water or just want to go to the near by stream for an hour or two, this will bring in the smallmouth. This is also a great technique to use with younger/just starting anglers.

iceehot66 reply :

Thanks for that excellent share...gonna try it next spring and I'll let you know how it works!!...

Wild Bill [NY] reply :

This is a great technique for newbies.

It works !

Bob C reply :

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' timestamp='1329396357' post='1076704']
This is a great technique for newbies.

It works !

It works very well, but why is it just for newbies?

Wild Bill [NY] reply :

My comments were to say even a young kid or newbie does not have to watch their line carefully

to be seeing line movement or feeling that slight 'tic' of the bass hit to sense a fish that has eaten your bait.

As long as they or their Dad [or whoever is fishing with them] watches the float, they usually will see if a fish has taken the bait.

Not saying it does not work for experienced anglers, just saying it is a way a novice can fish and catch easily . They SEE the activity of the fish.

I volunteer at many functions where we teach kids how to fish in large groups, like the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, or at DEC Children's Fishing Festivals, or also one-on-one with me mentoring with local kids I know, and often , that is one of the methods I use. Sometimes it is with earthworms and bobbers at the larger events, and if fishing with me, we use the small senkos, wacky-rigged under a float.

Both get the kids some bites, and then they get hooked for life, like I was at 6 years old...{LOL}

52 years later, I am now the one sharing my passion of fishing with the upcoming generations, like my Dad and Grampa did for me when I was just a little guy.

bigbill reply :

How about a senko type bait under a crappie rattle float?? There's nothing like ringing the dinnerbell.

I mainly use the senko type baits on a 1/8oz brass weighted carolina rig with a 24" to 30" leader. I either follow it down keeping the line tight to the rod tip or shake the rod tip as it falls making the senko twitch as it falls. I use no scent on the first cast. If i get a strike and a miss one shot of scent on the second cast is a positive hookup on the next cast.

Take a kid fishing we need the next generations educated in fishing too. We need more TV shows like Jerry McKinnis too. We just don't have that anymore.

lou304 reply :

I've read about fishing a senko under one of these: http://www.cabelas.com/floats-stops-lighted-adjust-a-bubble.shtml?WT.srch=1&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=google|Fishing+Category|USA&WT.z_mc_id1=sl1niMYSB&rid=20

Sounded good enough that I bought one yesterday, now all I need is time out from my kids' sports to go fishing!!!!!

Bob C reply :

I caught 4 bass last week end while bluegill fishing with a small hook and red worms 3' under a bobber. I'm old and sore enough that I can't stand up and cast all day like the young pups can. I sure caught a lot of bass last year with 4" pumpkin senko's under a float. When you are as lazy as I am, that's the way to go. Sit back, relax and catch fish.

HookSettr reply :

I love fishing wacky rigged senko's, it is my "go-to" versatility lure. I sometimes find myself fishing like a jerkbait and get massive hits, so if you're going to fish it on a float I personally would still want the action of the free falling tails. So I would most likely use the "nail in the tail" trick. Take something like a 12d nail and clip it in half and stuff the sharp end straight up the tails of the senko, this adds a good amount of weight to the lure and gives the tails some awesome action. Play around with it find what you like. It is an awesome lure and technique.

Bob C reply :

I took my grand kids blue gill fishing last week end. I put a pumpkin senko under a bobber and in no time I had a 5.5 pound LM. Caught a few others in the 2-4 lb range also. You really don't need to do anything but sit back and watch the bobber.

Bob

earlbrwstr reply :

im going to try this tommrow!

ol'crickety reply :

I read at another website that a size 4 hook works well with wacky-rigged Senko. What do you guys think?

Sam reply :

Yep.

Senkos, trick worms, finesse worms, creature baits.

Whatever you want to try.

The secret is to aggitate the bass to come up and hit the bait when the bass are in a holding pattern and are not interested in hitting your other presentations.

There have been at least two articles fishing plastics under a bobber. I asked about this presentation previously on the Forum and the positive response was surprising.

So give it a shot when nothing else works or you just want to give it a try.

Sam reply :

Ol', I go with a smaller hook for wacky Senkos.

A #1, 1/0 and 2/0.

I usually use weedless hooks since I throw Senkos in as much structure as I can find.

I would think a 4/0 would suffice but personally I like to down size my wacky Senko hooks so they don't overpower the Senko on its fall.

If I want a faster fall I will put a small 1/16 weight on top of the hook.

CPBassFishing reply :

There was an article about this in an In-Fisherman magazine a while back. They were using it on suspending smallies in the top third of the water column.

Bonifas9017 reply :

Can you use this in river fishing

cyclops2 reply :

We seniors use a lot of floats with wind & current. Drift along. float gets nervous. Pick up rod. Set hook

Even WE can understand that much all day.

WiscoBassman reply :

I've done this before for largemouths. I just tie on a hook and put a bobber on the line, I also wacky rig the senko. It was killer for largemouth so I don't see how it wouldn't work for smallies.

bigbill reply :

Since the setup for crappies works so well with the rattle bobber and grubs you maybe right using a senko with a weedless hook?

Bob C reply :

I've fished all year with a 4" Senco and bobber. It doesn't seem to matter what color. I was on Muskegon lake two weeks before the Bass Masters tournament. I caught 6 nice small mouth in less than 3 hours. The 4 biggest would have placed very well in the tournament. When they were close to shore a few weeks ago on a small lake I like, I got 3 nice size LM on 3 casts under 3 different pontoon boats. The tournament guys laugh at me. One asked, are you catching bass on that? I was out catching him 4 to 1 with my spinning reel and bobber.

WVbassin87 reply :

I'm new to senko fishing. gonna try this next time i hit the river

xAngler.rainey reply :

Never tried it but sounds like a great idea.

jtharris3 reply :

I've got to try this!

Bob C reply :

What I've noticed here in Michigan, it works best for 6 weeks from the middle of July through August in the weed lines or under docks. Under docked pontoon boats works very good. Any other time I have to go to deeper water to catch them. I tried it the last week end and got skunked. Couple more weeks. lol

BigSkyBasser reply :

I've tried other baits suspended under a float but have yet to rig it with a senko. Seems compelling considering In-Fisherman and Al Lindner have referenced similar methods several times for bass. Apparently using the same method but with an elk hair jig is really potent for fishing late fall and winter smallmouths, Again referenced by In-Fisherman.

hawghound reply :

When I first saw the title of this thread I scoffed, then laughed. Then sheepishly, since no one was looking, opened it up. I am convinced enough to give it a shot, but (sorry to say) won't be trying it unless I'm alone. You know, until I actually catch fish with it, then I will try to be brave enough to venture out of the closet. I gave up bobber fishing when I was 8, who knew that I would actually be seriously considering picking it back up 47 years later. Never too old to learn I guess.

lecisnith reply :

I was so effin excited for this. I decided last season that you cannot consider yourself a good fisherman if you ignore proven fish catching techniques.

Jeff H reply :

I just bought a new bobber rod! Very effective and very fun method for catching bass!

Captain America reply :

Ok, do you just let the senko fall, and then recast, or just st it out there and wait? or give it action through the slip?

doyle8218 reply :

On 8/24/2009 at 3:11 AM, yellowcard129 said:
I was just wondering if anyone has tried this? Ive heard a senko under a bobber works well in the north country and was thinking of trying it out.

Works great. That's how I set my grandson up when he goes with me.

mrc.in.wi reply :

My go to baits in spring with a good 7-12 mph wind.

Senko rigged wacky. Nail weights in ends. Big bass Bobber.

Just drifting shallow flats.

Keithe Poshe spinners add some action to the bait also.

dale7645 reply :

I've heard of this as well. I fish senkos a LOT in the summer and early fall in northern Michigan. I've always had success not using one so I never tried it. I just rig it wacky style and let it sink slowly. It seems so simple but I've caught my biggest smallmouths this way. I just wish they were a little more durable.

A-Jay reply :

On 5/12/2015 at 8:39 PM, dale7645 said:
I've heard of this as well. I fish senkos a LOT in the summer and early fall in northern Michigan. I've always had success not using one so I never tried it. I just rig it wacky style and let it sink slowly. It seems so simple but I've caught my biggest smallmouths this way. I just wish they were a little more durable.

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

If you're not using an O-ring while wacky rigging, you might want t consider it.

Seems to help with the baits longevity - It's not the cure all but you'll usually get better than one fish with one bait ratio.

A-Jay

dale7645 reply :

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

If you're not using an O-ring while wacky rigging, you might want t consider it.

Seems to help with the baits longevity - It's not the cure all but you'll usually get better than one fish with one bait ratio.

A-Jay

Thanks for the welcome!

I saw those O-Rings somewhere (can't remember where) but wasn't sure if they would be worth it. I'll have to pick some up and try them.

Crestliner2008 reply :

On 2/26/2015 at 4:25 AM, Captain America said:
Ok, do you just let the senko fall, and then recast, or just st it out there and wait? or give it action through the slip?

I usually use this presentation when on a deep water structure, fishing for smallmouth bass. Usually there is a chop on the water out there, so I would say that it would be a help to have a decent breeze.

Crestliner2008 reply :

On 5/12/2015 at 10:04 PM, dale7645 said:

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

If you're not using an O-ring while wacky rigging, you might want t consider it.

Seems to help with the baits longevity - It's not the cure all but you'll usually get better than one fish with one bait ratio.

A-Jay

Thanks for the welcome!

I saw those O-Rings somewhere (can't remember where) but wasn't sure if they would be worth it. I'll have to pick some up and try them.

I suggest you re-read my original post with picture. You do not need expensive O-rings. Goodies work just fine.

Mass Bassin' reply :

Ive tried it and it works well on choppy days but i still feel silly throwin a bobber

Crestliner2008 reply :

On 5/27/2015 at 10:02 AM, Mass Bassin said:
Ive tried it and it works well on choppy days but i still feel silly throwin a bobber

You won't feel very silly when you pull in that 6 lb. smallie, or salmon, or rainbow, or lake trout, or white perch, or largemouth, or...... And neither will your partners. I've caught just about everything that swims on this rigging. And it usually is the larger of each species.

BassNut reply :

I've never tried senkos under a bobber,but I will give it a go next time I go out.

Thanks for the tips, always looking for new ways to catch small mouth Bass.

meisterluv reply :

does anyone use a weighted hook with this setup?

Neil McCauley reply :

Doesn't a bobber defeat the whole idea behind the Senko? ie to let the bait sink over and over so the fish can "see how it sinks" and somehow the salt impregnation mind%$#!@s them into biting it. Anyway, if it's under a float it's not sinking.

Darren. reply :

On 7/4/2015 at 12:19 AM, meisterluv said:
does anyone use a weighted hook with this setup?

I haven't used a weighted hook, just let the

senko do its thing until it hits the float length.

And welcome to the forums!

Darren. reply :

On 7/5/2015 at 7:21 AM, Neil McCauley said:
Doesn't a bobber defeat the whole idea behind the Senko? ie to let the bait sink over and over so the fish can "see how it sinks" and somehow the salt impregnation mind%$#!@s them into biting it. Anyway, if it's under a float it's not sinking.

Depends on what you are after.

Perhaps it could be called the wacky float rig

or something else to avoid confusion.

Bottom line, it works. It worked for me around

dock pylons where bass were hovering at

particular depths, weren't interested in a sinking

senko, but once we put a float on, the senko

hovered in front of the bass and drove it mad.

Worked better than anything else we tried.

FWIW....

CeeJay reply :

I love to fish wacky rigged senkos under a float. Probably accounts for 50% of largemouths that I've caught on a senko.

Not one of those red and white round bobbers, but a small Trout Magnet float. Balances perfectly.

Deadly deadly deadly technique.

Edit- Oops, didn't realize this was in the Smallmouth forum Still applies to smallies as well though.

jjnosal@msn.com reply :

On 8/24/2009 at 3:11 AM, yellowcard129 said:
I was just wondering if anyone has tried this? Ive heard a senko under a bobber works well in the north country and was thinking of trying it out.

work great in Pa. rivers

ChrisWi reply :

I use this setup with a centerpin for river smallies all the time. Works great!

Jim Drinkwater reply :

This is probably one of those techniques that has a time and place it really would fit. I have thought about doing this for some time and just never have gotten around to it. Now it is on my up comming list of things to at least try this next season. I bet a whacky rigged 5 inch mag finesse worm would work well too.

Jim Drinkwater reply :

Has any one tried this along the outside of deep pad edges, next to blow downs or along docks? It would almost seem that a bait just hanging near such cover might be quite productive if done right. I totaly get the idea of using this on flats with submerged weed and already have a place in mind to try it out in a tourney this summer. But I'm always looking for an edge around cover. It would certainly be some thing different than a jig or senko type bait sinking down. Any thoughts on this? Crestliner you seem to have thought this out quite a bit, what say ye?

Bob C reply :

On 1/17/2016 at 3:40 AM, Jim Drinkwater said:

Has any one tried this along the outside of deep pad edges, next to blow downs or along docks? It would almost seem that a bait just hanging near such cover might be quite productive if done right. I totaly get the idea of using this on flats with submerged weed and already have a place in mind to try it out in a tourney this summer. But I'm always looking for an edge around cover. It would certainly be some thing different than a jig or senko type bait sinking down. Any thoughts on this? Crestliner you seem to have thought this out quite a bit, what say ye?

I find it works best at weed edges and docks 6' water depth or less. I caught 3 in 10 minutes at 3 different docks on first cast.

juicebass reply :

Would you float a plastic creature bait?If a fish wonders by it, sure it might bite it. But a senko works best on the fall creating that reaction strike.

If you wanna read a magazine or drink beer, im sure a floating senko can be used to be a throw it out and sit back bait. But in that case, real worms will probably work best.

Bob C reply :

Reveal hidden contents

I agree on the fall or some other movement. I've found that if I don't get a bite in about 20 seconds, it probably won't happen. Then I reel slow as to not make a wake with the float. I catch a lot of LMB doing that under docks and on weed lines.

Bryant Williams reply :

Hmmm..I can see this working well

Jeff H reply :

On 6/16/2016 at 7:10 AM, Bryant Williams said:

Hmmm..I can see this working well

It does. And not just with Senko type baits. I have actually done well with Original Slider and 4-6 inch worms below slip float on windy days on deeper structures, particularly humps.

Mosster47 reply :

I do this fairly often in the summer when the wind kicks up and I don't feel like fighting it. I use a Havoc Money Maker and either a 1/8 or 1/4oz wacky jig head depending on the wind strength. I run a swivel with about a three foot leader and just a regular old red & white bobber above the swivel.

We figure out what depth the smallies are cruising at with the electronics and keep the boat at that depth line. Then we throw it out in front of us and let the wind drift the boat and bobber naturally.

It can really make the slow times a lot less slow.

holeshot reply :

Here in the North Carolina mountains we use this regularly in our streams & small rivers..works great if you can keep the trout off of it..lol of course they pull pretty hard also...no monsters but lots of fun....we usually wade the streams upstream & cast upstream & let your bobber wash back to you over the riffles & runs & deeper pockets....we usually like to have the Senko ( the smaller the better) only 12-18 inches under the cork(which also should be really small)..favorite cork color is chartreuse....most of the time depending upon stream, we catch about as many smallmouth as trout...great for the kids ..!!

Edited August 5, 2016 by holeshot
spacing

lbirch14 reply :

This is something I'm gonna try. Just starting using soft plastics. I'll try this out the next time I head out.

Mark Smith reply :

On 8/24/2009 at 8:23 PM, Crestliner2008 said:

I've been using a slip bobber/Senko set-up for the last two seasons and this one as well. It allows to fish two rigs at the same time - legally - and with a partner, it gives us four presentations. I'm usually working a drop shot on my second rig and a partner might be working a spinnerbait or tube. Fishing alone, I've had many doubles; fishing a partner, we've had 4 "quads" over the years. Talk about a lot of fun! Here's what my set-up looks like:

The bobber stops can be found at any sporting goods store - even WalMarts. They have the stop set-ups & small plastic beads in the package. You can find the cigar floats at Dicks; you can use all kinds of slip floats in this application, but after trial & error, I've pretty much settled on this one. It's about 4" long and the bright colors make it easy to see, even in a decent chop.

I've chosen Fireline Chrystal, as my main line, because it stays on the surface of the water, between the float and your rod tip. This makes slack retrieval much easier, as well as hook-sets. And, for me, it's easy to see! The glass bead under the float prevents the eye of the crane swivel from sticking in the bottom of the float. (There actually is a method behind my madness, believe it or not!) It also ads a little weight to help get your Senko down faster.

Do NOT use a barrel swivel! You know....the kind that are used with "snap-swivels". Use a quality crane swivel or ball bearing style only. These turn much easier than the barrel types. The Senko hanging below a bobber, has a tendency to turn....so you will need to avoid line twist, as much as possible. I really like to use the Spro Powerswivels, size #8 or #10. They work as well as any ball bearing swivel, but they are expensive and not easy to find everywhere.

You can use any hook you want; however, I would highly recommend you give this one shown a try (crush down the barb!). I've had excellent results with it. When the bobber goes under, you just start reeling her in! The leader between the hook & swivel is anything you want it to be. If I'm fishing fairly shallow in weedy/wooded conditions for LM, I'll beef it up to about 10# test - or more! But for open water SM fishing, the 6# test cited above is about as good as it gets.

Now....the most important part! How far up the line do you set the bobber stop? This is what I do. I find bait on the structure I'm fishing. Then I attach an ice fishing depth finder - the lead weights with the alligator clips molded into them - to the hook. I lower this boatside until it hits bottom. I adjust the bobber stop so that the float is about 2' underwater. This will be correct, for having your Senko presented 2' ABOVE THE BOTTOM. Got that? Simple...effective. Remove the depth finder, slip on a Senko. Cast it a short distance from the boat. The float will lay flat, until the Senko is at the end of it's travel. Now the float will semi-stand up, bouncing about and imparting a rather dramatic action to your wacky rigged Senko.

Lots of folks have a prejudice against bobbers. I guess they automatically associate it with live bait fishing, but it's quite different. You still need to present your Senko in front of fish and and you have to find them! I've posted here, previously, my technique of how I wacky rig these Senkos, so you can do a search on that. Hope this is of some help to some of you folks.

Awesome, I love float fishing the rivers and cant wait to try this on a choppy day. Thanks

On 11/3/2016 at 5:56 AM, Mark Smith said:

Awesome, I love float fishing the rivers and cant wait to try this on a choppy day. Thanks

Can this be used on a tournament?

Jeff H reply :

On 11/3/2016 at 5:56 AM, Mark Smith said:

Awesome, I love float fishing the rivers and cant wait to try this on a choppy day. Thanks

Can this be used on a tournament?

Yep.

king fisher reply :

Sounds like a perfect way to get a drag free drift while fishing for small mouth in small rivers. Just like using a strike indicator while fishing nymphs with a fly rod. I know the perfect spot to try this technique on my favorite small mouth stream. Will give it a try as soon as possible. I have had luck in the past drifting a senko without a float, but had trouble getting the drift right due to not being able to mend the line correctly with a spinning rod. I'm sure using a float will give me a more natural drift. For those who say they don't think using a bobber is sporting, I will say the same thing I say to fly fishermen that refuse to use a strike indicator. More fish for me.

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Senko under a float? 2024

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