Help Me Gain Confidence In The Senko

[JellyMan]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Have you tried wacky rigged in a red shad color ? I've slayed on that color all over S. FL. 

[Blues19]

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]

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]

like I always say if you can't catch fish on a Senko' Take up Golf!

[lmbfisherman]

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]

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]

It could be the color you guys are using? Try some other colors and give it another try.

[bassh8er]

Try slowing down

[shootermcbob]

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]

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]

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]

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]

What are the conditions you are fishing them in? 

[Rangerphil]

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]

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]

Every method, every trick, every secret, every tip known about the Senko can be found here: 

 

[The Young Gun]

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]

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]

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.