Weening Off Senkos

[Comfortably Numb]

I admit it. I am a Senko addict. I use other lures but still end up going back to my crutch for my fix.

 

Last three days I have been throwing nothing but a jig. Same basic prespawn location and pattern and I am sure each bait would work equally as well. Water is 50-52 and fish are moving shallow to brush on the shore and especially under shallow docks. I am using a light 1/4 jig with a baby Rage trailer and skipping it with a 6'6" med spinning rod. Fish hold on well and my hookup percentage is very good. Getting confidence is key and right now that is sky high. I hope to carry it on through the season in different applications as the fish move.

 

I also used a Dropshot this winter in deep water and did prettty well with that

[roadwarrior]

Try a Rage Tail Craw on a weighted hook, too!

 

[A-Jay]

Good Luck on your quest - those water temps look to be prime time for a jerkbait.

 

A-Jay

[Comfortably Numb]

I was getting them with a pointer this winter when water was cooler. Now they mainly seem to be real shallow in a foot or two of water

 

I rigged up some Rage rigs and want to try that too with Rage craw and twin tail spider grub.

[jignfule]

There is a whole new senko-less world waiting for you, (especially fishing a jig). I found bass fishing more challenging, rewarding and even more enjoyable, when I put my senkos away and started being more diverse.

[BobP]

Putting the Senkos away just to try something different?  Job #1 = catch fish.  If the Senko is doing it best on a particular day, that's what I want to be throwing.

[Comfortably Numb]

Went to a different lake today. No shallow water bite at all so jigs and Senko did not work. Pulled off the bank a little and got a few on an LC Staysee. I am getting there

[Scorcher214]

Try a Rage Tail Craw on a weighted hook, too!

This is my crutch lol.

[jignfule]

Putting the Senkos away just to try something different?  Job #1 = catch fish.  If the Senko is doing it best on a particular day, that's what I want to be throwing.

I have a little different philosophy. Job #1Have fun and learn how to catch fish with many different techiques, (so on the days when they're not biting on senkos you can still catch fish).  I've had many days when I could have caught fish all day long on senko, but I put them away, to learn better how to work a jig or  a punch skirt or a number of different techiques. Also while you can catch big fish on senko, many time I can weed through the smaller bass by throwing something different, like a jig.

[airborne_angler]

Mother nature helped get me away from soft stickbaits. Its just always windy at the lake I fish and throwing a weightless stickbait is just tough. The wind catches the line and puts a big bow in it. Hard to keep the bait where you wsnt it snd difficult to detect a bite.Baby Brush hogs and Spinnerbaits started to become my go to...

[Felix77]

I understand that feeling.  One guy in my league seems to fish these exclusively.  

 

When I am fun fishing I try and steer clear of the senko in order to learn other tricks.  If on tournament day senko's are the way to catch them I will stick with it.

[Comfortably Numb]

I fish nearly everyday so I can experiment a lot

 

If I had limited fishing time or tourney, I would try to catch them any way I could.

[iceintheveins]

I use senkos when they work better than anything, which is generally in fairly shallow water, in clear, calm conditions. I caught 14 bass Friday and used only two lures all day, a spinnerbait and a jig. I have no problem throwing senkos, but there are plenty of times when other lures DO work better.

[K_Mac]

I use senkos when they work better than anything, which is generally in fairly shallow water, in clear, calm conditions. I caught 14 bass Friday and used only two lures all day, a spinnerbait and a jig. I have no problem throwing senkos, but there are plenty of times when other lures DO work better.

 

I have not thrown a Senko/knock-off much yet this year. I have tried wacky rigged on a weighted jig/hook (one of my favorite techniques) on a couple of trips with only a little success. I agree with ice and others though that when a Senko is what they want, then I will use a Senko. Diversity is good when it comes to fishing, and being comfortable with several techniques and styles will increase your ability to put fish in the boat. Good luck Comfortably Numb.

[RoachDad]

I have a feeling you are messing with us

 

Why would you get away from what works?  its like having a hot shooter on a basketball team and the coach says, "we need to get the ball down low". 

 

Do whatever you want, of course, but the only time I switch from a Senko is when it ain't working. 

 

I almost never use Jerkbaits because I never catch anything with them.

 

I'm too old to quit what works just to test myself.  WHen fishing is just to easy, I go golfing. 

 

ha

 

[Comfortably Numb]

Well like I said, I fish alot and my thumb starts to hurt from lipping too many

 

I have a feeling you are messing with us

 

Why would you get away from what works?  its like having a hot shooter on a basketball team and the coach says, "we need to get the ball down low". 

 

Do whatever you want, of course, but the only time I switch from a Senko is when it ain't working. 

 

I almost never use Jerkbaits because I never catch anything with them.

 

I'm too old to quit what works just to test myself.  WHen fishing is just to easy, I go golfing. 

 

ha

[CountBassula]

I used to fish senko exclusively, and was told "well if it catches fish use it", but I couldn't help but have this feeling of cheating and being a lame one lure fisherman :-) Soooo, I started trying other lures: lizards, flukes, swim flukes, basically soft plastics. i've had great luck with weightless flukes, and tried swim flukes and now that's my go to bait :-) but at least the fishing is more rewarding to me now, i can swim the fluke or topwater it too.

 

P.S. there's always swim-senko :-)

[Paul Roberts]

All lures have places they shine. But you can't get to know them if you toss only one thing. But you already know that. Imagine having such confidence in MANY lure types. You can fish evry day? Get busy!

[mjseverson24]

I typically use a senko in only a few situations.

1) when I get a short strike while using other lures I use a senko as a follow up lure. 

2) when dropshotting.

3) clear water situations in 6-10 ft using a flick shake.

 

I like senkos I have only caught a few fish over 5 lbs using them so I typically use them to fill in a limit. Other lures I have found to be more effective on catching larger fish such as frogs, jigs, cranks, swimbaits, spinnerbaits with big blades and big trailers.

 

Mitch 

[slonezp]

Whatever works. I still throw Senkos although not as often as I used to. They are versatile and they catch fish. To not throw them because it's "cheating" is stupid.