Light Strikes On A Weightless Texas Rig

[McKinneyLonghorn]

I do almost all of my fishing in community ponds of a few acres in size that get quite a bit of pressure when the weather is nice. While there are some bass of 3-5 pounds present (or so I have heard) for all intents and purposes we are talking about catching bass 1.5 pounds and smaller. 

 

I have recently started learning how to fish soft plastics. About a month ago I started fishing with a weightless 4-inch senko and initially had a ton of luck. Recently, in about 5 hours of fishing over two separate days I caught 17 bass on a 4-inch watermelon senko with red and black flakes. They seemed to be hitting the bait pretty hard and my hook up percentage was pretty high. 

 

However, about a week after those two good days things slowed way down. My next time out was the day before a cold front and I caught one bass on a senko (and another on a wake bait, but lets ignore that one for the time being). I also fished the day after the cold front and didn't catch anything, then fished tonight (four days after the front and after it has warmed back up) and got one bass. While I am not catching them I am getting light hits fairly often. However, when I set the hook nothing is there, or they just hit it one or two times and then leave. This happens quite a bit so I assume they are just nibbling rather than actually eating the worm.

 

As far as senko selection goes, I caught the majority of the bass (including the 17 over two days) on the watermelon with red and black flakes. When I ran out of that one I switched to a watermelon slice laminate (basically the same thing, but slightly different) and that is what I have caught my last two on. After the cold front the water has been fairly muddy so I also tried a gooseberry laminate (black and purple laminate) and got light strikes but no hook ups. It should be noted that I am dipping the tail of all the senkos in garlic-scented chartreuse Spike It.

 

Obviously, something has changed and they are not interested in what I am throwing. My question to the forum is should I downsize to a 3-inch senko, upsize to a 5-inch (I find this option very unlikely) or just switch to a different color in 4-inch? Or am I barking up the wrong tree with the senkos and should I switch to a craw, grub, curly tail worm or something else completely? 

 

When using crankbaits the best color by far has been firetiger (Mann's Baby Minus 1 being the predominant bait) and in spinnerbaits I have caught fish with chartreuse/white.  The aforementioned wake bait fish was caught on a yellow leopard frog pattern, so yellow/chartreuse definitely seems to be a good color for faster moving baits. I recently bought a package of the Yamamoto Hula Grubs in chartreuse with black flakes that I haven't tried yet. Just not sure if I should fish them on a jig head, with a bullet weight or weightless since I am new to fishing soft plastics.

 

Any other ideas on how I can get the bass bite to turn back on? And sorry for the length of the post, but I figured the more info I provided the better chance I had of getting a helpful answer. 

[back water]

You didn't mention the Texas rigged worm. If you haven't tried it, give it a shot and let's see what happens.

My personal experience, worm color is over rated. Try a green pumpkin seed, watermelon red, black/bluetail, plum, ect. ect.

Good luck!!

[Catt]

First, some where between the first & second nibble you should have set hook.

Second, go back to your orginal color

Third, it is fall & the bass will change locatons

[McKinneyLonghorn]

Thanks. 

 

First, some where between the first & second nibble you should have set hook.

Second, go back to your orginal color

Third, it is fall & the bass will change locatons

 

Thanks. I am still working on learning what is a hit and what is some sort of object on the bottom. After that comment I assume you are going to tell me that hook sets are free and to set the hook regardless, so I will save you the time and just let you know that next time out there will be no shortage of hook sets.   And I will head to the store and buy the original color. As far as changing locations, the good thing about these small ponds is that you can fish the whole thing in a short period of time. I can safely say that none of the bass within casting distance of the shore want what I am offering. 

 

 

You didn't mention the Texas rigged worm. If you haven't tried it, give it a shot and let's see what happens.

My personal experience, worm color is over rated. Try a green pumpkin seed, watermelon red, black/bluetail, plum, ect. ect.

Good luck!!

 

I will definitely give a Texas-rigged worm a shot since the worst that can happen is I get no action, which is what is happening now anyway. I was referring to the weightless senko as being Texas rigged. Since I am new to soft plastics I didn't really know how important color was. Even though I am a newbie fishing worms, Lord knows I have enough colors so I might as well try them all. 

[Jolly Green]

I can safely say that none of the bass within casting distance of the shore want what I am offering. 

 

Perhaps they've all moved off out of reach and you're feeling bluegill messing with your bait?

[McKinneyLonghorn]

Perhaps they've all moved off out of reach and you're feeling bluegill messing with your bait?

 

Thanks for the reply. The bluegill thing crossed my mind. The other day I used a small Storm swimbait (the 1.5 or 2 inch version that comes pre-rigged on a jig head) and I am positive it was bluegill that were hitting it. Every cast it was getting hit and for 20 minutes I set the hook on every cast and caught nothing. Since I am still fishing in the same place that might be what is going on. If they are intent on hitting my lures I am going to just have to go with the ultralight and target them instead.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Thanks. 

 

 

Thanks. I am still working on learning what is a hit and what is some sort of object on the bottom. After that comment I assume you are going to tell me that hook sets are free and to set the hook regardless, so I will save you the time and just let you know that next time out there will be no shortage of hook sets.   And I will head to the store and buy the original color. As far as changing locations, the good thing about these small ponds is that you can fish the whole thing in a short period of time. I can safely say that none of the bass within casting distance of the shore want what I am offering. 

 

 

 

I will definitely give a Texas-rigged worm a shot since the worst that can happen is I get no action, which is what is happening now anyway. I was referring to the weightless senko as being Texas rigged. Since I am new to soft plastics I didn't really know how important color was. Even though I am a newbie fishing worms, Lord knows I have enough colors so I might as well try them all. 

 

Try wacky rig the senko the hook will be more exposed so might help with nip type bites they could bite and hook themself at times. Plus wacky will give a different action to the senko from t-rig

[Raul]

You are assuming bass are nibbling the bait, you might be wrong, nibbled bait does not equal bass nibbling bait; there´s a bunch of other species that nibble baits, bluegills love to nibble baits, however, hooksts are for free and you have nothing to loose if you set the hook.

[pbizzle]

You could even try going down to the 3 inch senko until you figure out what the bass are doing. That may also be small enough to get the bluegill that have been biting at it.

[Bankbeater]

How fast are you working the bait? You mentioned a cold front coming through, so the bass may want a slower presentation.

[Loop_Dad]

Perhaps they've all moved off out of reach and you're feeling bluegill messing with your bait?

 

+1.

 

Do you check water temp? It gives you good clue of where the bass might be. I bring a cooking temp gauge when I fish from bank.

[McKinneyLonghorn]

Bankbeater: I am working the bait pretty slowly. I think next time out I will work it various speeds to see what they are liking. 

 

Loop_Dad: As far as water temp goes, I have no idea what it is. Good idea about using the cooking thermometer. Will definitely throw one in my bag. 

 

pbizzle: I will definitely try the 3-inch senkos. As I saw above, the worst that can happen is I don't catch anything, which is pretty much what is happening now. Like you said, it may also result in me hooking a few sunfish. 

 

Raul: I am definitely going to set the hook more. 

 

QuakenShake: Never tried a wacky rig but definitely will in the future. Is it best to use a hook with a thin wire weed guard, or does that interfere with the hooking capabilities enough where I won't get the benefit of having the exposed hook?

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

I dont feel my hook-ups suffered at all with the wire guard but it helps greatly dragging across bottom through weeds and throwing into thick weeds. One instance that may come up is once the wire gets worn/bent need to make sure it doesnt set under the barb of the hook.

There are other type of weedguard hooks that use bristle style like on a jig but havent used those just wire.

I mainly use LazerSharp weedless hook they seem to have a lighter wire that gives more easily than say the Gamakatsu wire guard worm hook, that wire seems a bit stiff to me but think any bass of size shouldnt have a problem depressing it. Most regualr jigs have stiffer weed guards than these though.

[McKinneyLonghorn]

I only had about 30 minutes to fish today after work so I couldn't try too many things. Did use the 4 inch senko but got no action. Right at the end I switched to a Yamamoto Flappin' Hog in green pumpkin with purple and copper flakes, rigged weightless. Only got to make about a dozen casts but on one of them a nice bass absolutely mauled it. There was no missing the strike because he hit it like a freight train. Definitely excited to try it out more extensively in the future. 

[Comfortably Numb]

Usually when bluegill hit it, you will feel more of a rapid tap tap tap. Many times they grad the tail and run off with it and almost pull the rod from your hands.

 

Bass is usually a single thump or tick. Most often the slowly move away with it.

 

Bass usually dont let go of a Senko. When you fell that tick dont do anything drastic. Gently pull the line tight with the rod. If you feel weight you most likely have a bass on. Or the line will swim away in a different direction.I wait up to 15 secs to set the hook. As I said a bass will rarely spit it.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

Usually when bluegill hit it, you will feel more of a rapid tap tap tap. Many times they grad the tail and run off with it and almost pull the rod from your hands.

 

Bass is usually a single thump or tick. Most often the slowly move away with it.

 

Bass usually dont let go of a Senko. When you fell that tick dont do anything drastic. Gently pull the line tight with the rod. If you feel weight you most likely have a bass on. Or the line will swim away in a different direction.I wait up to 15 secs to set the hook. As I said a bass will rarely spit it.

x2

 

when im using a wacky rigged senko i let them take up all the salck then i gently raise my tip and reel.. i almost never lose a fish done this.. but when i try to set the hook by realing up the slack i rip the bait out of  there mouth.