New Lake - Senko Was A Bust, What Next?

[joetucker]

I grew up fishing almost everyday (almost entirely soft plastics) but have been out of it for about 15 years.  Have just gotten back into fishing after buying a kayak and have been fishing Senkos exclusively and enjoying great success (despite being bored to tears at times).

 

This morning from about 6:30 until 10 I fished a new lake (Approx. 50 acres, man powered boats only).  The water is clear and you would be able to see bottom if not for hydrilla basically everywhere (all the way to surface on maybe 15% of the lake, 3-10 feet below the surface on no less than 75%).  Some places more dense than others.  Also quite a bit of lilly pads in certain spots.

 

I fished the senko the entire time using the exact same, slow method that I have in other lakes/ponds and didn't get a single bite.  This lake seems like ideal bass habitat and I actually saw a few decent sized fish and lots of baitfish but no results.

 

Despite getting skunked I really enjoy being out on this lake - it is beautiful and I know the fish are there - I just don't know what my plan of action should be.

 

Thoughts on other specific baits, techniques, or method options for a relative beginner?  I'm willing to try new things but am looking to get pointed in the right direction.

[ColdSVT]

Fluke

spinnerbait

swimjig

frog

creature bait of some flavor ( flappin hog, rage bug, craw, beaver)

Chatterbait

Stick with natural colors with the jigs and plastics, white for the spinner bait

[dam0007]

Switch up the color senko, I didn't catch anything for 2 years on multiple senkos, got a new color and it's like fishing with dynamite. Also small lakes like that, buzz baits seem to work well. Areas that are mostly serene, you cast the noisy stuff and bass hate it. Or love it from our end of the line. Lol

[papajoe222]

A Senko is a great sight bait. In other words the fish have to see it for it to be effective.  Even though the water in that lake is clear, the thick hydrilla prevents the majority of fish from seeing it.  You either need to switch to a bait that will get into the weeds, or one that will give off more vibration that the fish would feel and possibly investigate.  For this time of year, I'd go with a hollow body frog adding a lot of action with frequent pauses or a wake style crank or a spinnerbait over the tops of the submerged weeds.

[joetucker]

Any chance you guys could give some specific (like name, color, etc.) direction for whatever crank baits, spinners, etc..  I'm finding that I sometimes try to overthink this and spend way too much time deciding on colors, etc.

[dam0007]

A Senko is a great sight bait. In other words the fish have to see it for it to be effective.  Even though the water in that lake is clear, the thick hydrilla prevents the majority of fish from seeing it.  You either need to switch to a bait that will get into the weeds, or one that will give off more vibration that the fish would feel and possibly investigate.  For this time of year, I'd go with a hollow body frog adding a lot of action with frequent pauses or a wake style crank or a spinnerbait over the tops of the submerged weeds.

or add a rattle to whichever plastic up choose, didn't this to mention it until his point +1 on frog

[dam0007]

Any chance you guys could give some specific (like name, color, etc.) direction for whatever crank baits, spinners, etc..  I'm finding that I sometimes try to overthink this and spend way too much time deciding on colors, etc.

black buzz bait with silver or red blade. Spro popper frog, most of em have white belly so any color.

[F14A-B]

Try rage rigging a craw, Texas rig a 7" power worm with a tungston slip sinker, try a top water cedar bait with dual props, there will be places you can throw it, or even pitch it, A faster frog bait presentation too... Gotta junk fish sometimes!

[Comfortably Numb]

I would fish topwater in pads and over weeds early.

 

Fluke over and through weeds

 

Weedline edges later with spinnerbait, crankbait, texas worm.

[bootytrain]

I'm in Nashville, can I ask what lake this is?

[Schuyler co]

If you like senkos, try a swim senko with a 1/8 oz bullet weight on a steady retrieve. As long as I could work it threw relitively clean I'd use a swim jig with a craw trailor through and over the hydrilla, natural colors green green pumpkin, brown, bluegill...

[BrianinMD]

if there areas with lily pads and hydrilla today start there, a frog over the top of a t-rigged craw or creature bait in the holes in the hydrilla.

[Raul]

A Senko is a great sight bait. In other words the fish have to see it for it to be effective. 

 

I respectfully disagree.

[1099gl]

hollow body frog

light or heavy punch rig (depending on how thick the grass is)

texas rig

[1099gl]

oh or a spinner bait

[joetucker]

I'm in Nashville, can I ask what lake this is?

 

Sure thing - it is the city lake in Greenbrier.

[papajoe222]

I respectfully disagree.

I respect that you disagree that it's more a sight bait and the fish need to see it. I don't always agree with me either.

[OroBass]

If a senko is not a sight bait then what is it? Do tell!

[FishTank]

Sure thing - it is the city lake in Greenbrier.

 

I use to live in Antioch near Percy Priest years ago.  I didn't matter much what I fished there, when the fish were biting it worked but if it rained or if the weather was bad, nothing would bite.  I never made it up to Greenbrier.  With having Percy Priest in my back yard (so to speak), I never had much call to travel out and fish different lakes.  I sure do miss it though.  

 

I always had good luck with Senkos.  If they are not working, I go to Zoom lizards and then crankbaits.  When it comes to crankbaits, I like anything that rattles and has a dark stripe across the top.  I usually use a Lucky Craft Flat Mini MR chartreuse chad or root beer chartreuse. 

[deadadrift89]

Zoom super fluke in smokin shad--4/0 ewg Gamakatsu hook.

If the fish and bait are smaller you may need to downsize to the fluke jr. with a 2/0 ewg hook.

Another option would be 4-6" worms t-rigged in green pumkin or pumkinseed color.

[Daniel My Brother]

I'm assuming you're fishing the Senko weightless?

 

It can be tough to get a Senko down to where the fish are this time of year, especially if there's a lot of vegetation. I typically fish the weeds with a creature bait and a bullet weight heavy enough to punch through. If the weeds are matted on top, I might peg the sinker.

[Bobby Uhrig]

Take up golf

[joetucker]

Take up golf

 

Say it ain't so. Ha!

[joetucker]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who took the time to respond.  Went back over the weekend and caught 4 small largemouth in less than an hour and a half using some of the suggestions that were made.  I think I'm on the road to figuring this lake out.  Appreciate it.

[Felix77]

Finesse swimbait.  Shakey Head with a finesse worm maybe.