Loving The 3 Inch Senko

[Heron]

As a bank fisherman, the way I see it, the 3 inch Senko does for me, what the Ned Rig, does for other folks. And it it does it while being weedless and weightless.

 

I so far have had no luck with larger stick worms, but for the purpose of simple fun fishing, the 3in. Senko has done me very well.

 

I can take this thing to any body of water, and catch fish.  Sure theyve all been smaller, but it gets me both numbers and a surprising variety.   For instance, aside from bass that average from 11 - 13in., this morning I took it out to an unknown pond, and started pulling out 10 inch sunfish.  Several of them.  As well as several smaller ones. (Stoked)

 

Now Im starting to contemplate using them for Crappie as well.   If so, then for bank fishing, the slow fall and subtle wiggle will make this much better than working a panfish jig. 

 

Oh, and surpsingly, despite criticisms about Senko durability, these little ones held up quite well to the onslaught of feisty sunfish.   Only had to change out once. 

 

Im seeing now how this also makes for a good search bait, and gives me better appreciation for what the 5" stick worm should be able to do, despite my lack of luck with it.    

[Shanes7614]

I've had great success using the smaller versions of slugO's. On my home lake I grew up fishing I started using 6" and my buddy mistakingly bought the 4.5" version. We started using the smaller and had way more success number and size. Small baits don't always mean small fish. They probably imitate the size baitfish present in your lake.

[Senko lover]

Have you tried wacky rigging a 5-inch stickbait?

[Bankbeater]

I like to use them on a t-rig with a 1/16 ounce weight.  I work them in vegetation around the bank letting the bait fall into holes in the weeds.

[Shanes7614]

Have you tried wacky rigging a 5-inch stickbait?

Second paragraph he states he's had no luck with larger baits. Larger baits do not always equal larger fish. Sometimes you need a smaller profile to emulate the size bait natural to the waters you fish. I used to use 6" version of the slugO on my lake I grew up fishing. I would catch fish but mostly dinks-2lbs max. Started using the 4.5" version in the same color and began catching fish from dinks up to 7lbs.

[Kyle46N]

Not sure if you're wacky rigging it.....but if you do, it's killer for crappie.  I stick them with a 1/16th oz jighead in the middle, and the crappie will hit it 4-5 times before it hits bottom in 10 feet of water.  Seems like the crappie need to be at least 9 inches to consistently get the whole thing in their mouth though for a hook set.   I just discovered using the 3 inch for crappie recently and I'm psyched about it.  I've wacky rigged the bigger stick baits for a while and that's very effective too. 

[Heron]

Not sure if you're wacky rigging it.....but if you do, it's killer for crappie.  I stick them with a 1/16th oz jighead in the middle, and the crappie will hit it 4-5 times before it hits bottom in 10 feet of water.  Seems like the crappie need to be at least 9 inches to consistently get the whole thing in their mouth though for a hook set.   I just discovered using the 3 inch for crappie recently and I'm psyched about it.  I've wacky rigged the bigger stick baits for a while and that's very effective too. 

Good to know.   I actually t-rig the 3 inch to avoid hangups in the slop that I fish it around.  Going to take it to another pond tomorrow, to see what lurks there.

[Heron]

On a side note... 

 

There are a lot of baits that I don't have success with that most other people do.   Nowadays Im checking the local ponds because Im coming to the conclusion that, Im thinking, my home lake may just have too much fishing pressure on it.   At least along the shore line.  So, Im looking for more productive haunts.

[Heron]

 

[ChrisD46]

I believe BPS makes a 3" stick bait ...I have had good success with the 4" and 5" versions .

[Raul]

Unfortunately 3 inch Dingers are no longer in production, those things were deadly ( l like them more than 3 inch Senkos ), fortunately a guy here pours an almost exact replica of them. But it´s true, they produce a lot of fish which is important when I take my kid fishing with me, I want him to catch as many as he can or he gets bored.

[smalljaw67]

We use them for river smallmouth in the summer when the water gets low. Normally insummer, river smallies will head to riffle areas as the water is much more oxygenated but if the levels are too low they head t the pools down river from he riffles. When they have to go there, power fishing is out and even tubnes won't draw strikes but one thing you can get them on is a 3" Senko rigged on a 1/16oz ball head or 3/32oz mushroom head and it depends on how the are biting but the 3" Senko has bee a day saver for us even in lakes.

[dumfish]

I've always held a lot of respect for 3" Yum dingers, and they are cheaper than the Senko's brand. For me the best way to rig them is weightless, with a texas style presentation. Fishing smallmouth I like to add 1/16 to 1/8 oz. of weight for the river current. Cotton candy use to be my favorite collar,and you would be hard pressed to find them now. I did buy balk years ago, and still use them for fun fishing or numbers.

[Haze]

There is an article on In-Fisherman about the 3" Dinger coming back.

[Felix77]

I believe BPS makes a 3" stick bait ...I have had good success with the 4" and 5" versions .

 

They do ... I use them on a drop shot.

[Gp fishing]

Idk if you know that bps sells #1 ewg hooks there a very down grade version of a standard 1/0 hook there perfect for panfish to bass I use them a lot I fish them weightless year round I fished them when the ponds are covered halfway in ice but still have plenty of water to fish I've caught 3ish pounders in the winter using the 3 inch senko my fav is yum fingers or the bps stickos

[WRB]

Don Iovino Little Slugger 3 1/4” are deadly over looked soft plastic. My favorite color is Lightning Shad.

Tom

[Deleted account]

I like the 4" better, but there certainly is a time and place for the 3". The YUM and BPS ones get it done for me.

[Brotown]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

Don Iovino Little Slugger 3 1/4” are deadly over looked soft plastic. My favorite color is Lightning Shad.

Tom

 

Just looked those up.  Not sure how they never hit my radar.  Seems like they'd be killer.  The description on TW says heavily salted...is the action of the bait negatively affected at all?

[WRB]

The sluggers are unique hand poured soft plastic and they float. The shape is thin belly with about 3/16”-1/4”flat top.

Very good drop shot rigged flat side down for more motion or flat side up for split shot to glide.

Tom

[Brotown]

14 hours ago, WRB said:

The sluggers are unique hand poured soft plastic and they float. The shape is thin belly with about 3/16”-1/4”flat top.

Very good drop shot rigged flat side down for more motion or flat side up for split shot to glide.

Tom