Yamamoto Products

[Bass2124]

Ok..... At the beginning the season I bought 3 packages of 4" Chartreuse/black flake Yamamoto grubs on sale for $3.99 and a pack of Eagle claw 1/4 jig heads. I had never tried grub fishing but as I read and try to get more educated about this sport I thought I would give it a try as it seems to be a great technique for smallmouth which is what I target.  Drop shotting was my newest and favorite and most successful technique last year so I thought I would try to master a new technique this year and it is without a doubt the best technique of all of them. But my question is .....is it the technique or the bait???? Yamamoto products have a little somthin' somthin' in them and that is becoming more and more apparent to me as I waste money on other plastic products.  The senko has worked for me for years. Even my kids get bit 10 to 1 compared to the yum dinger.  So anyway.... I run out of the 3 packs of yamamoto grubs recently and head to the local walmart and pick up a pack of zoom chartreuse grubs along with a pack of Berkley powerbait grubs quite a bit similar looking as the yamamoto. Tie em on all excited that I saved a few $$$ and....  Nothing! Can't get bit with either one of them.  Tie on an old torn up superglued tail shredded to pieces yamamoto that is barely hanging onto the jig  head and wham...... 3 lber! Are you kidding me!!! Confidence, luck????? Uh....No way!.  It is the bait man.  These things are magic! I am done messing around with any other plastic that doesn't have the name Yamamoto on them.  I am not saying I don't catch any fish on other plastics but Yamamoto products be it the salt, softness or a combination of both flat out catch more fish for me and my kids than any other plastic 10 to 1.  No I am not a rep for Yamamoto.  Just an honest guy who tells it the way he sees it.         

[OntarioFishingGuy]

They are great baits, but they really are not durable. There are better options for the price. Glad you found something that works for you.

[Darren.]

I've been where you are, if you don't mind me saying...

 

While I agree, GYCB worms, etc., are top of the food chain,

others have done a great job of "catching up". Now I don't 

necessarily mean "same as a Yamamoto" but close enough

and not as costly.

 

For me, the Bass Pro Stick-O has become my main go-to

worm. Others will hail YUM, etc.

 

I say if the GYCB baits are working for you, then ROCK 'em!

 

No reason to kill your catching if they're working for ya!

 

[iceintheveins]

I've always done well on both yamamoto and berkley power grubs. Most of the quality brands work. I think overall Yamamoto makes some of the very best plastics though. Yamamoto, zoom, Berkley, and Strike King are my top four brands.

[Bass2124]

They are great baits, but they really are not durable. There are better options for the price. Glad you found something that works for you.

I hear ya about the durability.  I have purchased a lot of superglue to keep these things together and try to make them last.  Definitely an expensive bait but I just can't justify changing when I have had so much success especially with his grubs...absolute killer.  I caught 58 the other day 45 on Yamamoto grubs including 5 3lbers.  The fish were flat out biting but I couldn't get bit on any other grub that I had from other companies using the same colors.  For some reason the fish just go crazy for his grubs where I am at. 

[OntarioFishingGuy]

Geez, 58 fish is more like an entire week of fishing for me. I should really get some of these grubs.

[Bass2124]

Geez, 58 fish is more like an entire week of fishing for me. I should really get some of these grubs.

Right in your home country dude home of the longest covered bridge in the world.  Most were just little but with light tackle just as fun.  Just move a little east !

[annexation]

Yamamoto plastics have that one-two punch - high price and low durability - that make them tough for me to justify most of the time. I love how dense the senko is compared to some of the cheaper stick baits, but d**n if it isn't frustrating when they're falling off the hook before landing even one fish.

 

That said, the senko holds a special place in my heart as it's pretty much what got me addicted to bass fishing.

 

The grubs aren't so bad in that you get, like, twice as many per bag for about the same price. But they still get torn up like butter.

[roadwarrior]

"From a human perspective, they're like Twinkies"

 

 

 

[Jon G]

Yamamotos are pricy, are not durable, but they work like nothing else. Senkos, Fat Ikas, DT Grubs, an Kut Tail Worms all work.

 

If you want to save some money buy some Mend-It. It will make each bait last another 1-3 fish.

[FishTank]

They are good stuff, no doubt about it.  I have had great luck with Senkos, the hula grub, kreature, pro Senkos, Flappin Hog and Fat Ikas but over the years there are few that have not done so well....

 

Single tail grubs> can't explain why, I have had better luck with BPS's version and Zooms

Lizards> Ok but still like Zooms better

Swimming Senko> again just OK but a cool bait though

Craw> not as good as I had hoped

Swimbait> good but I there are others that are just as good if not better (Keitech) 

[Bass2124]

They are good stuff, no doubt about it.  I have had great luck with Senkos, the hula grub, kreature, pro Senkos, Flappin Hog and Fat Ikas but over the years there are few that have not done so well....

 

Single tail grubs> can't explain why, I have had better luck with BPS's version and Zooms

Lizards> Ok but still like Zooms better

Swimming Senko> again just OK but a cool bait though

Craw> not as good as I had hoped

Swimbait> good but I there are others that are just as good if not better (Keitech) 

Funny how some people have such different experiences with the same bait. I have never caught so many fish in my life as I have on these expensive Yamamoto grubs.  Cheap Zooms.....nothing.  I have had good luck with zoom lizards however. Just bought a bunch of Yamamoto lizards.  Don't expect much in their durability though.  I guess that is why there are so many different brand and style of baits out there! Friggin' bass! Make up your mind already! I wish I had your experiences rather than mine however.  My wallet would be a lot thicker!

[Senko lover]

Seems to me that most people either love them or hate them. I'm just fine with Yamasenkos myself, but actually prefer Yum Dingers. Can't say much for grub fishing, but in general, I like Yamamato baits, I just don't think they're the cat's meow. 

[CeeJay]

The only Yamamoto baits I've actually used are the Senkos...amazing producer for me and always have been.  Fantastic lures, those Senkos.

With grubs though I really like the Berkley Power Grubs, never really had a reason to switch them out for other brands.

[HoosierHawgs]

My thing is, I seem to catch more fish with scented baits, Berkley being A number 1. I grabbed a pack of Yamamoto Senkos of the rack yesterday, because they were on sale, opened the bag, and they smell heavily of plastic, just like Zoom. Can't see myself paying that much for unscented baits...

[Cgolf]

To the ops original assertion that the GYCB grubs are the best, I Say look a few more places before you go there. I too do not like the two you mentioned because they are ineffective for all but mor active fish. They may be good and catch fish, but you should definitely check out Kalins 5" grubs. I have tried most on the market and I really like the tail design on the Kalins. The are soft and it doesn't take much to get it moving. On top of it they are very durable I have been using them for years and the fish love them and they have far outfished any grub I have tried.

[Bass2124]

To the ops original assertion that the GYCB grubs are the best, I Say look a few more places before you go there. I too do not like the two you mentioned because they are ineffective for all but mor active fish. They may be good and catch fish, but you should definitely check out Kalins 5" grubs. I have tried most on the market and I really like the tail design on the Kalins. The are soft and it doesn't take much to get it moving. On top of it they are very durable I have been using them for years and the fish love them and they have far outfished any grub I have tried.

I fish mainly for smallmouth unless I go south as we just don't have any largemouth bodies of water in the north.  Even Yamamoto 5" grubs don't fish like the 4" on the river I fish for smallies.  4" seems like the magic length for where I fish.  I have heard of Kalins and if they are indeed more durable and catch fish at the same rate and are cheaper sounds like a no brainer.  Unfortunately the bait monkey got me last week as I ordered up 6 more packs of GYCB (120 grubs) so I will be good for a few weeks. 

[blckshirt98]

Yamamoto has the salt/sand/plastic mix just right so their plastics have the right action in the water.  Especially the senkos, people can imitate the shape but it's that suble Yamamoto wiggle on the fall that's hard to replicate.

[FishingMN718]

I had some of the 4" Senkos and caught tons of bass and even a crappie. I love them but I haven't bought another pack just because they do not last

[roadwarrior]

I had some of the 4" Senkos and caught tons of bass and even a crappie. I love them but I haven't bought another pack just because they do not last

 Geez...

 

"I catch too many fish so I need something different."

 

 

 

 

[Comfortably Numb]

My thing is, I seem to catch more fish with scented baits, Berkley being A number 1. I grabbed a pack of Yamamoto Senkos of the rack yesterday, because they were on sale, opened the bag, and they smell heavily of plastic, just like Zoom. Can't see myself paying that much for unscented baits...

 

So add a few drops of scent in the bag

[Comfortably Numb]

Couple reasons I think many do better on Gary Senkos. They are heavier (more salt which is ballast) and they are softer. Both reasons why they are not durable.

 

Home injectors have found a salt substitute that resuls in a VERY durable stick that weighs the same, sinks the same, wiggles the same, and are as soft as a Senko. I guess the big companies wont use it because they would sell way less baits if the dont fall apart.

[fishindad]

I can tell you that I've fished GYCB Senkos since they were first introduced and since then have also fished quite a few knock-offs in search of a cheaper, more durable, equally effective option. I also fish his single tail and DT grubs for smallies and agree that all his baits are "fragile". You don't want to whip cast those things, lol. If I had to fish with only one lure/bait for bass for the rest of my life, a green pumpkin or watermelon Senko (toss up between 4" or 5") would be in my top three, along with his single tail grub (again a toss up between 4" or 5"). Doubt there will ever be any soft stickbait as good as his Senko. I'll typically catch at least two or three bass per Senko, which means about 20-30 bass per 10 count bag. I doubt I've caught more than 30 smallies on one of my $18 Pointers so in terms of cost to benefit ratio, just fish the originals and be done with it.

[Bass2124]

I can tell you that I've fished GYCB Senkos since they were first introduced and since then have also fished quite a few knock-offs in search of a cheaper, more durable, equally effective option. I also fish his single tail and DT grubs for smallies and agree that all his baits are "fragile". You don't want to whip cast those things, lol. If I had to fish with only one lure/bait for bass for the rest of my life, a green pumpkin or watermelon Senko (toss up between 4" or 5") would be in my top three, along with his single tail grub (again a toss up between 4" or 5"). Doubt there will ever be any soft stickbait as good as his Senko. I'll typically catch at least two or three bass per Senko, which means about 20-30 bass per 10 count bag. I doubt I've caught more than 30 smallies on one of my $18 Pointers so in terms of cost to benefit ratio, just fish the originals and be done with it.

Great point and why I am done fishing most other plastics.

[poisonokie]

Those concerned with durability: Get some owner light wire twistlock hooks made specifically for senkos. They'll save you a lot of hassle. They save megabass dot crawlers, too. J hooks are fine for a lot of things, but not senkos. Just my .02