Senkos in cold water

[BassFishingMachine]

Ok, Im curious if senkos will work in the colder months. Will the bass still hit senkos now? Or is it all baitfish imitators? If I were to cast a 3inch greenpumpkin senko you think it will get a hit in this 45 degree weather? Or are senkos just not a winter bait? I thought I heard white/smoke senkos worked in winter but maybe I was mistaken. Or maybe a Fat Ika? Are there any softbaits that will catch fish in this weather!? I miss using them!

[J-Salvati]

the last time i went fishing it was 50 degrees and i was throwing a pumpkin senko with a chartruese tail and we caught fish..if that tells you anything

[dizzy5868]

I use sunami baits, which are a senko style bait only better, in all temps. The only thing I change is the color and size. Below 45 I like to throw 3" in smoke hologram, clear smoke or silver shad. Always wacky rigged and dead sticked near cover on the sunniest bank. Once the water gets into the low 30's these baits are deadly on a drop shot for smallies.

Rob

[Catt]

I not a big senko fan but the times I've caught on them the water temperature was in the mid-forties.

[bass109]

Senko does work well on trout in cold water.

[roadwarrior]

I fish Senkos weightless, year around in water <12'. If I'm fishing soft plastics deeper (with weight), it's an El Gordo or Mizmo tube, or GYCB Kut-Tail or 8 1/2" worm. Another option, especially for smallmouth is the GYCB Single Tail Hula Grub. I am currently trying to put more emphasis on fishing a jig and GYCB Fat Baby Craw trailer.

BTW, In shallow water (<12'), the Fat Ika is still killer.

[OnyxWulf]

To back up RW, I throw weightless senko's all the time but the Fat Ika's are king right now.

Anytime I go out I have my Stradic 2500, with 20lb PowerPro, and my Watermelon w/ Black & Gold Fat Ika.  The Junebug color seems to be doing really nice right now and last night I caught three over 2.5lb on the Black Small Red Flake Ika.

The best way that I have found to fish these are by casting it, letting it sink (be careful here as I get a full 1/3 of my bites on the initial fall).  Once at the bottom I hold my rod tip almost at the water and just do a two tap jerk.  I then reel in the slack and two tap jerk.  I only pause for 5-10 seconds between jerks.

I found after playing with this bait in the swimming pool that the little jerks made it look like a craw or a squid or whatever it is is.

Using the above method I have caught 4 consectutive fish on 4 consecutive casts.  This is my confidence bait and my go to around weeds, in the open, on shore, in cover, around structure, in the grass, everywhere.

I would try the Ika instead of the senko and see how it does.

[lubina]

I'm not a fan of soft plastics in general at this temp. except the Big and Fat Ikas.

I use most of the time reaction lures when it gets cold.

[Gr8wall]

i tried these for the first time today, but didnt have much luck, caught a really small quarter pounder on a 5 inch wacky rigged senko.  i tried texas rigging, and then seing action on another side i quickly reeled back and one tried to snap it top water going really fast.  i still want to play with these baits, but again i ask, you are supposed to weightless  t-rig there?  just tyrin to understand cause i dont understand the motion.  for the wachy rig i do though.  thanks guys.

[justfishin]

I was fishing the Suskey yesterday and the water was 45. It was moving pretty good but, I found a few places where I could wacky some.  The fish were in feed mode and it was a very easy day for quality as well as numbers.I have to say I never used a Senko in this cold of water. Chickapow !!!, they crushed it. Just for the heck of it the water will be in the 38-40 degree mode before long ( my favorite ) as it sticks them in the breaks and eddies and keeps them there, and I am going to experiment with a Senko. I will get back to this post in late Dec or Jan a tell you my experiance with cold water Senkos, at least for river smallies.

[SneakySnook]

I've had more luck with senkos when it's cold then when it's hot.