Throwing in Wacky Rigged Senkos, getting bites, no fish commiting, what do?

[IamNewbie]

I just got majorly skunked yesterday and I decided to throw out a w-rigged senko and got tons of bites, but no fish ever actually committed. Had two spit the worm.

Switched to a Red Eye Shad... no bites. Switched to a Yellow/Chartreuse Crankbait... no bites. I know the bass are there, but just don't know what they want.

What would you of had done?

[Bluebasser86]

What setup are you using for the wacky rig (hook/line/rod/reel). Wacky rigs are one of the best hooking percentage baits out there. If they're indeed bass biting your bait, you should be hooking them.

 

[nascar2428]

Since you are asking, I would go with a #297 Senko. Rigged weedless and weightless, that is a fish catching technique for sure. As bluebasser stated, the wacky rig has a very high hook up % so we really do need to know what your setup is.

[trick worms]

Might have been bluegill biting

[Jar11591]

2 hours ago, trick worms said:

Might have been bluegill biting

I would think so as well. This happens to me a lot. Rock bass and bluegill will hit the end of the senko and drop it almost immediately.

[IgotWood]

I'm inclined to believe they were small bluegill. I can probably count of one hand how many fish I missed on a wacky senko. However, I have had times when I could feel my worm being raped, and have come up empty. This happened a few times, and then I looked closely at the bait to notice it was getting chewed up by something small and toothy. Even if you're fishing with an outfit less than ideal for this technique, you would still be hooking some bass, because often times they hook themselves when they pick it up an run away with it. 

Maybe try speeding up your retrieve, and using a weighted wacky hook. If the bait is moving a bit quicker, it may help to keep the bluegill off of it, and also help trigger a more aggressive reaction if any bass are around.

[Crestliner2008]

I agree with IgotWood - most times when folks say they've missed bites on a Senko (regarless of how it is rigged) it's because the bluegills are trying to nail it. Don't get discouraged. Keep trying!

[Preytorien]

I can always tell when bluegill are biting, it feels more like a "machine gun" bite, real stuttery - several small bites in very quick sequence, whereas a bass doesn't fool around, they hit it, and start swimming off with it. The difference in the two is quite distinguishable.

[Avalonjohn44]

Downsize to a smaller senko 4 inches or even 3... Might not catch a bass, but you can put a hurt on the bluegill that are pestering you...

Or go to the Ned rig.

[primetime]

Sometimes putting a split shot to increase the fall rate can help some days. I don't buy the weighted wacky hooks, I just crimp a shot on the line or shank...Maybe go with a weightless Texas rig set up and try using a smaller hook slower fall as well...Fall rate, lighter line can often make a huge difference at certain times. 

I have fished an area with 10lb test leader and a small 4" Sluggo or worm without any strikes and then switch to a 6lb leader with a smaller hook, add a shot, and all of a sudden I start seeing my line moving off to one side..When bass grab soft baits, they rarely let go if you set within a reasonable time frame. I also use Scent when fishing plastics slowly.

It could be color, when in doubt, I match the water color to bait color and usually GP with some flake always seems to do the trick....Or just GP or Blk. Color matters when fishing slowly, so try several tones, you don't need 10 colors but I like to have 4-5 shades with me at all times.

[bigbill]

I use a eagle claw 249w weedless hook. When I get s strike and a miss the spring comes up open. If it comes up closed it hit something.

The first Seiko cast I use no scents.

If I get a strike and a miss I use a scent on the second cast. But be ready to set the hook they do hang on longer with a scent.

[bigbill]

Here in the northeast so far my Seiko colors are red/red flake, Amber redflake,  but colors can vary due to water conditions. They can be weight sensitive if your using a weight. I use a c-rig 1/8oz weight and a 24" leader.

[Sam]

Gone deep with a green pumpkin with black flake four-inch Senko rigged wacky style using a 1/0 weedless hook on 8-pound fluorocarbon line.

Thrown it as far as I could on a spinning rig; let it sink and sit there for about 30 seconds; and then moved it very slowly back to me, allowing it to sit for 10 seconds or more between moves and making sure I lifted it enough so it floated like a butterfly back to the bottom.

You may have had small bass, crappie or bream hit the Senko and stole it.

Happened to me today and I finally landed a nice fat dink, about a pound, as he was driving me crazy just tapping at the Senko but not inhaling it and running like the police were after him.

If this fails try a trick worm fished shaky head or a drop shot.

If that fails, go home.

[Hogsticker]

I've watched smaller bass try to eat a stick bait. They will grab on to an end and pull on it, never really getting to the center portion where the wacky hook is before they spit it or give up. I'd downsize to a finesse worm, same presentation. 

[TxHawgs]

15 hours ago, trick worms said:

Might have been bluegill biting

^^This

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

14 hours ago, bigbill said:

I use a eagle claw 249w weedless hook. When I get s strike and a miss the spring comes up open. If it comes up closed it hit something.

The first Seiko cast I use no scents.

If I get a strike and a miss I use a scent on the second cast. But be ready to set the hook they do hang on longer with a scent.

Would that be the Sportura or Galante model

[frosty]

18 hours ago, Avalonjohn44 said:

Downsize to a smaller senko 4 inches or even 3... Might not catch a bass, but you can put a hurt on the bluegill that are pestering you...

Or go to the Ned rig.

You'll get the ambitious bluegills with the Ned rig to 

[IamNewbie]

Oh man my setup.

I'm pretty sure I'm using an Eagle Claw J-hook Aberdeen and a splitshot. I have two stick baits, one Yum Dinger that's like a Chartreuse/Black/White belly color, then the other one being a strike king stick bait green pumpkin with red flakes. Spinning gear setup, one of those crappy Shakespear Rod/Reel combos, just the rod replaced. It's some sort of vintage rod that belonged to my dad.

I switched to my only other option and got zip for bites. I had three fish who took the worm in the mouth and ran off with it, I set the hook and they ran and they spat it. One time I couldn't feel my bait when I went to twitch it and I never realized it was a fish that picked it up... could of been an easy fish. I did see some good sized Sunnys in a pool I tried to fish next to the lake try to take my worm. They bit at the end and I ended up bringing them almost to shore because they never let go until they jumped out of the water. Had one bass bite in that pool under some lily pads, saw it with my own eyes the water is so clear.