Confused - bass only going for senkos

[fishblue]

For the last several months, I have been going to City Park in New Orleans and fshing for bass. Something I have noticed based on my log book is that they ONLY will bite on senkos in texas rig. I have tried a bunch of other lures and presentations, including wacky rigged senkos, top water frogs, jigs, crank baits, and so on, and literally not even gotten a bite.

Is this some known pattern of bass in certain areas? I really want to understand more about bass fishing so would like to figure out how this could be the case.

The way City Park work is its a bunch of lagoons and little lakes connected. The water is almost always dirty/not clear. It ranges from 1 ft to maybe 8-9 feet deep. There are grassy/lilly pad areas as well as areas with little to no vegetation. 

 

[hunterPRO1]

worm is just such an easy meal for a bass, they rarely pass it up especially the small to mid size fish.

[Turtle135]

does this water receive a lot of fishing pressure from other anglers? and when you say "Texas Rig" you do mean you have a bullet weight in front of the senko?

 

[fishblue]

2 minutes ago, Turtle135 said:

does this water receive a lot of fishing pressure from other anglers? and when you say "Texas Rig" you do mean you have a bullet weight in front of the senko?

 

 

Yes, 99% of the time I have a bullet weight in front and then teh hook is rigged like in the picture, except that I make it weedless for the vegetation areas.

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

Senkos are fish catching machines in my waters, too.

That's why I fish them so much, but moreso wacky than
TX. I normally use Zoom Trick or Finesse worms for TX.

[J Francho]

That IS weedless, in the picture.

[Turtle135]

I am assuming your water does get a lot of fishing pressure and it just may be that those bass see hundreds of spinnerbaits, crankbaits and other common bass presentations over the course of the season. They do have a tendency to wise up and stop striking those lures.

Bass have a hard time getting conditioned to a soft plastic worm as there are virtually zero "negative clues". So that could be the reason that is still a producer on that water.

I will also assume your water down in NO is still pretty warm. I will reach for a worm first over a jig in warm water. Maybe when things cool down a little in the fall a jig will come back into play.

[J Francho]

Was fishing in 80° water last week.  Jigs are always in play.  Especially living rubber, mop jigs.  Dead stick them to give the rubber skirt enough time to "bloom."  You'll get bit.

[Bob C]

I was out yesterday with a friend. I only used a Senko with a bullet weight. He tried everything in the boat on 3 different poles with different line on each one. I put 7 in the boat and had one get off. (all were released) He caught none all the while telling me how I'm doing it wrong.

[fishblue]

21 minutes ago, Bob C said:

I was out yesterday with a friend. I only used a Senko with a bullet weight. He tried everything in the boat on 3 different poles with different line on each one. I put 7 in the boat and had one get off. (all were released) He caught none all the while telling me how I'm doing it wrong.

This sounds like me fighting myself... get fish on senko, switch poles to try other lures.. eventually go back to senkos. I would love to see a top water blow up though!!

[Turtle135]

22 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Was fishing in 80° water last week.  Jigs are always in play.  Especially living rubber, mop jigs.  Dead stick them to give the rubber skirt enough time to "bloom."  You'll get bit.

80 ain't even "warm" for black bass

[Reel Guy]

Quote

 

My go to lure/bait is the Strike King Shimi Stick. I can try everything else but when all else fails, the worm gets them. Crawdads and lizards come in a close second. Green Pumpkin color seems to work the best but I hardly try any other color because that one works. I really need to try another color!

[Hez]

OP describes my home waters in the Harris Chains to a "T".  Darn fish don't eat nothing but those slimy worms - go figure.  

[geo g]

Bass all over the south love senko type baits.  You can fish them slow, fish them fast.  Swim them weightless, wacky rig them, or get them to walk with a jerk stop retrieve.  You can fish them deep or shallow in the heaviest cover  They are a great bait when the fish are in a funky mood or when their chasing bait.  When things get really tough I always  fish a plastic stickbait.  Your not the only one that has become a believer!

[Sam]

If they hit Senkos then throw Senkos until they change their appetite and want something else.

You have to also wear purple and gold and yell "Geaux Tigers" when you set the hook.

By doing this you will catch them on all types of baits!!!!

Have fun and don't forget Audubon Park Lagoon. Those bass may want baits other than Senkos.

 

[fishblue]

2 hours ago, Sam said:

If they hit Senkos then throw Senkos until they change their appetite and want something else.

You have to also wear purple and gold and yell "Geaux Tigers" when you set the hook.

By doing this you will catch them on all types of baits!!!!

Have fun and don't forget Audubon Park Lagoon. Those bass may want baits other than Senkos.

 

Interesting... I didn't realize there were any fishable areas at Audubon Park.. I thought the all the water was on the golf course and/or in the confines of the zoo...

[Dan Ramsey]

I've fished the park all summer and have had the most consistent bites on Yum Dingers/ Senkos both wacky and T-rigged. Also had varying degrees of luck on Rage bug craws and other worms but Senko styles have dominated. My guess is that once the temps drop a little other lures will pick up, hoping so at least.

[Sam]

Fishblue, you should be able to fish the lagoon from the road side.

I don't remember if you need to get a special license to fish the lagoon.

The lagoon starts towards the zoo and meanders around to St. Charles Avenue.

Double check if there is a fishing license regulation.

[Dschouest42]

Welcome to the forum! I go up to Nawlins to go carp fishing quite a bit on fly. Metarie is full of those freshwater permit!

City Park is super pressured: I have a buddy who goes there semi regularly. They may just be keyed in on the action of the senko. It has one hell of a subtle yet irresistable action, and I love to throw them.

If you ever want a fishing buddy, I might have to come up there and fish with ya! Just excuse me if I start throwing some permit flies at carp: those things fight like the biggest redfish!

[Paul Roberts]

Ditto what Turtle says above. Also, I'm going to guess that you fish a T-rigged Senko most often. It's easy to lose confidence in baits, despite not having given them a really fair shot. Some baits are easier to fish than others, esp at certain times. Senko's, however, pretty much fish themselves.