The Stick Bait Dilemma

[Gillroid 9000]

Every bass angler knows what is a Stick Bait(AKA Senko). You hear it and see it everywhere. The bait is praised for its versatality and unique action. Nowadays there is so much Stick Baits ranging from the "Original" to the "Questionable". Because of the amount of stickbaits offered at the market there is an big dilemma of what stickbait to choose. Sadly Garys "Original" will be off my list because of its price tag of 5-8$ and its durability which causes to break the bank easily. Any choices out there which fixes my problems AND improves upon it?

 

 

[Airman4754]

Any of them. Boil them to get the Senko flutter, play with your hook size to get the Senko fall rate. Not much else to cover.

[Gillroid 9000]

Not the answer i really wanted :I 

Welp ill take it still.

[Avalonjohn44]

Try the SK Ocho. Cheaper than the original, very similarly constructed. Plus they smell good.

BTW, IBTL

[dropshottah]

stop looking, grab yourself some YUM Dinger... as good (if not better) as the original for half the price

[blckshirt98]

Whatever stickbait alternative you go with, sign up for email newsletters from overstockbait.com and wait for the original GYCB senkos or Kinami "flash" senkos to go on sale.  You can get the OG senkos there for dirt cheap if you keep your eyes open.  The sand/salt mix in the Yamamotos have the flutter that is often imitated but never duplicated.

[MassYak85]

Most of the rip-offs of the senko are not going to be as soft if you want to go the cheap route. Honestly your best bet is just a cheap version like the yum dingers or the bass pro stick-o's. And like Mosster said, boil them if you are unhappy with their properties. 

To me it sounds like you are asking "are there stick baits that are better than the senko yet less expensive"?

I might be wrong but I think the general answer to that is going to be no. Just as good? Sure, but better....when you find one let me know. 

[Raul]

There will be days that a real senko is going to be the only thing they want, the catch really knowing if this day is that kind of day, cuz most of the time it ain't.

[Outdoor Zack]

Yum Dinger is all I've ever used and all I've ever needed.  

[Gillroid 9000]

I have used Yum Dingers with little success. I do not like there action, which it has no flutter sadly and Yums packaging has an frequent tendency to rip or spill easily.

 

[j bab]

2 minutes ago, Forager said:

I have used Yum Dingers with little success. I do not like there action, which it has no flutter sadly and Yums packaging has an frequent tendency to rip or spill easily.

 

What hooks are you using?

[Gillroid 9000]

1 minute ago, j bab said:

What hooks are you using?

Gama,Eagle Claw,Hayabusa offset EWG hooks 4/0 3/0 2/0 1/0

[Hogsticker]

You could always spend a ton of money on every stick bait available to draw the conclusion of "no" yourself, or just take the advice of everyone else and save most of that money and keep buying Senkos. Try a finesse style worm. You might be surprised 

[j bab]

1 hour ago, Avalonjohn44 said:

Try the SK Ocho. Cheaper than the original, very similarly constructed. Plus they smell good.

BTW, IBTL

They're only about 10c cheaper per worm. And I would consider them less similar to senkos than basically all of the other alternatives since they have 8 sides.

That being said, I love ochos.

[j bab]

34 minutes ago, Forager said:

Gama,Eagle Claw,Hayabusa offset EWG hooks 4/0 3/0 2/0 1/0

I heard that 3/0 gets you the best action for 5" senkos. Is that what you were using with the dingers?

[Mike L]

You want a stick bait that is proven to be the most versatile, relatively inexpensive, has a history of success all over country regardless of climate, lake conditions, and yes even species??

Get yourself a bag of Sluggo's..You can thank me later

 

Mike 

 

 

[Gillroid 9000]

Alright Based on all of the Suggestions, These are the Challengers For now

1. Lunker city Sluggos

2. BB Sassy Stick

3.SK Ocho

4.BPS Stik o Worm

5.Kinami Flash

Any more Suggestions?

[flyfisher]

if the Yamamoto baits are what catches fish then why not use them?  I mean people complain about the cost but don't hesitate to spend high dollars on other gear.  I mean a bag of senkos is what a couple gallons of gas?

I don't use stickbaits that often anymore but when i do, i go with the GYCBC.  If i lose one per fish, I am cool with that because, you guessed it, I am catching fish.

[j bab]

11 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

if the Yamamoto baits are what catches fish then why not use them?  I mean people complain about the cost but don't hesitate to spend high dollars on other gear.  I mean a bag of senkos is what a couple gallons of gas?

I don't use stickbaits that often anymore but when i do, i go with the GYCBC.  If i lose one per fish, I am cool with that because, you guessed it, I am catching fish.

I think the main argument here is that most of the time you will catch just as many with cheaper alternatives

[Ski213]

Not an additional suggestion but I'll second the slug-go getting a shot.  That's the first bait I remember being called a stickbait. I haven't fished them in years but they worked back then.

Unfortunately in my personal experience sometimes the most effective soft plastics aren't all that durable.  Totally understand trying to find something economical that works though. I'd sure appreciate you reporting back on your results trying different baits. 

 

[Columbia Craw]

There's about 40 manufactures that produce a stick bait in some form or another. My buddy and I buy Senkos in the 100 pack, split the cost and it runs us $5.60 for an equivalent pack of 10 baits (5 inch).  By the the time I factor the cost of truck, boat, fuel launch fee and gear, the least expensive controllable cost is my baits.  I can stomach spending another buck and a half.  Just a thought.

[Raul]

2 hours ago, Forager said:

Alright Based on all of the Suggestions, These are the Challengers For now

1. Lunker city Sluggos

2. BB Sassy Stick

3.SK Ocho

4.BPS Stik o Worm

5.Kinami Flash

Any more Suggestions?

Kinami Flash, LOL, the flash and the senko are the exact same bait made in the same premises, the only difference is that flash has some colors not found in the senko line up, the cost per bait is the same.

[uncle reddog]

I've had pretty good success using the gander mountain brand stick worm when I'd run out of senkos. 13 in a pack for 5 bones isn't to bad of a price. Alot of color choices also.

[DrMarlboro92]

4 hours ago, Forager said:

Alright Based on all of the Suggestions, These are the Challengers For now

1. Lunker city Sluggos

2. BB Sassy Stick

3.SK Ocho

4.BPS Stik o Worm

5.Kinami Flash

Any more Suggestions?

Gambler ace -$4 an 8pk, good construction, great action. The x-mas color is quite unique and works really well. And I see you already have it, but I will second it, the BPS stik-o. It's amazingly cheap, comes in big packs, works well, and that orange/black color is to die for.

[S. Sass]

5 hours ago, MIbassyaker said:

Bizz Baits Sassy Stick. It's heavy enough to get a similar action as a senko on the sink, even weightless. Good price, 8 bodies/pack for $5, and they're a forum sponsor, BR members get a 10% online order discount with BR10 code. That's a win-win-win. 

^^^ This

If the Sassy Stick isn't a d**n near match in action ya need to have your fisherman card pulled.  Excellent substitute for the Senko. Also supporting the very forums your using with a sponsor is never a bad idea.