Senko replacement

[NHBull]

I prefer my sticks very salty and the slower the fall the better.... GY for me.

 

 

[kadas]

11 hours ago, RoLo said:

 

The 'Gambler Ace' is virtually indistinguishable from a Yamamoto Senko (in all respects). 

That may sound like a brash overstatement, but I've put both stickworms through the paces.

 

Roger

 I use the Yamamoto Senko a lot but like RoLo have found the Gambler Ace and Fat Ace to be a very good substitute for the Senko and is considerably cheaper.  Really like Gambler products and the Ace and Fat Ace are always in the boat when I go out

[roadwarrior]

The Fat Ika is not a replacement, but another VERY good option.

 

[Brett's_daddy]

22 hours ago, Mosster47 said:

boil them

How long do you boil them? I bought a bunch of these at my local DSG for wicked cheap, like $1.49 per bag.

On 2/21/2017 at 0:08 PM, 2tall79 said:

I've been using these for wacky rigging.

Where do you get these?

[J Francho]

50 minutes ago, Brett's_daddy said:

How long do you boil them?

 

11 mins.  9 mins. for al dente.

[Brett's_daddy]

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

11 mins.  9 mins. for al dente.

[2tall79]

On 2/22/2017 at 9:25 AM, Brett's_daddy said:

How long do you boil them? I bought a bunch of these at my local DSG for wicked cheap, like $1.49 per bag.

Where do you get these?

Here:

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Wacky_Saddle_Replacement_O-Rings_25pk_/descpage-WACORG.html

[Airman4754]

4 hours ago, Brett's_daddy said:

How long do you boil them? I bought a bunch of these at my local DSG for wicked cheap, like $1.49 per bag.

Where do you get these?

 

I usually do it for around 15 seconds. You don't want them to get hot enough to permanently change form, you just want to soften them up.

[Philo Beddoe]

When fun fishing I'll go with a dinger or stik-o, but when money is on the line then it is a yamamoto for me.

[Yakalong]

Stick o and yum dingers I've had great success with them 

[Jeff H]

On 2/21/2017 at 11:08 AM, 2tall79 said:

I have gone to Mister Twister Comida worms for the reasons you just mentioned.  About 1/2 the price and catch just as many fish, IMHO.

 

I've been using these for wacky rigging.  I can catch multiple fish on the same bait.

The Comida performance is great and the price is excellent! 

[padon]

the erie darters are deadly on a drop shot. also Darren your a finesse fisherman don't be afraid to put them on a light weedless jighead like the zman power shroomz and swim the slowly around cover. somethimg different... and deadly.

[J Francho]

11 minutes ago, padon said:

the erie darters are deadly on a drop shot.

 

Shhhhh! The internet is listening, lol.

[Choporoz]

On 2/22/2017 at 6:22 AM, NHBull said:

I prefer my sticks very salty and the slower the fall the better.... GY for me.

 

 

Why 'very salty'?   Especially since salt content and sink rate seem to be more or less directly proportional...or at least related. 

[5fishlimit]

On 2/21/2017 at 11:58 AM, Davisb said:

I'm about to try out the ZMan ZinkerZ

 

These will sink even more slowly as the ZMan products typically float, or are of neutral buoyancy.

[Darren.]

Just to add something to the brand discussion: size.

 

I looked up some suggestions above, e.g., Gambler Ace,

and see they start at 5", which does seem to be the most

popular size for some reason....

 

But I have way more success with 4" than 5" (still use 5").

 

So when I look for a brand, I want to know there are

at least 4 and 5" sizes. Therefore, GYCB, Stik-O are my

go-to (yes, YUM and others offer 4, but just don't dig

'em as much).

[NYWayfarer]

For drop shot rigs I prefer the Yamamoto Shad shaped worm over the regular senko. If I drop shot a senko I will use the 3" size.

 

Yum Sharp Shooter or Warning Shots are great cost effective drop shot baits.

 

I don't quite understand your curiosity over the fall rate for drop shot baits. The fall rate for these baits don't count as your drop shot sinker is going to get them to the bottom fast.

 

 

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, Finesse Wayfarer said:

The fall rate for these baits don't count as your drop shot sinker is going to get them to the bottom fast.

 

Not always true.  Let's say senkos are getting bit at 15 - 20 FOW.  They get nailed the last 18" or so of the decent.  Tie up a drop shot rig with a 24" dropper line, and expedite the first 12-18 FOW useless water. When the sinker hits the bottom, give it slack to get a natural fall the last couple feet.  I can't be the only one that does this to save time wating for the bait to get into the zone.

On 2/22/2017 at 6:22 AM, NHBull said:

I prefer my sticks very salty and the slower the fall the better.... GY for me.

 

OG GYCB Senkos have a faster fall rate than most other brands I've compared them to. 

[NYWayfarer]

38 minutes ago, J Francho said:

 

Not always true.  Let's say senkos are getting bit at 15 - 20 FOW.  They get nailed the last 18" or so of the decent.  Tie up a drop shot rig with a 24" dropper line, and expedite the first 12-18 FOW useless water. When the sinker hits the bottom, give it slack to get a natural fall the last couple feet.  I can't be the only one that does this to save time wating for the bait to get into the zone.

 

 

You learn something new everyday. I will have to try that, thanks.

[ww2farmer]

I quit using and buying GYCB senkos quite a few years ago now and switched to Yum dingers. I still catch as many, and as big of fish as I ever did, and regularly beat people in tournaments who say "senkos work better" with my yum dingers. What makes yum dingers the perfect stick bait IMHO is there lack of salt.......just the opposite of GYCB, yet they still have the "wiggle". The lack of salt lets me fish them uber slow weightless, to adding weight to get the rate of fall I (and the fish want).

I did an experiment a couple years ago on fall rates between 5" Yum Dingers and Senkos.

A weightless Senko falls faster and with more "wiggle" than a weightless Yum dinger. 

A Dinger with a 1/16th oz wacky jig falls at the same rate, and with just as a pronounced "wiggle" as a weightless senko

A dinger with an 1/8th oz wacky jig falls slightly faster than a senko w/a 1/16th oz wacky jig, wiggle was the same.

My conclusions...............since I fish with wacky jigs 99% of the time, I go with dingers to save money, and have as little more room to play with rate of fall.

 

Other  stick baits I have tried that are great:

 

SK Ocho's

SK Zero's

Havoc Flat Dawgs

Havoc Money Makers

Big Bite Baits Cane Sticks

Z-man Zinkers

 

These are baits I don't care for:

BPS Stick-O's

Gander Mtn brand

Cabela's brand

Big Bite Baits Trick Stick

Wave Worms Tiki Stick

SK Shimmy sticks

Berkley Gulp Sinking minnow

 

 

 

56 minutes ago, J Francho said:

 

Not always true.  Let's say senkos are getting bit at 15 - 20 FOW.  They get nailed the last 18" or so of the decent.  Tie up a drop shot rig with a 24" dropper line, and expedite the first 12-18 FOW useless water. When the sinker hits the bottom, give it slack to get a natural fall the last couple feet.  I can't be the only one that does this to save time wating for the bait to get into the zone.

 

 

I invented that.... LOL

[TOXIC]

Let me just say it is totally refreshing to see a Senko discussion not turn into a "my bait is better than your bait" argument or flat out bashing Senkos.  I can't really post a reply without my bias showing but I will tell a story.  I had a close friend (RIP) who owned a tackle store on she shores of Late St Clair, where a group of us have gathered for the last 13 years straight.  He knew my affiliation with GYCB and we had a longstanding bet of a 5th of Jack Daniels on the line.  His challenge was to find a bait that matched the Senko fall rate and action.  It was a test performed in his swimming pool.  In the 11 years we had the competition, I got a lot of free JD and never had to buy a bottle.  

 

I will say, I do not like to Wacky Rig but I know it works.  I will also say I have had 4 inch fish bite a 5 inch Senko and finally, I do not dropshot a Senko.  That's why they make the Shad Shape Worm and the Pro Senko.  The important thing is to have confidence in whatever brand you throw.  When I guided a lot of tournament anglers, they used the knock-offs for practice and real Senkos for tournament day.  

[J Francho]

7 minutes ago, ww2farmer said:

I invented that.... LOL

 

I thought I stole that from you, lol.  I remember reading about it from someone local....must have been you.

[ww2farmer]

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

 

I thought I stole that from you, lol.  I remember reading about it from someone local....must have been you.

I was being a little sarcastic.................but it's funny, the things I have done for years, like that, or power shotting, flick shaking etc....that many years after the fact become a "thing" 

[Davisb]

I really appreciate all the input. Thanks!