Senko w/ O-Ring vs Dinger vs Stik-O

[biggiesmalls]

Hello, 

 

I am trying to decide which of the following I should do:

• Continue buying Senkos and also buy O-rings with them (I only fish stick worms wacky-style)
• Buy Yum Dingers (with or without O-rings)
• Buy BPS Stik-O's (With or without O-rings)

 

Wacky rigged plastics are probably my #2 tactic that I use, behind frogs. 

 

Tight lines,

Drew

[MTBassin]

I quit using Senkos because I was always casting them off when hooked through it. Same with Dingers but they lasted longer than Senkos. I started using O-rings and that problem went away. Still stuck with Dingers because they were cheap and easier for me to get. I found a pack of Senkos in my bag last week and tried one with an O-ring and it lasted a couple hours (since I didnt catch anything) but it never did break in half. 

 

So I'd say go with what you like most and just use O-rings. I won't fish a wacky rig without them now. 

[Crestliner2008]

Wacky Rigging My Way

 

Been using this technique for over a decade now, with excellent results. The allows the hook alignment to be either perpendicular to the length of the worm, or in line with it. You will still loose some Senkos with this technique. It's just the nature of the beast. But your loss ratio will decrease dramatically. Add to this, the fact that these "Goodies" are far less expensive than O-rings. Win-win in my opinion.

[Darren.]

That's a great tip, @Crestliner2008. I imagine for those who

want to run perpendicular, you can loop two of those bands

on similar to how they do with the O-rings.

 

For me, I have used shrink wrap but don't even do that much

anymore. I just right straight through the worm. Guess it 

doesn't matter too much to me. But I might try the tip from

@Crestliner2008 one of these days.

[Falkus]

Cant Live without my Double O rings

Its like a target practice spot (X) for them to nail their prey

 

 

[jr231]

You need to try your stickbaits  Tx-weightless. !

[NYWayfarer]

I use O-rings now but in a pinch I have used electrical tape and even the unused rubber bands my son got when he had his braces. Anything to preserve an expensive Senko.

 

Yum Dingers are cheap enough and durable enough that I usually skip the O-rings on them.

 

[Choporoz]

you're killing me, Smalls

 

[MDbassin]

I go to dollar tree and get those little black rubber bands women use for there hair and double it up and stick the hook through where they cross over. You get 500 rubber bands for $1.... also use them for keeping chicken liver on a hook for catfish

[biggiesmalls]

Great ideas from this threa. @MDbassin and @Crestliner2008, I will definitely have to give those a try. 

 

So no matter what I use I will do some kind of O-ring or similar to connect worm and hook. However, should I continue to pay for senkos? It seems very divided (yes, I have used the search feature) about whether senkos are really that much better than Dingers or Stik-Os. I certainly don't like paying $7 for a pack of Senkos - but if I'm going to have a lot less fish with Dingers of Stik-O's, I'll keep doing it. 

 

If it comes down to Dingers or Stik-O's - which would you prefer?

[DaveT63]

I like the Stik-O's for recreational fishing.  Good bait at a good price.  But when it comes to tournament fishing, I fish Senkos.  I just have a lot more confidence in them when it counts.

[Jaderose]

I have said before that I am NOT a fan of the Yum Dingers...but that is just me.  They have a good following here and I'm sure for good reason.  Stik-o's are the closest I've found o getting that shimmy you get from a Senko.

[MDbassin]

I'll echo what Dave said for some weekend fishing having fun dingers and stik-is are fine but in a tournament situation I will only be bringing senkos and or sassy sticks

[biggiesmalls]

Okay, I THINK that I might as well try out either some Yum Dingers or Stik-O's. I don't fish money tournaments - I fish "gentlemen's tournaments" with buddies, but that's about it (biggest fish, most fish, etc). I don't have a boat nor do I know anybody with a bass boat so I am mostly fishing small ponds just for fun. 

 

Between the two, it looks like the Stik-O is the preferred lure. If I was going with 5" senkos, should I go with the 5-3/8" Stik-O or the size closer to 4" (forget exactly what it is)? 

[Darren.]

7 minutes ago, biggiesmalls said:

Okay, I THINK that I might as well try out either some Yum Dingers or Stik-O's. I don't fish money tournaments - I fish "gentlemen's tournaments" with buddies, but that's about it (biggest fish, most fish, etc). I don't have a boat nor do I know anybody with a bass boat so I am mostly fishing small ponds just for fun. 

 

Between the two, it looks like the Stik-O is the preferred lure. If I was going with 5" senkos, should I go with the 5-3/8" Stik-O or the size closer to 4" (forget exactly what it is)? 

 

I personally prefer the 4"(+) model of Stik-O over the 

5 3/8" version, but both work. Just that I catch more on

the 4...FWIW, .02, and so forth.

[biggiesmalls]

12 minutes ago, Darren. said:

 

I personally prefer the 4"(+) model of Stik-O over the 5 3/8" version, but both work. Just that I catch more on the 4... FWIW, .02, and so forth.

Thanks for the reply. They are 4-1/4" according to BPS. Should be a good size to use - I am currently throwing 4" red/red flake senkos and they are slaying here. They're on sale for $4.63 a pack right now which is basically 30 cents per bait... compared to 73 cents per bait for a Senko. 

 

I have a ton of BPS cards stashed in my wallet, I'll probably order some in watermelon red, black/blue, and a bright red color. Not sure if those are the actual names or not but they're my go-to colors for plastics so that's what I'll test them in. 

[Darren.]

54 minutes ago, biggiesmalls said:

Thanks for the reply. They are 4-1/4" according to BPS. Should be a good size to use - I am currently throwing 4" red/red flake senkos and they are slaying here. They're on sale for $4.63 a pack right now which is basically 30 cents per bait... compared to 73 cents per bait for a Senko. 

 

I have a ton of BPS cards stashed in my wallet, I'll probably order some in watermelon red, black/blue, and a bright red color. Not sure if those are the actual names or not but they're my go-to colors for plastics so that's what I'll test them in. 

 

Yes, 4 1/4" and they work great. Time to use some

of those BPS cards! Watermelon Magic has always

been a stay for me, as well as Hot Frog Pepper (or

some variant of those words).

 

Edit: I do love me some watermelon red flake, just

so you know. Haven't had as much success with 

Senko style as I have with other soft plastic baits.

Edited April 4, 2017 by Darren.

[biggiesmalls]

9 hours ago, Darren. said:

 

Yes, 4 1/4" and they work great. Time to use some of those BPS cards! Watermelon Magic has always been a stay for me, as well as Hot Frog Pepper (or some variant of those words).

 

Edit: I do love me some watermelon red flake, just so you know. Haven't had as much success with Senko style as I have with other soft plastic baits.

Darn, they don't have a red/red flake color of the Stik-O's! 

 

Anyone use dingers with the same success? They seem to have good reviews on Tackle Warehouse but I want to make sure that people on here are using them. I'll only be wacky rigging with these. 

[Darren.]

23 minutes ago, biggiesmalls said:

Darn, they don't have a red/red flake color of the Stik-O's! 

 

Anyone use dingers with the same success? They seem to have good reviews on Tackle Warehouse but I want to make sure that people on here are using them. I'll only be wacky rigging with these. 

 

@ww2farmer uses Dingers and loves them.

 

I've got a new color (to me) that I'm trying out this year.

 

The thing for me is that Dingers aren't as heavy (not as much

salt) as Stik-O's, but if you fish them on a wacky jig they behave

just fine  Weightless not so much.

[biggiesmalls]

4 hours ago, Darren. said:

 

@ww2farmer uses Dingers and loves them.

 

I've got a new color (to me) that I'm trying out this year.

 

The thing for me is that Dingers aren't as heavy (not as much

salt) as Stik-O's, but if you fish them on a wacky jig they behave

just fine  Weightless not so much.

Is there any way to impregnate baits with salt? 

 

Thanks for the response

[ww2farmer]

4 hours ago, Darren. said:

 

@ww2farmer uses Dingers and loves them.

 

I've got a new color (to me) that I'm trying out this year.

 

The thing for me is that Dingers aren't as heavy (not as much

salt) as Stik-O's, but if you fish them on a wacky jig they behave

just fine  Weightless not so much.

That's right...I have not bought or used a GYCB Senko in a long long time.

 

I use Dingers 100% of the time. My success has not fallen off one bit.

 

I have posted it many times here, but the lack of salt is what make the Dinger a better choice for me.

 

Using a 5" Dinger vs. a 5" Senko in comparison, here is what I have found:

 

5" Dinger with a 1/16th oz. Wacky jig head = weightless Senko in both fall rate and "wiggle"

 

5" Dingers are $2.99/8 or .37 each, 5" Senkos are $7.49/10 or .75 each (TW prices)

 

Dingers last longer, catch just as many fish, just as big of fish, and give the option of a super slow rate of fall if I so choose to fish them weightless.

 

Dingers flat out perform BETTER on a drop shot rig, C-rig, or shaky head due to their lack of slat

 

Dingers do not rust my hooks if left on over night.

 

I routinely use Dingers to beat and take money from 100% Senko users who swear Senkos work better than anything else.

 

[RoLo]

 

As Farmer noted above, adding weight to any lightly-salted stickworm

will give you the sink rate and tail waggle of a Senko (learned that around 2005).

If you want to start out with a heavily salted stickworm for less than the price of a Senko,

buy the Gambler 5" Ace. It provides the same length, same diameter, same texture,

same weight and same action as a Senko (compare them in a swimming pool).

 

Roger

[biggiesmalls]

@RoLo the only thing I'm not a fan of with the Ace is the lack of major color selections. I'd prefer something that comes in red/red flake if possible - meaning Senkos or Dingers.

 

Are you able to impregnate plastic baits with salt in any way?

[RoLo]

9 minutes ago, biggiesmalls said:

@RoLo the only thing I'm not a fan of with the Ace is the lack of major color selections. I'd prefer something that comes in red/red flake if possible - meaning Senkos or Dingers.

 

Are you able to impregnate plastic baits with salt in any way?

 

Good Question

There probably is a way, but I've been happy with green-pumpkin black-swirl

 

Roger.

 

[biggiesmalls]

55 minutes ago, RoLo said:

 

Good Question

There probably is a way, but I've been happy with green-pumpkin black-swirl

 

Roger.

 

The Stik-O's and the Gambler Aces look like good baits, with the Stik-O's being about 36 cents regularly (30 cents since they are on sale now) - and the Aces being 54 cents a piece. I think I'm going to try out the Stik-Os, they seem to be the best for wacky rigging (aside from the Senko of course, nothing can beat a Senko). 

 

I might order a pack in Watermelon/Red Flake and a pack in June Bug, both 4-1/4". I'll pair them up with a 1/0 wacky hook and some elastic rings - hopefully they can get me some nice bass around here