Windy day senko fishing

[MDbassin]

I've got a tournament tomorrow on a tidal river and my boater says we're gonna be fishing crankbaits and spinnerbaits as the tides falling and during slack tide make our way to one of the creek arms and work our way out as the tides coming back in throwing senkos.

 

i know I don't have to copy what my boater is doing but I e never fished this river so I'm going with his recommendations. 

 

My problem is that it's gonna be a windy day and colder then it has been the last week I'm use to fishing senkos weightless and unless this creek arm is protected from the wind  I dont think I could manage that.

 

whats the best way to fish a weighted senko? I was thinking a split shot/"Mojo" rig what do you guys think?

 

temps have been in the 60-70 during the day for at least a week now but tomorrow will be low 50s while the tournament will be going on low 40s at start of tournament 

[CroakHunter]

2 minutes ago, MDbassin said:

I've got a tournament tomorrow on a tidal river and my boater says we're gonna be fishing crankbaits and spinnerbaits as the tides falling and during slack tide make our way to one of the creek arms and work our way out as the tides coming back in throwing senkos.

 

i know I don't have to copy what my boater is doing but I e never fished this river so I'm going with his recommendations. 

 

My problem is that it's gonna be a windy day and colder then it has been the last week I'm use to fishing senkos weightless and unless this creek arm is protected from the wind  I dont think I could manage that.

 

whats the best way to fish a weighted senko? I was thinking a split shot/"Mojo" rig what do you guys think?

 

temps have been in the 60-70 during the day for at least a week now but tomorrow will be low 50s while the tournament will be going on low 40s at start of tournament 

I threw a weighted senko before i fished a weightless. And still prefer weighted to this day. I would fish it like a normal t-rig. 1/8 to 1/4 ounce weight and just hop it off the bottom, reel in slack, hop hop, reel. Since they are very slender they are great for flipping into cover since there is no appendages to get caught up on. Have also fished it on a weighted swimbait hook with some success. Good luck on your tourney!

[Fishin' Fool]

20 minutes ago, MDbassin said:

I've got a tournament tomorrow on a tidal river and my boater says we're gonna be fishing crankbaits and spinnerbaits as the tides falling and during slack tide make our way to one of the creek arms and work our way out as the tides coming back in throwing senkos.

 

i know I don't have to copy what my boater is doing but I e never fished this river so I'm going with his recommendations. 

 

My problem is that it's gonna be a windy day and colder then it has been the last week I'm use to fishing senkos weightless and unless this creek arm is protected from the wind  I dont think I could manage that.

 

whats the best way to fish a weighted senko? I was thinking a split shot/"Mojo" rig what do you guys think?

 

temps have been in the 60-70 during the day for at least a week now but tomorrow will be low 50s while the tournament will be going on low 40s at start of tournament 

 

Senkos have one of my main baits over the past decade.  I'm a tournament guy too.  I'll have to say those conditions you are describing don't set up well for good senko days.  I would concentrate on lures that give off vibration like spinnerbait, chatterbait, crankbait, even the thumping tail of a Keitech.  I've watched some FLW events on the Potomac and the fish seem to like the chatterbait well over there.  For a more subtle presentation keep in mind a grub on a jighead.  

[CroakHunter]

Maybe even a swim jig depending on water clarity. Rage tail menace or keitech as a trailer. 

[WRB]

Get yourself 3/32 oz nail weights for the nose of the Senko and wacky rig it. The mojo rig is a good option with floating style soft plastic worms. You can also wacky rig a Senko on a drop shot rig or a wacky style jig.

Tom

[MDbassin]

The creek arm we are going to he said is know to be fairly clear. The main river where we are to start the day throwing cranks and chatterbaits not so much.

 

[Brayberry]

I'm near Va Beach, so just south of you.  We get about the same weather.  Yesterday we had a big storm come thru and drop the air temp 20 - 25 degrees, brought major wind.  Now it's post frontal conditions.  I went out today and had to finesse my fish to bite.  Caught everything on a Zoom Critter Craw Tx Rigged, fished Super Slow along the bottom.  You might be doing the same.  If you are having the wind we are having, a Senko is out for sure.

[J Francho]

Wacky jigs are perfect for this.  We pour our own, but Buckeye, VMC, and Zappu all make good wacky jigs.  You can also pinch a small weight on the line, just above the hook. 

[Mike L]

Shaky Head would be another option

 

 

 

Mike

[SFL BassHunter]

Depending on how windy I will throw a senko with a 1/16, 1/8, or 3/16 T-Rig. You can peg the bullet weight or not. Up to you.

 

You can also wacky rig with a 1/16th.

 

 

A ned rig, or mojo rig as well. Though I don't use these methods.

 

[kfili]

I've seen people throw a senko on a swimbait hook with the weight in the middle of the hook. This allows the senko to fall horizontally but quicker than weightless, might be good in the wind depending on how much you have. I would probably just T-rig though

[NorthE97]

You can use an owner weighted twistlock light hook in 3/32oz 4/0. It's a keel weighted hook and keeps the same shimmy as a weightless Texas rigged senko. 

43 minutes ago, kfili said:

I've seen people throw a senko on a swimbait hook with the weight in the middle of the hook. This allows the senko to fall horizontally but quicker than weightless, might be good in the wind depending on how much you have. I would probably just T-rig though

Just saw this after I posted, same advice. 

[Smokinal]

All of the above is good info. I'd like to add that you may want to introduce those bass to the Neko rig. Could be the ticket for a breezy day like that. The one thing I wouldn't do is try to force a senko if the conditions aren't right to throw it. Put a Neko rig on one rod and a weightless senko on another and alternate when you think you can get away with it.

The other thing I wouldn't do is throw what your partner is throwing just because. Now, obviously, if he is getting good bites then I would match his technique but if things are mediocre, try something different.

Tell us how it goes!

[MDbassin]

Well guys luckily they were biting a chatterbait all day so I didn't have to worry about about the senko. Thanks tho for all the good advice. I will keep it in mind if they are biting senkos and the wind picks up. I just up sized my chatterbait when the wind picked up. Took 2nd in the tournament all on a chartreuse/white zman chatterbait custom 

[jbrew73]

nice job!

[Fishin' Fool]

5 hours ago, MDbassin said:

Well guys luckily they were biting a chatterbait all day so I didn't have to worry about about the senko. Thanks tho for all the good advice. I will keep it in mind if they are biting senkos and the wind picks up. I just up sized my chatterbait when the wind picked up. Took 2nd in the tournament all on a chartreuse/white zman chatterbait custom 

 

Congratulations nice job. Now who called the chatterbait?! Scroll up a little if you need a reminder

[CroakHunter]

Went out this morning for 2 hrs to a local pond. 2 on the fogy, 1 on the jig, 5 on the wacky rigged drop shot. 

[Falkus]

Congrats man, I was actually looking at this site to see what worked for you.

It's no question that I'm gotta bring my arsenal of chatterbaits for next week. 

 

What was the weight that you used ? im thinking 1/2oz Black and Blue

and how deep where they biting at ? 

[MDbassin]

1/2 oz chartreuse/white with white zoom split tail trailer. We had the boat in 8-10 ft of water my guess is that it was around 3-5 ft of water they were hitting in at.

i fished it like I do a spinnerbait I keep just deep enough to still see the lure.

was using a 7 speed curado at a steady pace. To slow they didn't want it to fast they didn't want it.

they were all coming off rocky banks

[iceintheveins]

It can work on a swimbait hook with a little weight. But I don't prefer senkos and the like in heavy winds.