Ultimate senko rod

[Nathan.bass.canada]

Hey guys! 

 

I've recently sold my go to rod that I used for senkos, and to be honnest, I'm not really sure why. It was an st-croix avid 7'0" Medium fast 2pc paired with a older stradic ci4+. I thought it the cork on the handle felt too big in hand and I prefer split grips, the newer stradics on my other rods also felt superior to this one; thats why I sold it. So, here I am looking for a new rod and was wondering, what would be the ultimate senko rod for weightless wacky or texas and light senko applications. I am now considering maybe even a baitcaster like an aldebaran mgl on a nrx or another spinning setup. I NEED HELP FINDING THE ONE. Sensitivity is key and overall weight also.

 

drooling over a baitcaster finesse setup but wondering if its really a good idea over spinning.

 

thanks,

nathan

 

 

[jimmyjoe]

5 minutes ago, Nathan.bass.canada said:

 

drooling over a baitcaster finesse setup but wondering if its really a good idea over spinning.

   No, it's not. I have both, and I've used both. With a spinning rig, getting the senko to sink vertically is easy. With a baitcaster,. it's not. Sometimes, you have to pull line off the reel to keep enough slack to drop the senko straight. I don't like that. If you don't mind it, then go for the casting rig. You won't need a true BFS outfit for senkos, though. They're heavy enough to handle with a lighter action medium power rod and somewhat lighter line. I've used 8 and 10 lb., and both were OK.    jj

[jbsoonerfan]

Zodias 6'8" M or 7' ML. I have not owned neither of those rods, but I have owned a few Zodias rods and they are great.

[Jrob78]

Senkos are heavy and cast like a rocket, I use MH casting gear and usually 14 pound fluoro.  Nothing finesse about them weight wise.

[jbsoonerfan]

3 minutes ago, Jrob78 said:

Senkos are heavy and cast like a rocket, I use MH casting gear and usually 14 pound fluoro.  Nothing finesse about them weight wise.

Same. I can fish a weightless on MH spinning gear all day.

[Nathan.bass.canada]

18 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

   No, it's not. I have both, and I've used both. With a spinning rig, getting the senko to sink vertically is easy. With a baitcaster,. it's not. Sometimes, you have to pull line off the reel to keep enough slack to drop the senko straight. I don't like that. If you don't mind it, then go for the casting rig. You won't need a true BFS outfit for senkos, though. They're heavy enough to handle with a lighter action medium power rod and somewhat lighter line. I've used 8 and 10 lb., and both were OK.    jj

Thanks for the reply! I might not understand fully why the bait would have trouble falling straight? Are you fishing very deep water? 

 

Nathan

16 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Zodias 6'8" M or 7' ML. I have not owned neither of those rods, but I have owned a few Zodias rods and they are great.

Killer sticks for sure! Certainly another rod to consider, but are you talking casting or spinning?

 

thanks!

16 minutes ago, Jrob78 said:

Senkos are heavy and cast like a rocket, I use MH casting gear and usually 14 pound fluoro.  Nothing finesse about them weight wise.

Awesome! what rod do you use? And what advantages do you see over spinning?

13 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Same. I can fish a weightless on MH spinning gear all day.

Thanks again for another reply, i do have a Mh spinning setup that works great for skipping docks but looking for another combo for open water and further distance.

 

thanks!

[jbsoonerfan]

I had the Zodias 7 M spinning and the 7'2" H casting. I fished the spinning on a Ci4 and wish I would have never sold it.

[Jrob78]

7 minutes ago, Nathan.bass.canada said:

Awesome! what rod do you use? And what advantages do you see over spinning?

I have a few rods I use but they are all custom, my favorite is a 7'3" MH Lamiglas blank but I don't remember what the actual numbers are and they don't make it anymore. I don't use spinning gear unless I absolutely have to, which isn't often. I think a 5" Senko weighs like 3/8oz so something with a fast action in that weight range will work. I just like having a decent amount of power to set a large hook on a long cast. If you fish them wacky rigged with a small open hook you can get away with a lighter rod.

[jimmyjoe]

Just now, Nathan.bass.canada said:

I might not understand fully why the bait would have trouble falling straight? Are you fishing very deep water? 

   When you cast out something .... anything .... with a baitcaster, you're controlling the line for either the whole cast or the last part of the cast, at splashdown. So there is very little or no slack in the line. The bait sinks on an arc, not a straight line, kinda like a swing on the swingsets on a playground. If you pull loose line off the baitcaster right after splashdown, the line has more slack, and the bait sinks on a straight, vertical line, not an arc. Go to a swimming pool (I know, I know. Not at this time of year.) and look at what the lure (or lures) are really doing. Yes, it's applicable to deep water, like you noted. But it's just as pertinent to shallow water if you keep your casts held to a shorter distance. Mine are.

    With a spinning rig, you have automatic slack line at splashdown by virtue of uncontrolled cast tension. You can increase that slack by 1) simply lifting the rod tip as you close the bail, or 2) not closing the bail right away. Personally, I lift the rod tip, because I want the bail closed so that I can set the hook if the fish hits the senko right on the initial fall.  I see people doing it both ways, however, and they seem equally successful.

    BTW .... I use a lighter action medium power rod for one reason. If the Senko hits bottom and no fish picks it up, I'll have to drag it or hop it. A lighter rod lets me feel that, just a little bit better.  Guess I'm just not a sensitive kinda guy.  ??      jj

[scbassin]

I use a Dobyns Champion XP DC 733C FH.It's a very good Senko rod

[ike8120]

I bought a Dobyns Fury 702SF and putting on a KK Sharky lll 2000.   This is what fit into my budget. Haven't fished it yet.

[Brad Reid]

I'm solidly in the jimmyjoe camp here regarding using spinning gear to toss Senkos and the various plastics you describe. If you are EVER going to use spinning reels, why someone would choose something else for one of the fishing presentations it offers the greatest advantage would be tough for me to square.

 

I do get, though, that some people just prefer casting reels so much that they become very, very good at working Senkos and other finesse tactics with them. I actually saw one of the pros on a televised MLF tourny the other day using casting reels for a Senko . . . and he was peeling off line after every cast to get a straight, slow drop, not a pendulum drop where the plastic swings back toward the boat.

 

The reel, for me would be a 3000 Stradic Ci4+, if cost isn't an issue; and, the rod would be one of the right length for how you fish (it'd be different from the bank or a boat or a kayak for me), but I'd value sensitivity over power or casting distance. Just because a Senko can be tossed a mile doesn't mean one often needs to do.

 

So, a 7', M power, fast tip for spinning rod with your split grip preference is a real workhorse with application range.

 

I'd go ML before I'd go MH.

 

It's going to take time for you to get over selling your "go to" set up, likely some nightmares, waking up in a sweat. Getting your next Senko rod and reel selected right is your best chance to sleep peacefully. Ha!

 

Brad 

[MIbassyaker]

Also in the spinning camp, here -- the ease of getting a vertical fall is unmatched, especially at a distance, which I want in clear water.

 

I use a M-XF 6'8" Avid X, which is just perfect for weightless plastics.

[TOXIC]

Not to sound like a pompous arse but having been with Yamamoto for 20+ years and having done hundreds of seminars and demonstrations with Senko's (I can't vouch for any other knockoff).  I have always recommended a spinning setup and always will.  That's not to say you can't fish them on a baitcaster, many do and are very successful, but if you really, really get into the multiple ways to fish a Senko, a spinning rod is just the right tool for the job.  A Senko is, without a doubt a finesse bait.  It's meant to be thrown on light line and weightless for most applications. Weightless, I throw no more than 6lb test mono.  You can rig a Senko with braid and leaders and weight just like any other plastic and it will produce but.........where is really outperforms all others is weightless.  I'm sure I've posted a long winded explanation at one point or another so I won't do it again.  Glen also has a good article here on the site.  My favorite rods are a CastAway Skeleton and a Quantum Smoke.  Length and power tailored to your preference.   

[TBAG]

I currently fish a weightless Senko on a GL2 802s which is a 6'8" M-XF paired with a Stradic Ci4+, so I'm in the spinning camp too.

 

I purchased a Dobyns 702s Sierra during the last sale and might try that too. I've never tried to throw a weightless Senko on any of my BC setups.

[junyer357]

I use a dobyns champion 683sf. Love the sensitivity of it.  I also use yellow 15# pp8 braid for line watching, occasionally with a flouro leader. 

I tried for a while with my st croix avid 6'8" med xf worm rod, but i find they sink straight down alot better on a spinning gear, and it also much easier for me to skip too. 

[Deeare]

I use a spinning setup 100% of the time when fishing senkos and I always fish them weightless.  

 

For rods the glx is the most sensitive rod out there IMO BUT I can also say I love high end dobyns and st croix.  Kistler is having a 21% off sale now and I just bought a helium so that might be an option for you.  Not sure what your budget is but I never buy a high end rod unless it’s at least 20% off retail.  

 

Good luck!!

[FryDog62]

I exclusively use a baitcaster now, but would use spinning for Senkos if I could.  Wrist injury/surgery permanently cured me of spinning rods a few years ago.  

 

I have maybe the most expensive baitcasting set up available just to try to duplicate what I could with Senkos on spinning.  It’s close but when it comes to true finesse, especially wacky style, go spinning.  

[kschultz76]

Also in the spinning camp here. Generally my go to rod has been a St Croix Legend Extreme (recoil guides) M/XF spinning with a Stradic CI4+. Last year I started using my Megabass Destroyer Addermine as well which also worked well. This year will be testing out a Kistler H3 LightMH Fast spinning rod for them too. 

 

Ive tried them on casting gear, and agree with all the above on the slack line challenges. However around heavier cover I think there’s an argument for a casting rod and heavier line,  but it becomes less of a finesse approach at that point. In these situations I’ve used my LTB M/XF casting and my Kistler H3 LightMH Fast casting rods. 

[Nathan.bass.canada]

1 hour ago, Deeare said:

I use a spinning setup 100% of the time when fishing senkos and I always fish them weightless.  

 

For rods the glx is the most sensitive rod out there IMO BUT I can also say I love high end dobyns and st croix.  Kistler is having a 21% off sale now and I just bought a helium so that might be an option for you.  Not sure what your budget is but I never buy a high end rod unless it’s at least 20% off retail.  

 

Good luck!!

Interesting! You sure glx over nrx? And for the price I will never pay full price either! Thanks for the tip!

1 hour ago, FryDog62 said:

I exclusively use a baitcaster now, but would use spinning for Senkos if I could.  Wrist injury/surgery permanently cured me of spinning rods a few years ago.  

 

I have maybe the most expensive baitcasting set up available just to try to duplicate what I could with Senkos on spinning.  It’s close but when it comes to true finesse, especially wacky style, go spinning.  

Wow! Curious to know what that setup would be... :P . Thanks for the information it seems spinning really is the way to go!

1 hour ago, kschultz76 said:

Also in the spinning camp here. Generally my go to rod has been a St Croix Legend Extreme (recoil guides) M/XF spinning with a Stradic CI4+. Last year I started using my Megabass Destroyer Addermine as well which also worked well. This year will be testing out a Kistler H3 LightMH Fast spinning rod for them too. 

 

Ive tried them on casting gear, and agree with all the above on the slack line challenges. However around heavier cover I think there’s an argument for a casting rod and heavier line,  but it becomes less of a finesse approach at that point. In these situations I’ve used my LTB M/XF casting and my Kistler H3 LightMH Fast casting rods. 

I was also looking at th Xtremes. Already have a few and another one is always fun (I LOVE the grips). But I was just checking others opinion on casting. Really seems spinning is the deal

 

Thanks!

[WSOzzie]

10 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Zodias 6'8" M or 7' ML. I have not owned neither of those rods, but I have owned a few Zodias rods and they are great.

+1 on the Zodias 6’8” M. I’ve paired it with a Smoke S3 and YoZuri 6lb for both Ned rigs and Senkos. Like you, I’ve wanted to shake it up a bit with a finesse baitcasting set up. I have a Dobyns Champion 702 ready to go this spring. Thought I’d try shakey heads and senkos. 

[ResoKP]

Maybe I'm weird but I use both spinning and baitcaster for senkos...

 

I prefer spinning for wacky rigged and baitcaster for texas rigged...

 

Just me or..?

[Brad Reid]

4 hours ago, TOXIC said:

Not to sound like a pompous arse but having been with Yamamoto for 20+ years and having done hundreds of seminars and demonstrations with Senko's (I can't vouch for any other knockoff).  I have always recommended a spinning setup and always will.  That's not to say you can't fish them on a baitcaster, many do and are very successful, but if you really, really get into the multiple ways to fish a Senko, a spinning rod is just the right tool for the job.  A Senko is, without a doubt a finesse bait.  It's meant to be thrown on light line and weightless for most applications. Weightless, I throw no more than 6lb test mono.  You can rig a Senko with braid and leaders and weight just like any other plastic and it will produce but.........where is really outperforms all others is weightless.  I'm sure I've posted a long winded explanation at one point or another so I won't do it again.  Glen also has a good article here on the site.  My favorite rods are a CastAway Skeleton and a Quantum Smoke.  Length and power tailored to your preference.   

Preach on, Toxic, preach on!

 

No doubt about it that while the Senko can be fished many ways, on many sorts of equipment, where it really shines is taking advantage of its unique fall through the water column and using the gear that optimizes that aspect.

 

As you and others know, this is how Gary Yamamoto, himself, fishes nowadays and has for years. Gary has gone almost exclusively to spinning tackle, eschews long casts and violent hook sets . . . for short and accurate casts; and, soft sweeping motions to pin fish.

 

By the way, Yamamoto and I are neighbors in a manner of speaking! His resort and private lakes are about 20 minutes away from where I live on Lake Athens here in Texas. I need to get down there one day and give his lakes a go. By reservation only, as I recall.

 

Brad

[FryDog62]

“I prefer spinning for wacky rigged and baitcaster for texas rigged...“

 

In general, I agree with that statement above.  You’ll get better distance skipping a wacky style Senko with a spinning rod, but I think get better hook setting power and ability to pull fish away from cover, docks, etc with a baitcasting set up.  

 

“Wow! Curious to know what that setup would be...  . Thanks for the information it seems spinning really is the way to go!“

 

I have a Loomis NRX 7'1" Medium 852C JWR and Daiwa Steez SV TW that I use to skip wacky worms.  You can dial it in very well, probably 90% as efficient at skipping as a spinning rod/reel.  But I do like the NRX/Steez better for hook set, muscling the fish...

 

[waymont]

5 hours ago, TOXIC said:

Weightless, I throw no more than 6lb test mono.

Do you have trouble getting a good hook set? If you texpose the hook 6lb seems really light to me.