Ultimate senko rod

[ChrisD46]

On ‎3‎/‎5‎/‎2019 at 5:26 AM, ike8120 said:

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.

*Great rod , however the 702SF is a ML finesse rod for things like a Ned rig or drop shot . You could wacky rig or nose hook a 4" ~ 5" Senko (drop shot) , however for weightless T-Rig using a 3/0 ~ 4/0 EWG hook you would want to move up to at least the medium power 703SF to drive that larger hook home ... I'm afraid the 702SF would be over matched in that scenario .

[ike8120]

This was on the recommendation of the Dobyn's staff I also have the  703

[Fishin' Fool]

On 3/25/2019 at 12:57 AM, Dan Bures said:

I understand and accept the pendulum action as described. It would seem to me that this anomaly would occur on the initial cast only. I have no way of knowing how many senkos are hit on the first free fall, but I suspect as many or more strikes happen while retrieving. If this is the case....then spinning tackle for Ned rigs lose their edge during retrieve. I'm interested to know how many of you are hit on senkos during the initial drop and how many are hit during the retrieve?

 

100% of my confidence in fishing a senko is casting and letting fall on a slack line. I will cast it out let it sit lift and drop 3 times and then reel in. I have 0% confidence working it back to the boat.

[michaelsrex]

On 3/11/2019 at 12:21 PM, Diggy said:

I use a Megabass EMTF when I plan to fish them, but honestly I can fish them on anything like most people.

Older or newer model? 

[Fishes in trees]

Good topic - ultimate rod for what might be the ultimate bait.   Good to see that different folks have different opinions.

Me - I've went back and forth on this dilemma, going back and forth from baitcasting to spinning and back again, several times now.

My current thinking on this set up for throwing wacky senkos is a spinning set up, because I like the drops I get better with it. compared to the arcing drop one gets with bait casting gear (without feeding it line).

Currently I'm using a 7' Fenwick HMG MY/ extra fast and a 1000 size Shimano reel / 20 lb braid or 14 lb Fireline with a fluorocarbon leader.

 

The big issue with spinning gear is strike detection on a slack/semi-slack line.   I address this issue by using a line that is relatively easy to see and I find that you ALWAYS see the line move before you feel the bite with this set up.  Works for me so far.  Now, when I get some spare funding and can afford a Pixy or some other appropriate very light bait casting set up, I'll probably change back or more than likely I just keep both in the boat and change back and forth.

 

[RPreeb]

Well, looks like I'm in the right ball park with the setup I bought yesterday.  I've been using the only spinning rig I owned, and was not that thrilled with it, as it was bought for inshore saltwater and was just too heavy for most of what I wanted here.  I went with a BPS/Cabelas Fish Eagle 6'6" ML F and a Pflueger President 30 spooled with 8# Stealth Braid. 

 

I seem to be at least in the general range of what I see most in this thread.  Feels good in my hands, and I hope to at least get out to the town pond in the next week to have a go with it and see if I can hook a couple of the dinks that live there.

[The Fisher]

I use an old Falcon Low Rider MH Fast bait caster rated 3/16-5/8 for 5” wacky Senko. For the 4” I use a St Croix Avid 6’8” M Extra Fast spinning rod with the same rating

[fishindad]

16 hours ago, Fishin' Fool said:

100% of my confidence in fishing a senko is casting and letting fall on a slack line. I will cast it out let it sit lift and drop 3 times and then reel in. I have 0% confidence working it back to the boat.

My experience mirrors FF’s. Almost all my notes are on that initial drop and lift and I rarely if ever get bit working it back to the boat. I fish clear natural lakes and rivers FWIW.

[TBAG]

I think I'm going to ditch my Loomis GL2 802s for an Avid X 68 MXF for my dedicated spinning Senko setup (both weightless TR'd and Wacky). Any thoughts? Am I just wasting money by switching?

 

I've never fished an Avid X but own several ScIII Avid casting rods and enjoy them thoroughly.

[Choporoz]

Fascinating range of answers. 

I'm not too surprised, however.  I've thrown senkos on $25 ML spinning rods....all the way up to a $350 7'4 HF BC that has senkos listed as a primary technique by the mfr. 

 

 

[JLBBass]

no such monster......................if there was, then this question would not exist.

[Diggy]

On 3/26/2019 at 9:30 PM, michaelsrex said:

Older or newer model? 

older

[Nathan.bass.canada]

10 hours ago, TBAG said:

I think I'm going to ditch my Loomis GL2 802s for an Avid X 68 MXF for my dedicated spinning Senko setup (both weightless TR'd and Wacky). Any thoughts? Am I just wasting money by switching?

 

I've never fished an Avid X but own several ScIII Avid casting rods and enjoy them thoroughly.

I had the standard avid in those specs and loved it. But as mentionned earlier, I sold it. I have no doubt the avid x is another great rod. I have not handled a ton of gl2 but by the ones that i have, they have felt inferior to avids

 

tight lines :)

Currently looking at NRX, legend xtreme as I already have 3 and love them, or maybe the new shimano poison adrenas. Dont really know what to go for. I have not handled any nrxs as no stores around me carry them. I can get an xtreme for a great price and I dont feel like waiting for the adrenas to be available in canada.

 

any thoughts? Matching with a stella 2000

thanks

[ChrisD46]

On ‎3‎/‎26‎/‎2019 at 8:48 PM, Fishin' Fool said:

100% of my confidence in fishing a senko is casting and letting fall on a slack line. I will cast it out let it sit lift and drop 3 times and then reel in. I have 0% confidence working it back to the boat.

^^This^^ ... If I don't get bit - I reel in quickly and cast to another spot - I believe it is a waste of time to work a senko all the way back to the boat .

[TOXIC]

6 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

^^This^^ ... If I don't get bit - I reel in quickly and cast to another spot - I believe it is a waste of time to work a senko all the way back to the boat .

Did you know with the right rod action, you can mimic the initial fall at least 3 or 4 more times on the average cast?   While I agree, a high percentage of your bites will come on the initial fall, don't discount the ability to get a bite after that. I catch a lot of fish after the first fall by lifting the rod tip quickly and allowing the senko to "freefall" again.  I have done a lot of Demos in the Bass Pro Tanks that highlight what I call "bird dogging" by bass.  They follow the senko to the bottom and then position themselves nose down and circle the bait.  It was quite a sight to see 4 or 5 bass all in a circle with their noses to the bottom and their tails straight up circling the bait.  By slowly moving the bait, one would almost always dash in and grab it.   

 

Fun Fact:  The Swim Senko was developed after Gary noticed how many fish were chasing the regular Senko back to the boat.   

[BassThumb]

I use a Dobyns Sienna 704SF 7' MH/F spinning rod with 20lb braid and a 12-15lb flouro leader. Most of my Senko fishing is around and under docks. I never felt there was an advantage to fishing them on baitcasting tackle, regardless of style of presentation.

[d-camarena]

Im broke af. But im currently using a daiwa airdx mh with a revros 3000. 20lb braid to a 10lb mono leader. It works great, hage caught a lot of fish on that setup

[frenchy]

I Have been throwing senkos on a set up similar to the one you sold. I am using the Avid X 6'8" MXF with a stratic CI4 3000. Great set up 

[Westcoast]

I use a nrx 803s with a Stradic  ci4+,I like it as it has some balls to pull fish away and out of cover as senkos are not always a finesse technique for me. 

[Bankbeater]

I like to throw the 4” senkos with a spinning setup, for senkos around 6” I like to use a baitcaster.  For me it’s just personal preference. 

[Further North]

On 3/28/2019 at 5:06 AM, ChrisD46 said:

^^This^^ ... If I don't get bit - I reel in quickly and cast to another spot - I believe it is a waste of time to work a senko all the way back to the boat .

Depends on what's between where I cast and the boat.

 

If there is structure in the way back, I work through it.

[Further North]

I use a St. Croix Avid-X 6' 8" MXF with a Abu Garcia LTX for T-rigged Senkos.  Lime green 30# Suffix 832 to a 7# or 8# hybrid leader about seven or 8 ft long.  1/0 or 2/0 EWG hook.

 

My Wacky rig is a 6' 10" St. Croix Legend Xtreme MLXF with a Quantum EXO 25 reel.  20# braid (usually Power Pro, but can vary depending on what's on sale, it doesn't matter) to the same hybrid leader as above.  Whatever wacky hook I have also works.

 

I've acquired a 7' 9" TFO GIS Inshore MLMF that I hung an Aldebaran on it'll get a shot at the T-Rigged spot as soon as the ice gets off the lakes.  Initial dry ground practice testing says it's in the ballpark.

[FishTank]

G Loomis 893C GLX......

[fishwizzard]

6 hours ago, Further North said:

I use a St. Croix Avid-X 6' 8" MXF with a Abu Garcia LTX for T-rigged Senkos.  Lime green 30# Suffix 832 to a 7# or 8# hybrid leader about seven or 8 ft long.  1/0 or 2/0 EWG hook.

 

My Wacky rig is a 6' 10" St. Croix Legend Xtreme MLXF with a Quantum EXO 25 reel.  20# braid (usually Power Pro, but can vary depending on what's on sale, it doesn't matter) to the same hybrid leader as above.  Whatever wacky hook I have also works.

I was looking at the 6'3" SC rods, both the M/XF and the ML/XF for senko use.  I bought my "ultimate senko rod", a MB Addermine, this winter and while I love it's power/action, I am having a hard time getting used to a spinning rod that long, most of my other ones are right around 6'.

 

If you had to pick one for both t-rig and wacky, would you go M/XF or ML/XF? 

[Further North]

4 minutes ago, fishwizzard said:

If you had to pick one for both t-rig and wacky, would you go M/XF or ML/XF? 

I don't know.  I'd lean towards M/XF, but that's baitcasting vs. spinning.  I get a better feel for my line and rod with bait casting, but YMMV.

 

6'3" is too short for me, I'm a long rod guy, so there's a lot of subjectivity in the middle here...