Ultimate senko rod

[dodgeguy]

7 ft medium fast Johnny Morris Patriot rod with Lew's tournament pro 8.3 . 10 lb seaguar Tatsu. 

[TOXIC]

15 minutes ago, waymont said:

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

Not in my experience.  My preferred way to rig a weightless Senko is Texas rigged on a 4.0 Gamakatsu EWG hook.  The only time I have ever broken off on a hookset is if I got lazy and didn't retie when I should have.  I have a hard time stopping fishing to retie.  Sometimes I press my luck.  Just as an example, I have caught many catfish up to 8lbs on this setup, bass over 6lbs, 5lb smallmouth and even a 14.9lb snakehead.  I have been using BPS Excel mono.  There's a neck to setting the hook where you really cross their eyes but don't "snap" the rod.  It's the snap that breaks you off.  

[WRB]

I use Major Craft NAS-WJ701MH with Stractic 2500 spinning reel for the application the OP inquired about. Very popular rod with tournament anglers.

If you want a cork split grip then Dobyns DC 703 SF rod is excellent and well balanced.

Tom

[ResoKP]

25 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

My preferred way to rig a weightless Senko is Texas rigged on a 4.0 Gamakatsu EWG hook.

I thought Gary Yamamoto recommends 3.0 offset round bend worm hook no? 

 

Is 4.0 EWG better?

[Paul Roberts]

I've come to a pretty specific rig for my lightly-weighted/weightless soft plastics/stick-worm rods; I have two: a spinning and a casting.

 

This is the only presentation type (along with drop-shot; these rods are also my DS rods) in which I want a fairly light power tip. I hate wimpy-tipped rods in general, except here. Since bass will often hold onto a soft plastic lure, and are even apt to swallow them, I use the softer tip to "weigh the line”. That is, add tension to see if that tap was indeed a fish, or a stick. If it's a fish, I'll feel "life" down there.

 

For this type of fishing I want a sensitive rod, which means a very light rod in weight, and some length (for the mechanical advantage), which means quality high modulus graphite to avoid clubby-ness.

 

My weightless soft plastics/stick-worm/DS spinning rod is a 7ft Kistler LTA, rated a M, 8-14lb. It weighs just under 4oz. My casting rod is a Browning Midas Boron 6’10” M 8-15lb, that weighs 4.7oz. Again, both double as M DS rods.

[Nathan.bass.canada]

52 minutes ago, WRB said:

I use Major Craft NAS-WJ701MH with Stractic 2500 spinning reel for the application the OP inquired about. Very popular rod with tournament anglers.

If you want a cork split grip then Dobyns DC 703 SF rod is excellent and well balanced.

Tom

Cool setup! Surprised a MH is needed for weightless... exept if gou fish around structure like docks or thick bush/weeds

34 minutes ago, Paul Roberts said:

I've come to a pretty specific rig for my lightly-weighted/weightless soft plastics/stick-worm rods; I have two: a spinning and a casting.

 

This is the only presentation type (along with drop-shot; these rods are also my DS rods) in which I want a fairly light power tip. I hate wimpy-tipped rods in general, except here. Since bass will often hold onto a soft plastic lure, and are even apt to swallow them, I use the softer tip to "weigh the line”. That is, add tension to see if that tap was indeed a fish, or a stick. If it's a fish, I'll feel "life" down there.

 

For this type of fishing I want a sensitive rod, which means a very light rod in weight, and some length (for the mechanical advantage), which means quality high modulus graphite to avoid clubby-ness.

 

My weightless soft plastics/stick-worm/DS spinning rod is a 7ft Kistler LTA, rated a M, 8-14lb. It weighs just under 4oz. My casting rod is a Browning Midas Boron 6’10” M 8-15lb, that weighs 4.7oz. Again, both double as M DS rods.

I like the idea of the double rig, might use one of my standard rods for casting heavier senkos and get a feather light combo spinning setup for weigtless

[TOXIC]

38 minutes ago, ResoKP said:

I thought Gary Yamamoto recommends 3.0 offset round bend worm hook no? 

 

Is 4.0 EWG better?

Personal Preference.  I like the 4.0 EWG because it cut my gut hooked fish by clients waaaaay down.  I adopted it for myself.  

[Nathan.bass.canada]

2 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

“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...

 

Holy guacamole that combo cant be too heavy! Looking maybe at a nrx-steez/stella combo of something of that nature

[FryDog62]

1 hour ago, Nathan.bass.canada said:

Holy guacamole that combo cant be too heavy! Looking maybe at a nrx-steez/stella combo of something of that nature

I think including hook, line and Senko the entire rig comes in just under 10 ounces.  Something my surgically-repaired wrist appreciates  

[Bass_Fanatic]

I’ve got a Megabass Destroyer X7 EMFT. It is the sweetest Senko rod I’ve ever used. Not cheap, but sweet!

[Maico1]

A few of my favorites to throw weightless 5 " senko's are NRX 802C / Conquest 50 DC , NRX 803C / Conquest 50 DC and NRX 893C / 16 Metanium MGL on the spinning side NRX 803S /Stella 3000 AR and NRX 822S SYR / Stella 3000HG FI. ....

[Matt_3479]

I love throwing a senko, weightless t-rig mainly, then wacky, then weighted, even Neko rigged. I’ve throw them on 6’6” medium spinning, 7’ medium spinning, 7’1” medium casting, 7’ mh casting, 7’5” h casting, 7’4H (more of a mediumheavy) and sure the spinning is probsbly the better way to fish it, but 9 out of 10 times I throw it on a casting rod and have never felt like I might be missing out. Last year i was throwing a weightless t-rig senko on 7’ casting medium heavy in 35-50’ of water nailing larger smallies! 

 

Plan on adding an nrx or glx 893c (7’5 medium heavy) specifically for deeper water senko fishing this season! Can’t wait to try it out!!

[Jcj90]

Dobyns fury 703sf with a 2500 shimano. I fish 8lb mono or 15lb braid. Tried casting setups a few times with senkos and didn’t like it.

[haggard]

Quote

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+

 

If it was your go-to then, and if you're already familiar with the brand, consider just getting a modern version of the same.

 

Maybe a 7'0 Avid M/F 2 piece with a current Stradic CI4+.

 

(Opinion) I wouldn't go down the finesse baitcaster rabbit hole. Almost did that once and unless you have $ to spare or really enjoy the fine tuning experience and experimenting, stick with a spinner for light techniques.

 

For weightless worms how about a 7'0 Avid medium light with Stradic CI4+ 2500.

 

My personal pref & rec is an Avid 6'9 ML/XF with Stradic CI4+ 2500 and light copoly. Disclaimer: I haven't fished it yet. But hoping it's going to be a favorite this season for light techniques including weightless & wacky worms (also neds, drop shot).

 

Avids won't help with your split grip requirement though; I think they're only in full grip.

 

[MIbassyaker]

14 minutes ago, haggard said:

 

If it was your go-to then, and if you're already familiar with the brand, consider just getting a modern version of the same.

 

Maybe a 7'0 Avid M/F 2 piece with a current Stradic CI4+.

 

(Opinion) I wouldn't go down the finesse baitcaster rabbit hole. Almost did that once and unless you have $ to spare or really enjoy the fine tuning experience and experimenting, stick with a spinner for light techniques.

 

For weightless worms how about a 7'0 Avid medium light with Stradic CI4+ 2500.

 

My personal pref & rec is an Avid 6'9 ML/XF with Stradic CI4+ 2500 and light copoly. Disclaimer: I haven't fished it yet. But hoping it's going to be a favorite this season for light techniques including weightless & wacky worms (also neds, drop shot).

 

Avids won't help with your split grip requirement though; I think they're only in full grip.

 

 

The regular Avid wont help..... The Avid X, however, is a split grip:

My pick for Ultimate Senko Slinger: the 6'8" M-XF

[Nathan.bass.canada]

Okay guys, so this happenned. I really think after reading all ol your commemts spinning is the way to go. Starting looking around and found a great deal on a stella c2000s FI. Maybe went full on crazy but I'm thinking I'll like it :P. Now ill wait a bit before getting a rod to match. Surprised how light the stella is.

 

[greentrout]

ugly stik spinning 6'6" med gx2 ... fish is caught ... reels fit and no warranty problems ... high stick all day long ...

 

good fishing ...

[NathanDLTH]

The two combos I use for senkos are Tatula Elite AGS 7’ MMH/F w/ Daiwa Zillion SV or Tatula LT 2500 w/ Cronos 7’ Medium Fast. Both are great tossing them weightless or Texas rigged, but the spinning is bit better throwing wacky senkos. 

[TBAG]

Man, this thread has me summoning the bait monkey. I'm now considering ditching my older Loomis GL2 802s Senko rod for something else. ?

[Junger]

18 hours ago, NathanDLTH said:

The two combos I use for senkos are Tatula Elite AGS 7’ MMH/F w/ Daiwa Zillion SV or Tatula LT 2500 w/ Cronos 7’ Medium Fast. Both are great tossing them weightless or Texas rigged, but the spinning is bit better throwing wacky senkos. 

I just got the TAEL 7' AGS M/MH and love it. Throws a weightless senko a mile, and I'm even chucking a 1/16oz + TRD a long ways too. I'm using 6lb Yo-zuri Hybrid, what are you using?

[Diggy]

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

[Dens228]

I have a BassX in MH/Moderate that I bought a couple years ago.  First it was a crankbait rod until I upgraded to an AvidX.  Then is sat unused until I decided to use it for weightless plastics............it is perfect and only $100.

[johnmyers]

I use GLX 852s or GLX 852c both work well for me

[Dan Bures]

On 3/4/2019 at 11:24 PM, jimmyjoe said:

   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

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?

 

[Allen Der]

 

11 minutes ago, 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?

 

I'd say at least 75% for me come on the initial drop.  The way I primarily fish senkos is pitching to sparce cover and weed edges