How big is your stick...........bait.

[Fishin Dad]

Hey All,

 

What size stick bait (Senko) do you throw both wacky and Texas rigged?  I have always stuck to the 5” and have a lot of confidence in it.   I need to branch out though, I think I need some 4” and 6” as well.  I use weighted and weightless on both wacky and Texas rigs.  Give me your favorites.  Thanks

[Scott F]

I never wacky rig, and I never use weights when using Senkos. Weights destroy the slow fall and wacky rigging keeps them from being weedless and takes away the jerk bait action I like. 4 and 5 inch are my preferred sizes for T rigging them.

[FishinBuck07]

4 and 5 inch for me also.   Mostly 4 inch

[WRB]

3" hand pour sluggo style stick baits are very popular as a drop shot and split shot lure. 6" are my most used size for Senko's wacky rigged and 7" Neko rigged, don't use 5" very often. 6" Flukes for soft jerk baits and 4" for underspin and bladed jigs, 6" Sluggo for Scrounger jigs.

Tom 

[Dwight Hottle]

7” for jigs & Texas rigs. 

[Choporoz]

I had two tough days last year when I downsized to 4" and each time, I got a late kicker

[Fishin Dad]

Thanks everyone, looks like my 4” and 6” additions should work well then.  

1 hour ago, Scott F said:

I never wacky rig, and I never use weights when using Senkos. Weights destroy the slow fall and wacky rigging keeps them from being weedless and takes away the jerk bait action I like. 4 and 5 inch are my preferred sizes for T rigging them.

I like to use a weighted wacky sometimes which seems impart its 

own action.  I agree I love to weightless T-rig and fish it weedless with the jerkbait action.  Good call.  

 

1 hour ago, WRB said:

3" hand pour sluggo style stick baits are very popular as a drop shot and split shot lure. 6" are my most used size for Senko's wacky rigged and 7" Neko rigged, don't use 5" very often. 6" Flukes for soft jerk baits and 4" for underspin and bladed jigs, 6" Sluggo for Scrounger jigs.

Tom 

Tom, you seem to really have this dialed in.  Do you just not use Senkos smaller than 6” because of the giants you get to catch (still amazes me)?
 

 

51 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I had two tough days last year when I downsized to 4" and each time, I got a late kicker

Choporoz, this what I was thinking as well.  Glad to hear I am not delusional in my thinking. 

[NYWayfarer]

3",4" and 5" rigged all the usual ways (T-Rig, Dropshot, Wacky)

 

The 3" Yum Dingers wacky rigged with a light hook are small pond magic.

[SK1]

5 inch, occasionally 6.

[Spankey]

Good post. 3 1/2”, 4” - 5” for me also. Majority of time T-rig. But do Wacky Style. Weightless pitch the 3 1/2” up under overhanging trees, along edge of grass and in holes in Lilly Pads. I know the Senko thing is very popular but not my first choice to pick up. But I've had days where it seemed like that’s all I was fishing all day. 

[RB 77]

Nowadays, the 5" 100% of the time. Have used the 4" in the past, but have moved on from them. 

[swhit140]

I'll use smaller 3-5" on wacky rig if they aren't as aggressive, I use alot of 6/7" on stick baits. Last season they really liked the larger 6-7" baits for me. I've been buying the Bass Pro Stik-O, they do the job for me. When they get ripped up and I'll repair them with Mend-It. Once I use them for the second time I'll do a complete re-melt and make new ones again.

[Fishin Dad]

I will probably give it a try, but what kind of action do you get on a wacky rigged 3” senko?   Do you get much shimmy from it?   I guess I throw a Ned if I go that small.  If it has a unique motion, I am interested in getting after this. 

[WRB]

I don't like the fall rate of the 5" Senko and 6" catches more bass for me.

I use a nail weight (Neko)  wacky ririgged 6" & 7" worm more often then Senko's.

Tom

[Bankbeater]

I like to use the 4", 5", and 6" either weightless or on t-rigs.  I like the 3" BPS model for split shot rigs.

[Fishin Dad]

6 minutes ago, Bankbeater said:

I like to use the 4", 5", and 6" either weightless or on t-rigs.  I like the 3" BPS model for split shot rigs.

I have never tried the split shot rig.  I keep hearing about it as a fish catcher.  I will add the 3” to the list and give it a try this year.  I assume it is a more finesse technique.  

[Bankbeater]

11 hours ago, Fishin Dad said:

I have never tried the split shot rig.  I keep hearing about it as a fish catcher.  I will add the 3” to the list and give it a try this year.  I assume it is a more finesse technique.  

It depends on how you work it.  When the bite is good I work it like a t-rig.  When the bite is slow I slow the retrieve way down. 

[Bluebasser86]

4 or 5 inch. I like the 7" on a swinging football head. 

[snake95]

Mostly 5" but I also use 6" a lot, even in small ponds.  The 6" is great for long casts to hit distant targets.

[BassNJake]

5 or 6 inch - I use the reverse rig 95% of the time throwing it

I mainly target laydowns and the reverse rig allows you to climb it over a limb and have it fall back towards the trunk

Instead of it falling towards the boat with a texas rig

 

I also catch quite a few where I'm just barely dragging it, again nail weight at the bottom

[Fishin Dad]

3 hours ago, BassNJake said:

5 or 6 inch - I use the reverse rig 95% of the time throwing it

I mainly target laydowns and the reverse rig allows you to climb it over a limb and have it fall back towards the trunk

Instead of it falling towards the boat with a texas rig

 

I also catch quite a few where I'm just barely dragging it, again nail weight at the bottom

Thanks Jake!!   Sounds like kind of a modified Neko that gets Texas rigged.  I will definitely put some nail weights to use there.  Appreciate it.

10 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

It depends on how you work it.  When the bite is good I work it like a t-rig.  When the bite is slow I slow the retrieve way down. 

Makes sense Bankbeater.  I think I will give it a try both ways.  Have heard too much about this to not give it a go.   Thanks!