Senko durability

[robbyjhgary]

I have been using countless senkos. I always have one tied on one of my rods when I go. The problem is I have cheap ones and they aren't very durable, I get 1 maybe 2 fish out of them and they rip beyond usability. Does anyone know of some really durable senkos? I would like to not have to switch everytime I get snagged or hook a dink.

[Finessegenics]

Don't wanna be that guy but senkos are senkos... which brand of stick worms are you talking about exactly? Just curious 

 

I'm also one of those people who likes to get the most fish possible from a bait. With certain techniques, I'll look for a bait which I know will last. With stick worms, wacky rigged or weightless, I disregard the fact that GY senkos don't last long. They just work well. I'm also partial to the XZone True Center Stick, which is made of a firmer plastic but still has tons of action. If you want something that will really last, take a look at the Zinkerz from ZMan. The elaztech stuff is crazy durable. 

[Bluebasser86]

I have really good luck with Strike King Ochos. I'll occasionally get double digit fish out of a single bait. Of course, I still get the 1-2 fish baits, but most are 3-6 fish each. 

 

Having the right hook, and trying to keep the fish from jumping helps a lot also. 

[JustJames]

There are plenty of “Senko alternatives” topics around that you can search here but one thing for sure nothing beat Senko. I have used quite a few myself, Maxscent and BPS are two that I don’t mind using.

For Senko those small fish always trash the Senko good. I keep all the torn up Senko, bite the head part off, use mend-it or cut in half. I’ll keep using it until it get to 2.5-3” long. You can also use the Spring soft bait keeper trick.

 

[BrianMDTX]

5 hours ago, Finessegenics said:

I'm also partial to the XZone True Center Stick, which is made of a firmer plastic but still has tons of action

X2. They’re good baits!

[padon]

idk how your rigging them but here my only advice. if your texas rigging use a hook with a screw lock keeper. i use the with senkos and  flukes and they will help get a few extra fish. if your wacky rigging use an o ring. senkos tear easy because they are soft and have a ton of salt. just the way it is. as far as expense you can use bass pro stick os, or  yum dingers . im sure there are others. the sink rates are different  because they dont have as much salt but you can play with lightly weighted heads to get the rate you want.

[BBuck]

I know it's more of a worm than a stick bait but Missile Baits "The 48" is made of a tougher plastic and is about the same size and close to the thickness of a Senko It is better wacky-rigged than Texas, but you can do both. However, if you can afford them use GY Senkos first, then BPS Stiko or Yum Dinger. I haven't used any of the elastec plastics but I think that might be a good option for you since you are looking for durability.

[dovii]

7 hours ago, robbyjhgary said:

I have been using countless senkos. I always have one tied on one of my rods when I go. The problem is I have cheap ones and they aren't very durable, I get 1 maybe 2 fish out of them and they rip beyond usability. Does anyone know of some really durable senkos? I would like to not have to switch everytime I get snagged or hook a dink.

I thought there was only one type - Yamamoto ? 

It depends on how bad the fish bite it but usually I am looking for next one after 3-4 fish. They are pretty delicate.

[Deleted account]

10 hours ago, Finessegenics said:

Don't wanna be that guy but senkos are senkos... which brand of stick worms are you talking about exactly? Just curious...

LOL.

What do you blow your nose with, and clean your ears with?...

[Finessegenics]

12 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

LOL.

What do you blow your nose with, and clean your ears with?...

 

Kleenex and Q-Tips! 

[fishwizzard]

17 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

LOL.

What do you blow your nose with, and clean your ears with?...

A cotton hanky and a paper-towel wrapped around a pen cap?  

[gim]

That's just how they are: not very durable.  The action and sink rate they have is more preferable than others for me so I still use them.  I almost exclusively use them for wacky rigging with an o-ring so they last relatively long in that manner.  As soon as you stick a hook in one though, they are toast after one fish.

 

The zman elaztechs are crazy durable but they are buoyant so you will have to figure out a way to make them sink.

[cal9323]

I haven't used them but I would imagine ZMan is probably the most durable. I use their TRD's for ned rigs and they can last 10-20 fish.

[Team9nine]

Here we go again.

 

Live by the Senko - die by the Senko (your wallet, that is)  It is what it is - get used to it...

 

Or do what I did over 20 years ago and just stop buying/using them. These days, it's jig head wacky with Zman baits for me. Average 25 bass per bait, and can go much higher. I posted a couple reports earlier this month where I got 43 bass out of one wacky rigged bait - and they start off nearly 50% less expensive than a Senko on top of that!

[gim]

24 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

These days, it's jig head wacky with Zman baits for me.

 

Do you normally use the zinker when you wacky rig it?  Or a big TRD?  I've never wacky rigged with an elaztech but I've got the right tackle to try it.

[robbyjhgary]

38 minutes ago, cal9323 said:

I haven't used them but I would imagine ZMan is probably the most durable. I use their TRD's for ned rigs and they can last 10-20 fish.

Yes I also use their stuff for ned dogs. Great stuff.

[Team9nine]

16 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

Do you normally use the zinker when you wacky rig it?  Or a big TRD?  I've never wacky rigged with an elaztech but I've got the right tackle to try it.

 

I just go with their Finesse WormZ (4" or 7") - much better action, and so many different ways I can rig them if wacky isn't the bait du jour. I do keep a good supply of ZinkerZ though for cutting in half for jig head/Ned fishing.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Zinkerz last a while, but the weight and buoyancy changes the longer you use them and or the more fish you catch.  A weightless Zinker wont sink after a while and you have to use increasingly heavier weight to get the same fall rate.   

[roadwarrior]

Just about done here...get your last lick in fast!  Same-o-same-o for twenty plus years.

[Deleted account]

21 hours ago, fishwizzard said:

A cotton hanky and a paper-towel wrapped around a pen cap?  

And drink Sam's Cola?...

[TOXIC]

I understand the frustration and I’m not trying to be a smart alec but the way you keep a Senko for multiple fish is to rig it with a few things done right.  If you don’t it’s a one fish bait.  I have fished a single Texas rigged Senko for multiple days and multiple fish.  And I have lost them after a single fish.  The difference has always been how well I rigged them.  I think I have posted before how I don’t wacky rig and my technique for the Texas rig.  At the risk of running afoul of the mods here and I’m sure Glenn has a video on rigging them, I won’t repost it.  

[Cgolf]

While my Senkos have lasted for years in the bag because I don’t fish them, I did have really good luck fishing swim senkos on the lighter wire slider spider head. I would get 5 to 6 fish out of them regularly fishing for largemouth. I mention largemouth because they usually hit and fight softer than a smallie. Smallies are really hard on plastics so if the OP is fishing for smallies good luck:)

 

Not sure if the light wire hook helped, @TOXIC, but it worked well for me. 

[rk123]

Personally, I think GY senkos just have superior action because of their one-of-a-kind balance of salt. That being said, certain lakes that are muddier or less pressured may see no difference whatsoever if you use a senko imitation. I have found the Yum Dinger to be far more durable than the senko, and have often been able to reuse the same one for fish after fish. 

The other think you can try (if you are weightless texas rigging) is to rig the senko backwards when the head breaks. (I thought this sounded totally stupid when I first heard it, but tons of people in the know seem to be doing it) Just rig it with the skinny end in the front and fish it normally. 

[fishwizzard]

5 hours ago, BassWhole! said:

And drink Sam's Cola?...

Never.  A single 12oz can of Diet Mt Dew a day, if I have been good. 

[zmcfishing]

Zman makes some really durable stick baits. a pack of 6 can last you a long time and they aren't all that expensive. Think they are around 4-5 bucks or so.