I feel naked

[airborne_angler]

I went out yesterday and used up my last amount of Senkos. I tried the Strike King Zeros I had but I just didnt get the right feeling from them,although I did catch 2 fish wacky rigged on them.

So until I make another order,I cant(wont allow myself) to go to the lake cause ill be fishing "Naked" and just wont have the edge I need.

Was wierd,I ran out of the baits and felt like I was going to go through withdrawal. Things just got hopeless and my confidence level went way down. Anyone else had similar experiences with thier favorite bait?

[5bass]

Yes, I know how you feel but you have to be careful not to fall into the senko (or trick stick) trap. It s easy to get sucked in and hard to get out. Should you fall into the senko trance, if you dont get bit while using one on any given trip, you'll swear that the fish just arent biting.....when in reality, all that is necessary to get bit is a simple bait switch.

The sticks catch alot of fish no doubt but so do alot of other baits. Going without them a time or two would probably be a good thing for you....it will force you to  get familiar with some other baits.

[Raul]

Watch out, you 're dangerously closed in getting stuck into the: if I don 't have X or Y bait I 'm not going to catch fish. Adaptation, imagination, creativity to different baits, styles, rigging methods and techniques is the difference between catching fish and coming home empty handed.

[Cajun1977]

its amazing how many people on the forum fish stick baits almost exclusively

[Bass Hammer]

its amazing how many people on the forum fish stick baits almost exclusively

Just what I was thinking.

[Tucson]

If you run out of a certain type of lure, play with some new ones.  I like some variety,  having fun and playing with "fishing stuff".  There is no magic lure so learn to fish different techniques.  Gives you a multi-faceted approach to fishing and keeps your interest level up.  

Life is short, don't take your avocation too seriously.  

[burleytog]

its amazing how many people on the forum fish stick baits almost exclusively

You're telling me. I am constantly amazed.

I've caught some good fish on stick baits, but for the most part they are the last thing I'll try.

But to say that you won't go fishing just because you don't have X or Y bait...that's just  

[justfishin]

FiveBass, I am glad you said it. I have some friends whom fish sticks only most of the time, and do well I might add, but, not always. I am very old school and versatile. I tend to use the flavor of the day for different places. River smallies, tubes, green bass, jigs are my first choice, then T- Rigged worms, Spinnerbaits and topwaters. I have never been stuck in the trap. Do sticks outfish everything else, yes, at times but, there are certainly other lures that catch quality fish more often like a jig. On a stick you might have five to my one but, a jig fish is usually a good fish. I fish for quality when I am fishing. When I guided all those years and fished the Federation Trail, it was different. Let your years of time on the water and experiance let you chose. JMO

[basscat73]

I cant(wont allow myself) to go to the lake

I just can't get over that statement.  

You should make it a point to get BACK ON THE LAKE and NOT use those trick sticks again until you gain some more confidence in other lures!  

[bassmasta7]

Yes, I know how you feel but you have to be careful not to fall into the senko (or trick stick) trap. It s easy to get sucked in and hard to get out. Should you fall into the senko trance, if you dont get bit while using one on any given trip, you'll swear that the fish just arent biting.....when in reality, all that is necessary to get bit is a simple bait switch.

The sticks catch alot of fish no doubt but so do alot of other baits. Going without them a time or two would probably be a good thing for you....it will force you to get familiar with some other baits.

Very well said, i just broke my addiction to the dang things. I was hooked on 'em for about a year and fished them exclusively, but i now have only used them about 5 times this year when the conditions called for them. I think it is more fun anyways using different lures.

[jomatty]

i too had to break the addiction to senkos.  the fact is that i still, in most conditions, catch more fish on senkos than any other bait.  they produce so consistently and i have so much confidence in them that i had a very hard time getting away from them.  once i did though i was catching more big fish.  i still love to fish weightless stick baits, but now they are just another tool and not the lure i go to first and foremost.

matt

[Bass Hammer]

The problem is that when you get stuck thinking that is the surest way to a big sack most people will miss the fact that some other technique was the right way to go. They will beat a dead horse all day and then say "Well, if they didn't bite a senko they just were not biting.

i still love to fish weightless stick baits, but now they are just another tool and not the lure i go to first and foremost.

matt

Exactly

[BassHunter69]

well fish'n naked isnt exactly my idea of a stick worm   ;D ;D ;D

[grimlin]

Why is it i'm the only one who hates senkos/stickbaits?

For the life of me i can't catch anything over dink size and rarely catch "one" unless i fish it for 3 hours straight moving from spot to spot.I've read on them,watch short youtube films and practice the dang thing for weeks on.

And still nothing to show for it.

Give me a Jig and a trailer and i'll start reeling in them fish.

I'm about ready to go on a trip to one of you guys and see how these senkos/stickbaits actually catch fish.I really want to learn...

[airborne_angler]

Well, I no longer feel naked. I started trying Brush Hogs and have gained confidence with them. I no longer get that big itch to throw Senkos. I have em ,but I caught just as many fish on Baby Brush Hogs,so thats what im going to start using.

[Davis]

Why is it i'm the only one who hates senkos/stickbaits?

For the life of me i can't catch anything over dink size and rarely catch "one" unless i fish it for 3 hours straight moving from spot to spot.I've read on them,watch short youtube films and practice the dang thing for weeks on.

And still nothing to show for it.

Give me a Jig and a trailer and i'll start reeling in them fish.

I'm about ready to go on a trip to one of you guys and see how these senkos/stickbaits actually catch fish.I really want to learn...

Wacky rig them on some circle hooks and just let them do there thing.

The two biggest fish of the year came on a white/black laminate Wave Worm and a Black/blue flake Senko. Both 5" long.

Jigs work great as well but so far the fish in my area have been hammering stick backs wacky rigged.

They can't resist that small "flutter". Can't wait to try out * trick sticks when they come in.

[Guest avid]

Yes, I know how you feel but you have to be careful not to fall into the senko (or trick stick) trap.

that is great advice, but this dude is waaaaaaaaaaaaaay beyond that .  He's already got it bad.

You have to develop in confidence in other baits.

the beauty of bass fishing is that they will hit so many artificial baits.

to go with only one is to deprive yourself of alllllllooooooooottttttttt  o fun.

My advice. - Go to the lake..  And even if you get your stick bait delievery.

DO NOT TAKE THEM

Force yourself to develop confidence in other lures/techniques.   You'll last longer as a dedicated bass fisherman, and your fun quotient and self confidence will gain immeasurably.