The 7” Senko

[BrianMDTX]

I believe the vast majority of us use 5” Senkos, even though they also come in 3”, 4”, 6” and 7” sizes. I have gotten bites on slow days with a 4” Senko when the 5” was dying on the hook. I’m intrigued by the 7” Senko but rarely see it mentioned. 
 

If you use a 7”, do you mainly use it on a Texas rig? Or have you also used it on a wacky or Neko rig?  The BM is tapping my shoulder and whispering in my ear that I should appease him and just place an order, but wanted to see if anyone uses the 7” over a standard-sized plastic worm in that length. 

[Cbump]

I ordered some last year. When I got them I realized they are FAT. Way fatter than a normal senko. Too much so. These were like crayola marker fat. 
To me, a 7” senko may be the perfect bait if they left the girth alone. 
I never used them. 

[A-Jay]

South of the border, a 7 inch Senko is KING.

And we are talking very respectable sized bass, but dinks will totally eat them too. 

Carolina Rigged, Texas Rigged, Wacky Rigged (with or without weight)

and my personal favorite, as a Jig Trailer.

The super soft bait is a real bite getter but is NOT Durable at all 

and is often a one fish & done bait.

For that reason alone, we switch to the Giant TRD as soon as it became available.

It's a little shorter and even fatter, and still gets all the bites.

But, One bag of this one lasts Hundreds of bass, regardless of how it's rigged. 

If I have an endless free supply I'd fish the Senko.

However living in the real world that Giant TRD makes more sense for me.

A-Jay

 

[BrianMDTX]

4 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

South of the border, a 7 inch Senko is KING.

And we are talking very respectable sized bass, but dinks will totally eat them too. 

Texas Rigged, Wacky Rigged (with or without weight)

and my personal favorite, as a Jig Trailer.

The super soft bait is a real bite getter but is NOT Durable at all 

and is often a one fish & done bait.

For that reason alone, we switch to the Giant TRD as soon as it became available.

It's a little shorter and even fatter, and still gets all the bites.

But, One bag of this one lasts Hundreds of bass, regardless of how it's rigged. 

If I have an endless free supply I'd fish the Senko.

However living in the real world that Giant TRD makes more sense for me.

A-Jay

 

I believe that, as even with only a 1” difference, I seem to have to change a 5” more often than a 4” on equal number of bites. That big worm probably rips in half easily. 

[Mike L]

I only use as a follow up to a missed Magnum Speed Worm or 7” Cut R bite. 
Fir me it seems a dead stick follow up is best. 
 

I don’t use them as a stand alone as there are better choices. 
 

 

 

 

Mike
 

 

[FishTank]

I love Senkos but the 7in has not been my favorite. It seems to tear a little easier than the 5in, probably due to the bigger I hooks I have used. I haven't caught any bigger fish or more fish, maybe less. For me, if I am going to go big, I going to stay with the 6in size. 

[KP Duty]

Saw a 'Bass Pros' TV show a while back, and Denny Brauer was fishing a 6" Senko...said it was the only size he used.  He fished it on a belly-weighted EWG hook, and employed a 'lift and glide' technique to work it back to the boat.

[Cbump]

3 hours ago, Cbump said:

I ordered some last year. When I got them I realized they are FAT. Way fatter than a normal senko. Too much so. These were like crayola marker fat. 
To me, a 7” senko may be the perfect bait if they left the girth alone. 
I never used them. 

I said all this, then found these at academy just now. Naturally I bought them. 
 

 

[roadwarrior]

Those are Kut Tail.

[PhishLI]

22 minutes ago, KP Duty said:

Saw a 'Bass Pros' TV show a while back, and Denny Brauer was fishing a 6" Senko.

I use 6"ers more than anything else. I simply do well with them. I usually rig them on a weighted or unweighted Owner Twistock Light 6/0 for t-rigging. However, last year I found these VMC Drop Dead 5/0 hooks. They have an even longer shank than the Owners do, so they reach farther down into the egg sack of a 7" senko. For the 7", I swap out the keeper for an Owner CPS Large, and with that and the longer VMC hooks the durability has gone way up.

 

 

3 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

If you use a 7”, do you mainly use it on a Texas rig? Or have you also used it on a wacky or Neko rig?

You really need to find the correct sized o-ring(s) for the 7". Just snug enough, but not too tight, or they'll just guillotine the worm due its weight combined with its softness. And you can't nick the worm with the hook when you rig it or it's game over quickly. Even if you size the o-rings correctly, you can't cast too hard or it'll just split in half eventually. But casting hard isn't necessary. It's heavy. It's like casting a hot dog. It'll just go.

[ironbjorn]

I've never used 7 in Senkos, but being in the Great Lakes region I suppose that's to be expected. One of my top 5 LMB came on a 4 in Senko 5 ish years ago. I like 4 in better than 5 in, but both are staples for me.

[BrianMDTX]

18 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

I use 6"ers more than anything else. I simply do well with them. I usually rig them on a weighted or unweighted Owner Twistock Light 6/0 for t-rigging. However, last year I found these VMC Drop Dead 5/0 hooks. They have an even longer shank than the Owners do, so they reach farther down into the egg sack of a 7" senko. For the 7", I swap out the keeper for an Owner CPS Large, and with that and the longer VMC hooks the durability has gone way up.

 

 

You really need to find the correct sized o-ring(s) for the 7". Just snug enough, but not too tight, or they'll just guillotine the worm due its weight combined with its softness. And you can't nick the worm with the hook when you rig it or it's game over quickly. Even if you size the o-rings correctly, you can't cast too hard or it'll just split in half eventually. But casting hard isn't necessary. It's heavy. It's like casting a hot dog. It'll just go.

If I try them, I think I’d likely just use them as a Texas rig. I bet they cast a country mile!

[PhishLI]

12 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

I bet they cast a country mile!

They do! But try to find that VMC hook, or some other type of extra-long shank hook. If you hook into the rings before the egg sack, the worm can tear on the cast after a bit, and without ever even catching a fish.

 

Last year I was in a rush and forgot my longer hooks, so I rigged a 7" on what I had. The hook was rigged through the rings before the egg sack. After several casts and no bites, it split and let go. What was left was heavy enough that I didn't get a backlash! I saved the piece for melting down or for splicing down the line.

 

[Dwight Hottle]

4 hours ago, A-Jay said:

South of the border, a 7 inch Senko is KING.

And we are talking very respectable sized bass, but dinks will totally eat them too. 

Carolina Rigged, Texas Rigged, Wacky Rigged (with or without weight)

and my personal favorite, as a Jig Trailer.

The super soft bait is a real bite getter but is NOT Durable at all 

and is often a one fish & done bait.

For that reason alone, we switch to the Giant TRD as soon as it became available.

It's a little shorter and even fatter, and still gets all the bites.

But, One bag of this one lasts Hundreds of bass, regardless of how it's rigged. 

If I have an endless free supply I'd fish the Senko.

However living in the real world that Giant TRD makes more sense for me.

A-Jay

 

 X2 plus it floats.

[JediAmoeba]

I don't even consider the 7" all that big. I have caught a bunch of 2# Bass on them. 

[BrianMDTX]

49 minutes ago, JediAmoeba said:

I don't even consider the 7" all that big. I have caught a bunch of 2# Bass on them. 

As worms go, no. As Senkos go, they’re big lol. 

[king fisher]

Where I live big bass like seven inch Senko's.  They are expensive, but worth it.  Only way I will quit fishing the 7 inch, is if they start making an 8 inch Senko.

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

I pour some swinging football heads pretty much just for fishing with 7" stickworms. It's an 1/8oz head with a 7/0 Magworm hook. It has kind of a gliding/darting action on the fall and rarely hangs up when drug across the bottom. One of my favorite power finesse baits in the summer. 

[TOXIC]

On 2/18/2023 at 11:36 AM, Cbump said:

I said all this, then found these at academy just now. Naturally I bought them. 
 

 

Those new Speed Senkos you bought were the ticket in Florida.  Both weighted and unweighted got bit.   I used a 7.75 Kut Tail with a small screw in nose weight and caught a lot of fish.  My best came on a good ol fashioned 5 inch weightless. 

[txchaser]

On 2/18/2023 at 7:43 AM, A-Jay said:

 

For that reason alone, we switch to the Giant TRD as soon as it became available.

On any kind of weighted presentation the giant TRD is amazing. And a little floaty, so the back end is up off the bottom. Defnitely worth getting a pack when you get the big senkos. 

 

[TOXIC]

Just for comparison.  This fish was caught on a 4 inch Senko and a Ned head. ??

[Darth-Baiter]

I see the veteran CA Delta fishermen throwing the 7" Senko as a Punch bait.  they use big tungsten sinkers and thread them into the thickest stuff.  I watch this old guy drag out a river monster.

 

I never buy them.

 

I also watched a guy wacky one.  he would feather the spool right when the worm enters the water.  he said it folds the big worm up with the inertia and the worm enters the water so quietly, like a high diver.  he said the smaller worms dont do that.  I can't feather with just timing..so I never buy the 7"

[Lucky6]

It's not about the size of the senko... It's how you wiggle it.

[Cbump]

On 2/18/2023 at 7:34 AM, Cbump said:

I ordered some last year. When I got them I realized they are FAT. Way fatter than a normal senko. Too much so. These were like crayola marker fat. 
To me, a 7” senko may be the perfect bait if they left the girth alone. 
I never used them. 

Found my big senkos. This is what I’m talking about:

 

 

[softwateronly]

On 2/18/2023 at 6:22 PM, king fisher said:

Where I live big bass like seven inch Senko's.  They are expensive, but worth it.  Only way I will quit fishing the 7 inch, is if they start making an 8 inch Senko.

 

 

You can skip right to the 10”!!

 

https://www.magnumbaits.com/store/p4/10"_MagStick.html

 

scott