soft stick baits

[rboat]

No matter the brand, Senko, Dinger, Stick-o, Fat ace, etc. I was always under the impression that they were made to be fished weightless so they have that sinking shimmy action. I am seeing more and more videos with guys using a bullet weight on the nose in the traditional T-rig method. I thought that would make it dive straight down with no shimmy action. Am I missing something, what gives? Thanks.

[RB 77]

There is no wrong way to fish them. I would say most people fish them weightless wacky rig. I prefer to weightless fly-line them most of the time. I caught PB on a trip to MX when I pinned one on a T-Rig after we ran out of lizards. I believe A-Jay uses them as jig trailers in MX. 

[Jason413]

I peg a small bullet weight on them sometimes just to drag them through the grass better.

[JHoss]

I've used them on a T Rig when the water is real cold and I want something super subtle. But 95% of the time they're on a weightless wacky, 4% weightless T Rig, and 1% weighted T Rig. 

[WRB]

T-rigged with a weight the Senko type stick bait becomes a fat worm.

Neko rig started a wacky rigged Senko with a nose weight.

Tom

[MediumMouthBass]

I couldnt catch a bass on a texas rig if it was starving.

Throw it on a wacky rig and it will obliterate it.

I think ill start trying them neko rigged, best of both worlds right?

 

That^ was my experience with stick baits, others will be the opposite and weighted texas rigs are their top producer, others might only catch bass on a weightless t rig. 

 

Its an extremely versatile bait, all while being very simple at the same time.

 

Take 3 rods out and see what your bass like.

[Bankbeater]

If I'm fishing in cover I'll fish them on a Texas rig.  If I'm fishing open water I fish them weightless.

[woolleyfooley]

I’ve had days where throwing a bullet weight in front of a senko has worked very well. I generally still throw them weightless however. 

[LCG]

Senkos are incredibly versatile baits. I remember seeing YouTube videos of 15 ways to rig them, some were very creative. If I recall correctly, it was originally meant to be fished as a soft jerkbait. 

[RB 77]

10 minutes ago, LCG said:

Senkos are incredibly versatile baits. I remember seeing YouTube videos of 15 ways to rig them, some were very creative. If I recall correctly, it was originally meant to be fished as a soft jerkbait. 

 

Yup, and that's how I fish them most of the time. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I dont think there is a wrong way to rig a senko, they always catch fish.  Personally, I dont throw them on a weighted T rig, I favor other stick baits that are more durable and less expensive, like a GB Airtail rattler or snake O.  A buddy of mine, he used to swear by pegging a senko for pitching into flooded bushes and stuff.  Ive seen him take a lot of quality bass on that when nothing else would work.  

I think the fast straight fall and lack of movement is benefit.  It allows the bait to get through cover without getting hung up.  I could see that fast fall getting the fish to react.

[GRiver]

I usually fish them weightless, wacky or Texas rigged, skipping around docks. If the conditions call for it I’ll put a bullet weight to get it down to the bottom, if there is current.

[gim]

I generally fish mine wacky rigged.  Depending on desired depth, I sometimes add a weight inserted into the stubby end to make it fall faster in deeper water.

 

They were both very effective presentations for me this past season targeting largemouth.

[Brian11719]

I haven't had much luck with one on a texas rig and if I'm going to throw a worm with a bullet weight I'd usually opt for a mag2 or ultravibe instead of a stick worm as I've had a lot of luck with those. On the other hand a wacky rig is one of my go to lures and as long as you have a good worm with the right amount of salt / weight (ie. a senko, berkley general, 6th sense clout, BPS stik-o, or a strike king ocho) you should get a good 'shimmy' out of it. There are a lot of others out there but from what I've seen many of them don't work as well for a wacky rig as these do. I do think a 4" dinger works ok for a ned rig type of setup, but that's because I don't care about the shimmy when I'm hopping a tiny stick across the bottom of a pond and so paying more for it doesn't make sense to me. According to the package Gary Yamamoto actually designed the owner twistlock ewg hook specifically for a senko, and if I was going to throw one on a texas rig I'd probably start there, but still probably wouldn't add any weight to the setup and honestly at this point I don't see myself doing much else with a stick bait other than throwing it on a wacky rig.

[papajoe222]

I've used a light bullet weight in front of a Senko to get it down deep faster than rigging it weightless. I'd estimate 75% of bites still occur on the fall, just like a weightless rig, so I don't think it looses much action. I may be wrong, but I know it works. 

[Catt]

When Gary Yamamoto first released the Senko I read about on another website. Gary listed Texas Rigged both weighted & weightless, as well as Wacky Rigged & on a Carolina Rig.

 

This site contains a wealth of knowledge about the Senko. @roadwarrior was around at the beginning & @Team9nine should have access to lots information. One of our members @George Welcome I believe was there at its release. @Glenn probably has gems on the beginning as well.

[WRB]

Gary made a video where stated he was making a Sluggo type soft jerk bait that would sink without adding weight and named it Senko.

Tom

[Catt]

@WRB I heard he designed after a Sharpie 

 

[Team9nine]

Gary on Yamamoto Baits start, and how/why the Senko came about: 

 

Quote

 

Spoiler alert - It was a BIC pen 😎

 

[KP Duty]

17 minutes ago, Catt said:

@WRB I heard he designed after a Sharpie 

 

I think you are both correct.  He was designing this new bait, and there was a pen on his desk he wanted to use as a template.

 

Denny Brauer only fishes the 6" version on a weighted EWG.  'Lift and glide'.

[WRB]

I remember going over to Iovino’s house to deliver a tool he wanted made and Don was exited to show me a new Yamamoto soft plastic he was using to catch bass. Don and Gary were close friend's and Don got all the new products to test. 
He had 6” watermelon red Senko rigged Texas no weight walked over to his swimming pool made a cast watch closely as it sinks and notice the slight tail wiggle.

Don said do you see it and replied see what? He made another cast and I did see a slight shimmy. Don’t give it any action just cast  and watch line as it sinks.

Don gave me a bag and it was lights out the bass haven’t seen a Senko and it never made it to the bottom!

Tom

PS, Don showed his new trick using a Peg-It through the hook eye cut off about 1/8” both side of the eye. You pull the rubber into the nose of the Senko to keep from sliding down the hook or tearing out fighting bass.

[TOXIC]

Since I did an article for Yamamoto showcasing 75 different ways to rig a Senko, I disqualify myself from this conversation. 😂

[Glenn]

Man, I don't know where to begin.  I immediately started experimenting with the Senko when it came out.  I've fished it more ways that I can remember, but here are a few videos I made about a decade ago showcasing some of the more versatile rigs.  Note the T-Rigged bullet sinker vid is the first:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now I won't claim to have invented these, but I was one of - if not the first - to make videos about them.  The "5 Ways to Rig A Senko" video came out in 2014 and was definitely the first video to explain those rigs, and it includes the Don Iovino trick WRB mentioned above (Don Iovino showed me that little trick in 80's on split-shot rigs, and I transferred that to all things T-Rigged).

[Columbia Craw]

[BrianMDTX]

I used to be 75% wacky rig and 25% weightless Texas rig. Now it’s the opposite. Haven’t had the success with the WR that much lately. The weightless TR almost always produces. 
 

Also lately I have at times added a small 1/8 oz. bullet weight. Certainly not for casting distance. A Senko casts pretty darn far and so easy to skip. It just to try a different sink rate it they’re not biting. But it’s not often.