Fishing plastics. (Senko's and baby brush hawgs)

[BassChump]

As many of you that have followed some of my threads know, I've fished since late last year with no success until lately. Finally in the last 3 weeks or so, I've been slaying them. In every body of water I have fished in the past, I am now catching at least a few every time I go out and in my favorite lake, I'm typically catching 3 pounders or better and plenty of them and you guys are absolutely correct. Confidence seems to play a HUGE role in catching bass. I was expecting to be skunked and I got what I expected. I don't think I'm fishing any differently than I did in the past but there must be something that I do differently since I'm now catching stuff where ever I go.

Anyway, here's my question.

I've thrown lots of stuff at these bass lately and in every case, I've only caught something on a 4 inch senko. Watermellon/blk+red flake. T-rigged with a pegged bullet weight. I'm using flourocarbon line on a spinning reel and a light/medium action rod.

I've used different colored senko's. Cinaman, pumpkin, etc. I've used 5 inch senko's, weightless and t-rigged and all kinds of different combinations and the only thing that has worked for me so far is the 4 inch weighted watermellon/blk+red.

On Friday, I'm going to go again to my favorite lake. I'm going to use only 2 baits. On RW's recomendation, a 5 inch t-rigged weightless senko and baby brush hawgs. Everybody on here seems to like those so I bought some in the Junebug color. How do I rig them and are they fished the same way as a senko? Do I toss it in, watch the fall, twitch twitch, etc.???? Should I weight them?????? Do I t-rig them????

On the weightless senko, maybe I'm not spending enough time to let it sink. I let it sink but I have never got hit on the fall. Always once it's on the bottom so I figured a weighted senko gets it there quicker and I can cover more water that way. Am I wrong????? Is the weightless rig a better producer than the weighted rig???

I know these questions may be very basic, but I really don't have a clue.

          Thanks in advance for your responses.

[flechero]

I fish the brush hogs as a weighted t-rig or on a c-rig.  I've never fished them as a weightless t-rig but have seen my brother do it when fish were finicky.  (worked for him)

Don't be afraid to experiment a little... you never know, you might stumble onto something great.

[NBR]

Unless you are using a very heavy weight that plummets the Senko to the bottom I would bet my next pay check that you have been bit on the fall. Effective line watching comes with time; you will soon learn it.

I only fish Senkos unweighted except on a CRig and occasionally on a drop shot rig.

I fish the brush hog type lures on a light jig but they can be Trigged and Crigged for that matter.

[Raul]

BassChump, it 's not a matter of bait color, it 's not a matter of bait size, it 's a matter of application of the rigging and fishing techniques that can be applied to soft plastic baits.

Don 't ask which rigging technique works better, all of them work, some work one day, anothers work other day, light penetration, weather patterns, water temperature, depth, bottom composition, bottom contour, water clarity, water color, cover type and ammount, all those variables come into play when selecting rigging, fishing technique and bait type that suit those conditions best.

This is not like following a recipe, it 's about creating a recipe with the ingredients you have within reach and the only way to make the dish is by experimenting on your own. There are no "rules" you have to follow.

[Pencil Pusher]

You can't ask a question about a "Senko". Every possible question has been asked and answered.

[NewScreenNameAdvised]

On the weightless senko, maybe I'm not spending enough time to let it sink. I let it sink but I have never got hit on the fall. Always once it's on the bottom so I figured a weighted senko gets it there quicker and I can cover more water that way. Am I wrong????? Is the weightless rig a better producer than the weighted rig???

Make sure you are letting the Senko fall on slack line and watch your line.  You want it to shimmy as it falls and this is what will entice strikes.  The beauty of the Senko is that slow fall with the shimmy.  So in my opinion, it's better to not use weight.  Some guys like to use weight, though.  Since you are letting it fall on slack line, you probably won't feel the bite...so you really have to make sure you are watching your line.  Also, I am in big favor of using fluorocarbon for Senkos.  It has made a difference for myself.

[Grey Wolf]

BassChump, it 's not a matter of bait color, it 's not a matter of bait size, it 's a matter of application of the rigging and fishing techniques that can be applied to soft plastic baits.

Don 't ask which rigging technique works better, all of them work, some work one day, anothers work other day, light penetration, weather patterns, water temperature, depth, bottom composition, bottom contour, water clarity, water color, cover type and ammount, all those variables come into play when selecting rigging, fishing technique and bait type that suit those conditions best.

This is not like following a recipe, it 's about creating a recipe with the ingredients you have within reach and the only way to make the dish is by experimenting on your own. There are no "rules" you have to follow.

Listen to Raul , he's giving you Very good advice.

[BassChump]

All good advice. I'll try throwing the 5 inch Senko weightless and T-rigged for tomorrow morning. I've been successful with the weighted Senko's and perhaps I'm missing a lot of fish because of that. I'd love to put more fish on the boat so with that in mind, it's weightless for me tomorrow.

I'll also try out the baby brush hawgs. As it turns out, I'm bringing along a woman to fill the back seat that has never caught a bass in her life. Should be interesting. I would love to see her land a fatty. She trout fishes all the time but hasn't caught anything larger than a pounder or so. She is a riverbank fisherwoman so this will be a new experience for her and it will be fun to watch if we start landing a few.

It's supposed to be overcast, cool and with some slight drizzle in the morning. Will that affect the fishing at all?????

As far as RW "recommending" Senko's??? He didn't recommend them, in one of his responses, he just said was successful with weightless 5 inch Senko's. Sorry about that.

Anyway, I'll let you guys know how we do. I'll post a pic or two if we catch a few.

[BassChump]

Well, I thought I saw it on one of the threads he answered. my mistake. 4 inch, 5 inch, 6 inch,,,,, does it really matter that much???????? Well, other than the obvious.   lol

[Munkin]

Well, I thought I saw it on one of the threads he answered. my mistake. 4 inch, 5 inch, 6 inch,,,,, does it really matter that much???????? Well, other than the obvious. lol

I like the smaller 4" for fishing clear water and if I could only use one size this would be it. If something is working for you stick with it! If I find a bait that really works I buy one size smaller and one or 2 sizes larger.

Color only matters when it matters.

Allen

[roadwarrior]

my mistake. 4 inch, 5 inch, 6 inch,,,,, does it really matter that much???

Oh, ROADWARRIOR!!!!!!..............ROADWARRIOR!!!!!!!!

(I agree with you one hundred percent ; but........, we'll, let's here R-W say it........)

b (sorry, this one is years in the making; i'm not trying to drag you through anything, just keep you 'up-to-date' on the inner workings of RW; the man, the legend............

Hey Brent!

I guess I missed this one last night...

The 6" Senko is what I fish, but I recommend the 5" versions

to people that are struggling or just getting started. Numbers

are much better on 5" stickbaits. I fish 6" to discourage the

smaller fish, but still catch some. For a year or two I fished 7"

baits, but they didn't improve my bigger bass production and

more importantly, the 7" Senko is too heavy for the spinning

equipment I use to fish soft plastics.

So, that's the story.

-Kent a.k.a. roadwarrior

8-)

[roadwarrior]

Warren Buffet and Bill Gates are "best buddies" even though Mr. Buffet has never invested a penny in Microsoft. You and * are tops on my list. Even though I'm not your best customer, I support and promote your soft plastics here and a few other places.

Keep up the good work!

-Kent  a.k.a. roadwarrior

8-)

[Sam]

Bass Chump,

Sent you a PM.