How slow is slow? (senkos)

[piranha]

I was wondering how long you guys pause between movements of a senko. I know it will change based on what the fish want, but a range would be nice. For example, if the fish want a really slow presentation one day, is 10 seconds long enough to wait before moving the bait or recasting? 20 seconds? 30? What is really slow in your minds?

I don't want to leave it there for 20 seconds if it isn't realistic (percentage wise) to leave it there for more than 10, etc, etc.

Thanks.

[Rebbasser]

I really don't have a set time.  There are times I let it sit for a minute or more.  I learned about that technique which is called dead sticking by mistake.  I cast out and had a backlash.  Took me a couple of minutes to pick it out and when I reeled down there was a fish on it.  Just experiment with different durations-let the fish tell you.

[piranha]

A minute! I would be so anxious, I would have to eat a sandwich or something to distract myself.

[Rebbasser]

You would be surprised the number of times you sit there, and sit there, and sit there, and all of a sudden your line starts moving off.  Try the sandwich-might catch that monster ;D

[airborne_angler]

            I dont know if its because the pond I have been fishing lately doesnt get much pressure or what ,but when I first started using SENKO style baits(this weekend). The fish were all sitting on the surface sunning themselves and they were slamming the baits as soon as it hit the water. A few times even leaping out of the water right as it hit the water. Very aggressive. Im very happy with these baits. In two days I caught 15 Bass, 2 of them being 2.5--3 pounds, about 20 inches long. All the others were real small. I missed alot of hooksets I think mainly because the fish were only like 8-10 inches long. But as long as I let those small ones go,Im sure they will grow nicely. Just my 2 cents worth and my experience thusfar

[Sweetwater]

I'm like Rebbasser...I learned deadsticking by mistake.

You have to experiment to see what the bass want. I usually fish fast first, then slow down.

[Hot n Tot]

I'm like Rebbasser & Sweetwater, my first Senko bass (and he was a really nice one) came while I was picking out a backlash. My largest bass came when I had one C-rigged and decided to reel in really fast to check my bait; a really big bass hit when I got my bait near the boat where I could see it.  Two really nice fish on opposite techniques/retrieves...go figure.

[bigbill]

I use a senko type bait differently I like a little line tention. I like it with a carolina rig with 1/8oz brass weight with a clicker bead with a 24"+ leader.(note; Those new adjustable little plastic barrel sliders from BassProShops are awesome they were on a Woo Daves Video you can adjust your leader length in half a second "no tying" its the hottest thing to hit fishing since the fish hook) It falls still slow but when it stops on the bottom I move it back up and repeat. Having the weight gives me another advantage too I can slow reel it "very slow" reel it and it will run at a certain depth depending how I control my reel speed. I also use a snap swivel were my bait is too it gives me the advantage of quick changing baits. I use creature baits, plastic worms and grubs on my carolina rig too. All my senko's are used with Eagle Claw weedless hooks and wacky rigged they are worth it in the weeds. The weedless keeper is also an indicator when your not sure of a missed strike or the weeds hit it, when the weedless keeper comes up open its a missed strike I like that sometimes you can tell. BigBill

Remember to play on all the bass's senses like sound(clicker bead), smell(scents) and sight(using the right color for the water condition) that spells success in any order you put it.

Success in bass fishing isn't luck its SKILL!!!!!!  The more you learn and then go out and apply it the better fisherman or fisherlady you become.  You will catch more bass!!!!!!!

[Shad_Master]

Don't get too hung up on SLOW, try different presentations.  Sometimes the fish want Senko's moving.  They were originally intended to be a soft jerk bait, but are really versatile.  I usually watch my line until I am sure the bait has hit bottom.  Then I jig it a couple of times and let it fall again.  If I am pretty sure there are fish in the area, then I will reel in and re-cast.  If I am searching for fish, I will let it hit bottom and then crawl it for 10' to 20' as I jig it again.  Earlier this year, I was reeling in a Senko and had a fish chase it down.  On the next cast the same thing happened.  So I started throwing it like a crank bait and hit 6 or 7 nice bass off a spawing flat.  Other times, especially if the wind is up, I will fish them like a floater and the fish will come up and bust 'em.  You just have to experiment.

[roadwarrior]

I always fish Senkos SLOW, weightless & weedless. Slow means something like at least 2 minutes per cast, if I really like the position it might be 5 minutes. On the initial drop I usually let it sit on the bottom for 30 seconds to a minute just to get the attention of a big bass. I fish the bait as long as I think it remains in "the zone", pausing 10-20 seconds between movements.

I fish the Ika and the Fat Ika the same way.

[Fishguy]

I guess it all depends on a couple of things. How deep is the water that you're fishing and what color is it.

I fish senkos in clear water lakes - a good 10 feet of visibility and in mostly shallow 1 to 4 feet of water.  Once my Senko has entered the water I watch the line like a hawk 'cause 90% on the strikes will be on the fall. If I don't get bit on the fall I wait about 5 seconds then begin a real slow retrieve, raising my rod only about a couple of inches to get the bait off the bottom and falling again. I repeat this until my line is halfway back to the boat then I start over.  So I'd say it takes me about a minute to work a senko per cast.  Other people will say to let it sit there onthe bottom for a longer time - and they're right about that too, but this is my preference - and it works well for me.  A word of advice here:  as good as a senko is at catching fish just about anywhere in the water, your odds will increase big time if you toss them near, or into cover, such as shade, holes in weeds, stumps, logs, rip rap, and so forth.

Hope this helps.  Dan