A Challenge

[basslover12345]

Ok, I just read an article about how Kevin VanDam has caught a limit of bass for 57 consecutive competition days and I decided it to try it myself, So far I have fished for two days (Today and yesterday) and have caught very small (3-5.5 pounds) of bass both days on a senko. What do you guys think of this? Will it make me a better tournament angler? I am going to try to visut 30 different ponds, streams, lakes, and rivers and catch a limit at each.

[fishn hard]

When i fished in a club i brought in a limit every Tournament for 5 years straight.and we fished 12 tournaments a year and I was club champ those 5 years and there has never been a stinking sinko in my boat well only when i take my daughter fishing lol

[guitarkid]

I would be happy to be able to fish 58 days in a row, much less catch a limit.

-gk

[Gatorbassman]

If you feel like you are ready for a challenge like that then go ahead and do it, but I would consider broadening your choice of lures. Also make sure your bass are keepers. (12 inches or greater) My goal each time I'm out is to catch at least a 10lb limit. I don't always accomplish it but that is always my goal.

[Catt]

If you are going to be a successful tournament angler at any level you better be that consistent.

Like fluke my goal each time I’m on the lake is 8 bass of 14” or greater

[Crestliner2008]

When i fished in a club i brought in a limit every Tournament for 5 years straight.and we fished 12 tournaments a year and I was club champ those 5 years and there has never been a stinking sinko in my boat well only when i take my daughter fishing lol

I thought the object of fishing period, was to catch fish? Are you saying that catching fish with a Senko makes you any less of fisherman? This kind of sanctimonious comment about anyone's method of accomplishing the goal reflects very poorly. You may have the bragging rights, but not the character, in my opinion.

[Fishing Rhino]

I thought the object of fishing period, was to catch fish? Are you saying that catching fish with a Senko makes you any less of fisherman? This kind of sanctimonious comment about anyone's method of accomplishing the goal reflects very poorly. You may have the bragging rights, but not the character, in my opinion.

These types of comments always makes me chuckle. It's like the notion that using a landing net is somehow unsporting. In fact some tournament ban their use.

Some fishermen spend tens of thousands of dollars, in some cases, hundreds of thousands of dollars, on the latest and greatest gear, including boats, tackle and electronics, then pooh pooh others who use senkos. That strikes me as being a bit hypocritical.

I've posted this before. From the time man discovered that using a pointed stick rather than bare hands made him a more productive fisherman, the technology race was on to give us ever greater advantages over our quarry. To single out any item, and not use it, be it a bait or a landing net as a gesture of demonstrating sportsmanship and superiority is laughable.

[fishn hard]

If you want to beat the banks with a sinko Go for it So then take that sinko and use it when the water is n the low 40s and tell me how that works out for you. How much can you teach some one bye telling them to use a sinko nothing.... I can take a 4 year old out tie on a circle hook and a sinko for him and he is catching fish now do you see what im saying about a sinko there a good bait that catches fish but im not gonna promote them

[fishingkidPA]

why wouldnt you promote them? isn't it good to have a lure/bait that catches fish? isn't that what companies go for is to find the best thing to catch fish on? for instance thats like saying using a crankbait is to easy because all you do is reel, (im not hating on crankbaits just making a point)your saying senko's should only be used for novices and i disagree with that, give any guy on this website almost any lure of your choice and "difficulty" and i bet he will catch fish on it. it boggles the mind how some people think there so "manly" because of some lure they fish or wont fish. Senkos catch fish, thats why people use them. oh and i work a weightless trigged trickworm the same and catch as many, same exact technique. are you not going to promote them cause there so simple to use?

[Catt]

If you want to beat the banks with a sinko Go for it So then take that sinko and use it when the water is n the low 40s and tell me how that works out for you. How much can you teach some one bye telling them to use a sinko nothing.... I can take a 4 year old out tie on a circle hook and a sinko for him and he is catching fish now do you see what im saying about a sinko there a good bait that catches fish but im not gonna promote them

If you want to beat the banks with a sinko

Texas or Carolina rig a Senko for fishing deep water!

So then take that sinko and use it when the water is n the low 40s and tell me how that works out for you.

Wacky rigged Senko is a killer pre-spawn technique!

How much can you teach some one bye telling them to use a sinko nothing

It aint the what.... it’s the where!

I can take a 4 year old out tie on a circle hook and a sinko for him and he is catching fish now do you see what im saying about a sinko there a good bait that catches fish but im not gonna promote them

I gotta a 4 year old grandson the catches on spinner baits & Texas rigs!

So I guess you aint said nothing

[Dinky]

If you want to beat the banks with a sinko Go for it So then take that sinko and use it when the water is n the low 40s and tell me how that works out for you. How much can you teach some one bye telling them to use a sinko nothing.... I can take a 4 year old out tie on a circle hook and a sinko for him and he is catching fish now do you see what im saying about a sinko there a good bait that catches fish but im not gonna promote them

I, as well as many others I fish with, have caught numerous 8 and 9 pound largemouths on Senkos, lizards(various brands),Carolina rigs (using Senkos even!) crankbaits, top water lures -- to name a few. Some have been caught on steep/deep bluffs, some on shallow banks. This all leads to the conclusion that you have probably not caught as many, or as big, fish as those using Senkos have caught.

And, you never will as long as you retain such a narrow minded opinion.

I do agree that you certainly can't teach anyone anything about a Senko if you don't know anything about it yourself.

Good luck, you will need it.

[slonezp]

Go for it basslover. Whether you use a Senko or any other type of bait you will learn. PAY ATTENTION to everything you do, the weather conditions, the colors of baits you're using, the different types of structure and weeds you're fishing. Try different ways to rig(as Catt mentioned)the baits. Keep a log and refer back to it.

I like to throw jigs. My son has always loved to throw Senkos because they work. Well, this year he decided he's going to try jig fishing and not throw Senkos. After our last 2 tournaments which we came in 3rd (with 4 fish, first place was less than one pound heavier) and 6th (with 3 fish, first place was less than two pounds heavier), he says to me "Dad, you know if we had caught a limit both times we would have come in 1st place. Next time we get a couple good fish I'm switching back to a senko." He's absolutely right. Part of learning is keeping an open mind.

To not use a bait that catches fish, because it catches fish???

[Hound_dog]

It appears as if Basslover12345 theard was hijacked by people wanting to debate about the use of a sinko. Why don't some of you try to at least answer his questions while you're debating the sinko. He never said he was only going to use a Sinko. He just stated what he used the first 2 days to catch fish.

Basslover12345 I think you have set a good goal to go out a learn more. It will make you a better angler as long as you keep several things in mind while going out on your quest. As Slonezp stated pay attention to everything you do. Get a note book and write down what the weather conditions (temp., pressure, rising or falling, ski condition, etc), water conditions (temp, clarity, depth, etc), bait colors & types you're using, size and type line, etc. Keep a log of every detail you can think of putting in it. You can then use this log to refer to in the future when you face similar conditions on different lakes. This will help you have a starting point of what to throw when trying to figure out what the bass want that day. When it comes to tournament fishing you want the most information you can get going into it to give you a better edge over others. The more different types of bodies of water you can visit the better it will make you. It gives you valuable experience in different fishing conditions. I think you have come up with a good way to help you learn more into the science of catching bass. Good luck on the challenge you have set for yourself.

[fishn hard]

I, as well as many others I fish with, have caught numerous 8 and 9 pound largemouths on Senkos, lizards(various brands),Carolina rigs (using Senkos even!) crankbaits, top water lures -- to name a few. Some have been caught on steep/deep bluffs, some on shallow banks. This all leads to the conclusion that you have probably not caught as many, or as big, fish as those using Senkos have caught.

And, you never will as long as you retain such a narrow minded opinion.

I do agree that you certainly can't teach anyone anything about a Senko if you don't know anything about it yourself.

Good luck, you will need it.

Man u guys are missing the point did i not say a stinking sinko catches fish but if im going to several different ponds lakes and streams and trying to make my self a better Tournament angler I am not gonna go searching for fish with a sinko thats just me and what works for me may not work for you

[Nick]

It's always a good thing to set goals while fishing, but do remember that you are not fishing the same places that KVD is fishing. Most of the Elite tour events are staged at the prime fishing times for the waters being fished, and the pro's do get three days to prepare for each event. Please note that most Elite anglers also catch a limit every day barring a penalty or mechanical issue. So often it's the quality of the limit that often dictates the success or failure of a pro angler.

Occasionally, a big tournament is held on an average body(e.g. Beaver Lake FLW nearly any year) of water in a slow period (winter) and the limits for most pro's are tough to come by. I'd like to see BASS hold a few off season events for a change, but they make for poor TV and deflated egos.

I know that I could not begin to catch a limit of bass around my county for 58 consecutive trips with the weather and water level extremes, and I doubt anyone in the country could do it either.

[Scorcher214]

My goal is to just not get skunked! And if you can catch a limit with senkos, more power to ya man!

[tyrius.]

a sinko there a good bait that catches fish but im not gonna promote them

Pretty sure Gary Y won't be too upset about you not promoting the senko.

[Grey Wolf]

It's sad that some topics get side tracked by something that has nothing to do with the original statement.

[J Francho]

You guys all assume that the Senko outfishes every other bait all of the time. Not true. And using just a Senko isn't going to make the OP a better tournament angler, especially if he's preparing to fish as a co-angler or non boater. His best bet to practice for this is to simply join a club, and start fishing club tournaments. While doing this, pay attention to the boater, and play monkey see monkey do, and learn what you can by asking questions. be prepared, some boaters won't talk or share, others are very helpful.

[dhami013]

You guys all assume that the Senko outfishes every other bait all of the time. Not true. And using just a Senko isn't going to make the OP a better tournament angler, especially if he's preparing to fish as a co-angler or non boater. His best bet to practice for this is to simply join a club, and start fishing club tournaments. While doing this, pay attention to the boater, and play monkey see monkey do, and learn what you can by asking questions. be prepared, some boaters won't talk or share, others are very helpful.

I definitely agree with this statement. I rode back seat on a handful of tournaments early this year, and I learned a lot. Mostly just by watching. Luckily the guys I fished with were both successful and really great to get a long with. Which I've heard is very rare. Joining a club is guranteed to improve fishing capabilities.

And if it catches fish, how can you really discount it's value? If you're getting bang for your buck, how can you complain? It's all preference anyways. Don't look down upon another fisherman for what technique he's using, that's just arrogant and narrow minded. At the end of the day, he that has more fun wins, not he who is seen as the most sporting because he strays away from using a certain bait.

If you wanna use senkos, I hope you slay em, if you wanna use live bait, I hope you slay em. Fish, share, and educate others. Don't leave a brother in the dust, especially one who has the same passion as you.

Good luck on your goal my man, I wish I could fish that many days in a row. Experimenting with different baits is always a plus. And if experimenting isn't producing then go to your confidence bait. Like someone said before, keep a log book. I just started this year and it is definitely useful. Try to be as specific as you can with details in your log book. It truly pays off. Even when you're just fishing leisurely and not tournament wise. Keep it all down. You learn a lot more that day.

Make sure you make note of the conditions and the presentaion you were using that produced, and what didn't produce.

I'll get off my soap box now.

Take care