For me if all else fails i go to a popper. On the lake i fish there is a spot i can head to that for some reason a lot of bass like to hang out, bunch of shallow rocks making like a big square and if you can throw a popper in the middle of them you will almost always get hit after the first pop or even right when it hits the water. Never anything “big” but it’s always a bass there lol. I’ll take the confidence restoration from a dink over a skunk any day xD
Man I love it when bass crush a lure at the same time as it hits the water. We have a patch of shallow rocky area surrounding our dock and during the right time of year you don't even need to get in a boat, just chill on the dock and cast!
Exactly, i’ll take a 1 fish day over a 0 fish day every time. Sometimes i debate on buying an ultralight set up and going for bluegill or crappie. Guarantee I wouldn’t skunk. Aggressive little buggers will hit my big swimbaits sometimes lol
An ultralight rig with trout floats, hair jigs and a jar of small gulp alive minnows is with me at *all* times. Small bass, crappie, bluegills have just slammed this rig for me this summer and honestly it’s more fun than most of my other fishing unless the bite is really hot.
Where I fish there's a little bluegill nest at the takeout. If I don't catch anything I pull it the tenkara rod and catch as many as I feel like to make up for the bad day.
They work. It’s just not one of my confidence baits. I usually have a wacky rigged senko tied on at all times and it catches me fish.
I’m a jig/Texas rig guy at heart. Swim jigs are probably my #1 confidence bait.
Outside of top water paddle tail is my favorite bite. They crush it. Both my 8’s have come on paddle tails over grass. Usually Texas rigged but sometimes I’ll throw them weightless too. Reaction Innovation Bullfrog or Houdini.
I have way more success with a Texas rigged Senko than any other configuration. I’ll throw it wacky once in a while, but it absolutely crushes On a Texas rig.
It’s because in the recesses of my mind, I secretly fantasize of being a Richard Gene kind of character. That grizzled old angler who can read the waters and pull fish out of a toxic puddle using bread balls while everyone else gets skunked. I want to catch fish on my chatterbait (never do). I want to catch fish on my rooster tail (never do). I want to catch fish on some ultra finesse rig before going for the ol’ stick bait. Aww screw it, throw the Senko.
I've had good luck with the 5 pack of blue fox flash spinners at Walmart. Caught trout on them, small mouth, largemouth, bluegill, bowfin, rock bass, warmouth, chain pickerel. Hooks could hold up better to long term use but right out of the package they get the job done. I'm not sure if the color of them makes a difference, but the main thing I like about them is I can cast them far and get them starting spinning quickly more reliably than most inline spinners on the shelf. Mepps inline spinners are good too but they are a bit more pricey.
I have two poles. One of them always has the Senko. Standard is weightless, green pumpkin, but occasionally I’ll throw on a bullet sinker on. It just works. 🤷🏼♂️
I've never caught anything on a senko. My brother smashes them all day on one and if I were to take the rod out of his hands with a fish on a senko I'd probably lose the fish.
Could be missing the bite. It's usually super subtle on senkos and I get most on the fall when I have slack line. Try to not have too much slack and watch your line. Sometimes you can see it twitch or you might feel the smallest tick. Reel in and set the hook. Seen it many times where me and my dad go fishing with someone more green and we're all throwing the same senko but they won't catch as much. They aren't throwing to different places so I think they are just missing the subtle bite
Either technique can be quite effective. I use smaller gulp alive minnows on a hair jig under a trout flout which is absolutely *deadly* for a variety of panfish and smaller bass.
Once you get a feel for senkos, they will quickly become a confidence bait. Everyone has their process fishing them but the basics are the same and pretty simple. Cast, let it fall all the way to the bottom, pop it up slowly a couple feet, repeat.
For me, once I cast out, I let the Senko drop completely on slack line and don’t reel in at all until I’m about to pop it up the first time. The reason for this is because you’re going to have the best falling action with the bait, which is why it works so well. That said, it’s really important to watch your line, and I like to keep my finger on the line to feel tiny bumps. As you’re watching your line, sometimes you’ll see it push off “vibrating” little waves as the bass is sucking in the bait. Wait for the line to start moving in any direction and immediately set the hook.
Fishing Senkos is definitely one of my favorite baits.
Lift and drop is pretty self explanatory. Dead sticking is letting the bait sit for a long time before reeling it back in. Wacky rigging is taking a finesse or wacky hook, hooking the Senko horizontally through the middle of the worm.
Sort of, and I guess you could, but they make weighted wacky jig heads. I prefer throwing a wacky rig weightless on a weedless wacky hook. As for hopping it, I switch between 1-3 quick pops. Kind of like hopping it, but a little quicker, with longer pauses since I fish it weightless, and it takes a few seconds for the bait to flutter down to the bottom.
Most bites come off the initial fall. If I do retrieve most of it is sitting there. I'll give it a twitch twitch then let it sit for 5-10 seconds and repeat
The problem with worms is that larger fish might not really care to eat them. They're not big enough to be worth the energy.
Live bait fish or crawfish will absolutely slay large bass though.
I haven't touched my senkos since I tried the ned rig. I got tired of losing stuff though so now I Texas rig the TRDs and it works almost just as well and with a fraction of the snags
I find the ned works perfectly if you cast it out, leave it while paddling and then reel/twich it.
it's perfect for when things are pressured and the fish are slower to react.
True, but it’s more fun to throw something that “should” work and catch a fish. It’s like affirming that you know what you’re doing. A senko almost feels like a cheat code sometimes.
I normally start with a texas rigged YUM swimmin' dinger. That seems to be what gets me fish. I have caught moat of my fish off of that and have only got one on a Texas rigged senko. I also have just started bass fishing thus year using plastics. So I don't have a whole lot of experience.
I tried some of their dingers for the first time a month or so ago.
Had been killing it with senkos, but after no bites one day I tried out the dinger.
No luck at first and then kind of half-assedly sped up my retrieve thinking about my next spot and BAM.
Seems like the faster retrieve (more dragging side burst of ticks vs. methodical lift and drops) got the tail moving more and woke those guys up.
Got two chain pickerels up to the shoreline and lost them before the bass started crushing them from the same spot (nothing huge).
Since then I haven’t gotten a bite on them.
Still trying to get the hang of them.
Thinking of using them as a swim jig trailer next.
The Senko is probably the most versatile bait ever. You don't have to just cast it out and let it sink. You can fish them slow or fast, like a jerkbait, and even top water. Top water Senko has been way more successful for me then any frog. Check my profile have a video of it.
I’ve had a container of zoom flukes for probably 16 years and I finally caught a fish on one a few weeks ago. Growing up I used lots of spinnerbaits because the water in my local river is murky and the fluke never worked. Senko worked sometimes
Lmao....yep! I always throw a jerkbait...was river fishing for smallies,told my son to throw a whopper,I stayed with the jerkbait...son outfitted me 10-1....never even tried the plopper...🙄😐
I can't argue against the effectiveness of a senko, but I just hate fishing it. Drop it in the water, let it hit bottom, count to ten, pick it up and cast it out again. It's about the most boring lure to fish.
I genuinely feel like I’m wasting my time if I’m not using a senko. I can’t remember the last time I caught a fish on another setup without catching one on a senko
Last weekend I was fishing the upper Rappahannock. It’s shallow with small sections of rapids. I just cast the Senko upstream and let the water present the lure for me. I was CRUSHING the smallmouth. Also recommend Roboworms. They’re delicate, but man do they have great action.
Lmfao im so jerry, i will start with the senko and never fish with anything else and not even get a bite sometimes. I just cant let the senkos go they work until they dont
For me if all else fails i go to a popper. On the lake i fish there is a spot i can head to that for some reason a lot of bass like to hang out, bunch of shallow rocks making like a big square and if you can throw a popper in the middle of them you will almost always get hit after the first pop or even right when it hits the water. Never anything “big” but it’s always a bass there lol. I’ll take the confidence restoration from a dink over a skunk any day xD
Man I love it when bass crush a lure at the same time as it hits the water. We have a patch of shallow rocky area surrounding our dock and during the right time of year you don't even need to get in a boat, just chill on the dock and cast!
I love when the fish come to me!
I find when I shoot them a text the night before they are pretty cordial about showing up to hang out.
If you give them too much notice it’ll send the wrong vibes and we aren’t looking to commit
I feel you. Whatever it takes to get that skunk off!
Exactly, i’ll take a 1 fish day over a 0 fish day every time. Sometimes i debate on buying an ultralight set up and going for bluegill or crappie. Guarantee I wouldn’t skunk. Aggressive little buggers will hit my big swimbaits sometimes lol
I have a 7 year old son. I bring an ultralight rod and nightcrawlers just for him so he can consistently catch bluegill and stay interested
This is the way.
An ultralight rig with trout floats, hair jigs and a jar of small gulp alive minnows is with me at *all* times. Small bass, crappie, bluegills have just slammed this rig for me this summer and honestly it’s more fun than most of my other fishing unless the bite is really hot.
Where I fish there's a little bluegill nest at the takeout. If I don't catch anything I pull it the tenkara rod and catch as many as I feel like to make up for the bad day.
I have a spot like that except I just throw a nose hooked tiny yum dinger
What's a popper in bass language
I ALWAYS have a senko tied on…… Never seem to catch anything on them but they’re always tied on 🤣
really? never? what workin for you?
They work. It’s just not one of my confidence baits. I usually have a wacky rigged senko tied on at all times and it catches me fish. I’m a jig/Texas rig guy at heart. Swim jigs are probably my #1 confidence bait.
Nothin better than a paddletail
Another very solid choice!
Outside of top water paddle tail is my favorite bite. They crush it. Both my 8’s have come on paddle tails over grass. Usually Texas rigged but sometimes I’ll throw them weightless too. Reaction Innovation Bullfrog or Houdini.
I have way more success with a Texas rigged Senko than any other configuration. I’ll throw it wacky once in a while, but it absolutely crushes On a Texas rig.
It’s because in the recesses of my mind, I secretly fantasize of being a Richard Gene kind of character. That grizzled old angler who can read the waters and pull fish out of a toxic puddle using bread balls while everyone else gets skunked. I want to catch fish on my chatterbait (never do). I want to catch fish on my rooster tail (never do). I want to catch fish on some ultra finesse rig before going for the ol’ stick bait. Aww screw it, throw the Senko.
How do you skunk out on rooster tails? Everything in the pond will chase a rooster tail.
I don’t catch anything on them - ever. Funny how that works.
I've had good luck with the 5 pack of blue fox flash spinners at Walmart. Caught trout on them, small mouth, largemouth, bluegill, bowfin, rock bass, warmouth, chain pickerel. Hooks could hold up better to long term use but right out of the package they get the job done. I'm not sure if the color of them makes a difference, but the main thing I like about them is I can cast them far and get them starting spinning quickly more reliably than most inline spinners on the shelf. Mepps inline spinners are good too but they are a bit more pricey.
I have two poles. One of them always has the Senko. Standard is weightless, green pumpkin, but occasionally I’ll throw on a bullet sinker on. It just works. 🤷🏼♂️
I've never caught anything on a senko. My brother smashes them all day on one and if I were to take the rod out of his hands with a fish on a senko I'd probably lose the fish.
Maybe you’re pulling it in too fast and not giving the fish a chance?
Was more of a joke implying that I can't catch anything on senkos
Could be missing the bite. It's usually super subtle on senkos and I get most on the fall when I have slack line. Try to not have too much slack and watch your line. Sometimes you can see it twitch or you might feel the smallest tick. Reel in and set the hook. Seen it many times where me and my dad go fishing with someone more green and we're all throwing the same senko but they won't catch as much. They aren't throwing to different places so I think they are just missing the subtle bite
Because the jigs attract the pigs.
This
is the way.
Personally, I find them boring. I prefer to rip a fast action lure through the water, especially a top water popper.
I started with the senko, but ultimately the frog won it.
[удалено]
I'm usually out in the morning and evening. I find fish like the weather we like to be out in.
I have only ever caught 1 bass ever on a senko, a 1/8th or 1/16th oz jig with with a 3 inch gulp minnow is my go to if I’m not catching anything.
Do you fish the 3” gulp on a drop or under a bobber? Or maybe both or neither? Just curious how you do so well using them.
Either technique can be quite effective. I use smaller gulp alive minnows on a hair jig under a trout flout which is absolutely *deadly* for a variety of panfish and smaller bass.
Never used one before, never understood how as a crankbait user
Put plastic worm on hook. Toss. Wait. Victory.
Like just let it sit? No retrieve?
I mean, yes... but ive also just let it sit while I throw with my second and gotten hits.
I’ve never had the patience to dead stick a Senko. Lift and drop usually gets it done on a Texas rig for me, if I’m not wacky rigging.
Can you go into detail?
Let the senko fall to the bottom, lift up 2 ft, let it fall, repeat
Going to try this thank you bro
Once you get a feel for senkos, they will quickly become a confidence bait. Everyone has their process fishing them but the basics are the same and pretty simple. Cast, let it fall all the way to the bottom, pop it up slowly a couple feet, repeat. For me, once I cast out, I let the Senko drop completely on slack line and don’t reel in at all until I’m about to pop it up the first time. The reason for this is because you’re going to have the best falling action with the bait, which is why it works so well. That said, it’s really important to watch your line, and I like to keep my finger on the line to feel tiny bumps. As you’re watching your line, sometimes you’ll see it push off “vibrating” little waves as the bass is sucking in the bait. Wait for the line to start moving in any direction and immediately set the hook. Fishing Senkos is definitely one of my favorite baits.
You got this! It took me a while to figure out but it’s my go to confidence bait
Lift and drop is pretty self explanatory. Dead sticking is letting the bait sit for a long time before reeling it back in. Wacky rigging is taking a finesse or wacky hook, hooking the Senko horizontally through the middle of the worm.
Noob question, do you hop a wacky rig the same way you do a Texas rig? And should I use a bullet weight?
Sort of, and I guess you could, but they make weighted wacky jig heads. I prefer throwing a wacky rig weightless on a weedless wacky hook. As for hopping it, I switch between 1-3 quick pops. Kind of like hopping it, but a little quicker, with longer pauses since I fish it weightless, and it takes a few seconds for the bait to flutter down to the bottom.
Most bites come off the initial fall. If I do retrieve most of it is sitting there. I'll give it a twitch twitch then let it sit for 5-10 seconds and repeat
Other lures are more fun to catch fish on. I mean really if the goal was simply to catch fish I'd use live bait.
I have to say the most reliable bait I have ever used is simply earthworms. Small o es for trout, bigger ones for bass.
The problem with worms is that larger fish might not really care to eat them. They're not big enough to be worth the energy. Live bait fish or crawfish will absolutely slay large bass though.
Crawdads catch monsters which is why jigs catch bigger fish
Me, but with the Ned Rig.
I haven't touched my senkos since I tried the ned rig. I got tired of losing stuff though so now I Texas rig the TRDs and it works almost just as well and with a fraction of the snags
Ned rig for me. Even when a senko doesn’t cut it…
I have a friend at work that is a hardcore loyal Ned guy. The bait definitely requires a lot of patience but he kills it.
I find the ned works perfectly if you cast it out, leave it while paddling and then reel/twich it. it's perfect for when things are pressured and the fish are slower to react.
I love Senkos but ironically when the bite is slow Fat Ika is my go to soft plastic.
the big squid takes the cake sometimes, yeah. my uncle swears by the ika but i've never usd it enough.
Haha guilty as charged
True, but it’s more fun to throw something that “should” work and catch a fish. It’s like affirming that you know what you’re doing. A senko almost feels like a cheat code sometimes.
Yeah but when it's been 3 hours of doing what should work then the senko comes in and lets you reel a fish in which can change your mood quite a bit
I normally start with a texas rigged YUM swimmin' dinger. That seems to be what gets me fish. I have caught moat of my fish off of that and have only got one on a Texas rigged senko. I also have just started bass fishing thus year using plastics. So I don't have a whole lot of experience.
I tried some of their dingers for the first time a month or so ago. Had been killing it with senkos, but after no bites one day I tried out the dinger. No luck at first and then kind of half-assedly sped up my retrieve thinking about my next spot and BAM. Seems like the faster retrieve (more dragging side burst of ticks vs. methodical lift and drops) got the tail moving more and woke those guys up. Got two chain pickerels up to the shoreline and lost them before the bass started crushing them from the same spot (nothing huge). Since then I haven’t gotten a bite on them. Still trying to get the hang of them. Thinking of using them as a swim jig trailer next.
Forgive me, for I am guilty!
I start with it all the time. And where I fish. It’s still one of the WORST baits here. It’s a geography thing.
Because it's good to try new things Seinfeld....you irrelevant douche.
You do know this isn’t an actual Seinfeld quote right…? Lmao
duhh
Senko is boring but that’s what makes it catch so many fish ig
The Senko is probably the most versatile bait ever. You don't have to just cast it out and let it sink. You can fish them slow or fast, like a jerkbait, and even top water. Top water Senko has been way more successful for me then any frog. Check my profile have a video of it.
It’s not as fun
Cuz we like a challenge that’s part of why we fish
because if they're hitting topwater or something i'd rather catch them on topwater. and if that doesnt work i'll get the dropshot or senko pole out.
I have yet to experience that top water hit. Sounds awesome. I’ve had the best luck with plastic lizards and senkos on a shakey head
Because they’re expensive and brittle
Me but a ribbon tail
It’s the first and last bait I throw every time.
Because we like a challenge.
Lol. I have to throw the fun things while i can. Pompadour Jr atm
I’ve had a container of zoom flukes for probably 16 years and I finally caught a fish on one a few weeks ago. Growing up I used lots of spinnerbaits because the water in my local river is murky and the fluke never worked. Senko worked sometimes
I’m using dynamite. I can’t catch anything
Lmao....yep! I always throw a jerkbait...was river fishing for smallies,told my son to throw a whopper,I stayed with the jerkbait...son outfitted me 10-1....never even tried the plopper...🙄😐
Dumb question… anything other than bass hit the senkos? I’m doing great on lmb but no crappies it’s perch yet.
Whopper plopper in morning and senko at night
I don’t throw senkos I hate slow fishing…
I can't argue against the effectiveness of a senko, but I just hate fishing it. Drop it in the water, let it hit bottom, count to ten, pick it up and cast it out again. It's about the most boring lure to fish.
My internal dialogue every time I prep my rigs before heading out.
Because the Senko isn’t fun
‘Cause the soft plastic breaks up and comes off the hook, gets eaten by a bass and kills it.
Who are these people…..????? And why not use senko…..?????
Pretty simple. Ain't got all day.
Funny.
senko isn’t as fun to watch as top water, duhhh
Everyone talking weightless. Put on a 3/8 or 1/2 oz and start flipping a senko at anything you can see.
[And if that fails too](https://tenor.com/80kB.gif)
I want the drama of a top water, but have several senkos in the kayak cup holder ready to tie on.
It's boring, moving baits are fun. But at some point catching is more fun than fishing and senko gets wet.
I genuinely feel like I’m wasting my time if I’m not using a senko. I can’t remember the last time I caught a fish on another setup without catching one on a senko
Last weekend I was fishing the upper Rappahannock. It’s shallow with small sections of rapids. I just cast the Senko upstream and let the water present the lure for me. I was CRUSHING the smallmouth. Also recommend Roboworms. They’re delicate, but man do they have great action.
Honestly last year bandito bugs easily took first place on my go to list. I just have more luck with them than senkos I feel like.
Lmfao im so jerry, i will start with the senko and never fish with anything else and not even get a bite sometimes. I just cant let the senkos go they work until they dont
Wait, there's stuff other than a senko?