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[Yeaperous]

while i was fishing for bass, i caught some decent ones on the buzzbait in the morning and when it got to the afternoon, the senko's were biting but i wasn't hooking the fish, im just not sure how to use it correctly, any advice would help, thanks...

[mauro]

You mean you were getting bites but could not set the hook, or others were getting bites and you were not?

If the former,  use a bigger hook, 3/0 wide gap is a good start and skin hook the point of the hook.
If the latter.  Fish slower, when you do retrieve, make it a short sharp turn of 1/4 to 1/2 of the handle revolution, then pause for at least a 5 count.
This makes the bait dart and sink seductively.

M>

[luvbassfishin]

.

[bassn1]

The senco is a do-nothing bait. Meaning you thow it out and do-nothing but pitch it to a likely spot and wait for a bite. And a bite will come if you are on fish. Two ways I rig the bait are , texas rig and/or wacky rig. Both rigs are weightless. With the texas rig I use a 3.0 wide gap hook. Wacky rig, use a small octopus style hook and hook the bait just above the egg sack. This will allow the bait to fall horizontally with both ends shimmying seductively as it falls. Use the texas rig aroung cover and the wackey rig when you have less of a chance to get hung up because of the exposed hook. Took me along time to become comfortable with the wacky rig because of the exposed hook. I felt that the fish would see the hook and ignore my offer. However that just wasn't the case. When I decided to try it WOW! caught a bunch of fish. Warning !! Do not throw the wacky rig around trees with a lot of branches.    You will get hung up and lose your set -up and re-tie approx. 80 - 90 % of the casts. I thought I could guide the bait through the branches   No chance   The trees will reach out and grab your bait and not give it back. Not even when using braid.

Why you are not hooking the fish    are your hooks sharp? Are you using hooks that are too large/small. Are you waiting for that familier tap tap tap or waiting for the line to start moving/swimming before setting the hook?

There are no secrets to using a senco. Just a plastic worm, hook and a bass.
Try a few of the suggestions you will receive from the members here and I promise you, you will catch bass  

[TakeSonFishing]

How are you fishing them?  I like to fish them wacky style.  I use the O ring with a 1/0 or 2/0 octopuss hook.  I tried a 1/0 gamagotsu drop shot hook, but I missed alot of fish.  Have yet to miss a fish with the owner octopuss hook.

Has anyone tried the gamagatsu finesse hooks?  they have a nice wide gap, but I dont like the looks of them. 

[calincalif50]

I use the Ichy whacky hook with weed guard.  I can throw it into the trees/brush and 90% of the time get it back if I'm carefull how I pull it thru the branches/brush.  It gives a minor amount of additional weight for those deeper sink rates.  You can use 1/32 oz up to 1/4 oz.  I mostly use 1/16 and 1/8 oz,  I have used 1/4 oz when I want deep (20-30 ft) penetration

[mauro]

I totally agree on letting it fall to the bottom on slack line. However since I've been fishing like 2 feet of water all week, I totally forgot to mention to wait about 2 sec per foot to let the darn thing sink. 

My greatest sucess with senkos has been to pulse them back to me, with long pauses in between.  I do not know if it's a total lack of patience on my part or the pattern I found that works for me, but it's what I do.     

I'd love to watch a more experienced angler fish and learn from their techniques.  I have spent some time angling with Dunham Fisher, but only a few times and in bad conditions.

Everything I've learned has been trial and error, or what I've read on the net.   I love these discussions for what I learn from you guys.

BTW, I was half expecting this post to be a request for dontations to buy senkos - BPS has jacked their price to 7.99 a bag!    I wouldn't pay that if I were rich.   Thankfully more than one of our sponsors has them much cheaper than that and I will be putting in an order for my favorite colors.

M.

[BassCatBates]

My number one piece of advice would be to use the Wave Worms Tiki Stick instead of the Senko.... same basic bait but the molopo (whatever it is) seems to make the fish take it better.  Secondly when you feel or see the bite, reel down and point the rod tip at the bait and then make a sweeping hookset to the side followed but two or three hard turns to get the fish coming to you.  after that it's all about letting the fish tire out.  If you are fishing thick cover you may have to be more aggressive getting the fish to the boat.

[screwballl]

I myself prefer Texas rig as we have a lot of vegetation here, but for the open spots I do use the wacky rig which works only in the warm summer waters in my area.

[Swede]

A lot of great advice here - hope some of it helps you Yeaperous.  My only input to not hooking up after getting bit would be to try downsizing to a 4 inch senko versus using the larger 5 inch version that I am assuming you were using.  I fish a 4/0 hook with the 5 inch version and a 3/0 hook with the 4 inch version.  I'd go to a 2/0 hook with the 4 inch version if senko style baits were as narrow as a standard finesse worm, but the fact is they are not and I want plenty of hook exposed after setting the hook to ensure the fish does not come unbuttoned.   

[tim4081]

I just started using "senko" type lures about two years ago when I got back into bass fishing.  Here's what has worked for me....for anything but the heaviest cover I'll use spinning tackle with 6 to 8 lb flouro line with G skip gap hooks.  I feel I have better control with spinning set up but that's just me.  I seem to have fewer torn up baits with the skip gaps.  Usually a 3/0 or larger for 5 inch lures and 1/0 or 2/0 for 4 inch.  In heavy cover I'll go with a 7' MH baitcasting setup with EWG 3/0 or larger hooks on 50 or 65 lb braid.

As for technique, in warmer water I like to use the five inch Texas rigged weightless, cast into pads etc and let sink.  If no pick up wait a few seconds and then lift rod tip up a foot or two or more and let sink again....repeat until out of target area.

For colder water a four inch seems to work a little better at times....fish it with the same technique or if thats not working will let it sink and work with short sideways twitches.  With this approach you seldom will get the tap tap type of hit but rather you'll just feel a heaviness or tension build up on the line.

I am curious though if others have tried Strike King's Zeros.....I tried some last year and they seemed to produce as well as Senkos but much more durable.....only problem is they don't make them (or at least I haven't found any) in the four inch size.

[Yeaperous]

thanks for all the tips guys, i learned alot and wacky rigging seems pretty cool, i might used that on the next fishing trip...any more advice, give it to me..

[Thirsty]

A lot of great advice here - hope some of it helps you Yeaperous.  My only input to not hooking up after getting bit would be to try downsizing to a 4 inch senko versus using the larger 5 inch version that I am assuming you were using.  I fish a 4/0 hook with the 5 inch version and a 3/0 hook with the 4 inch version.  I'd go to a 2/0 hook with the 4 inch version if senko style baits were as narrow as a standard finesse worm, but the fact is they are not and I want plenty of hook exposed after setting the hook to ensure the fish does not come unbuttoned.   

+1

[screwballl]

Here is a list of different styles that can be used with senkos, soft swimbaits, and more:

http://www.lunkerhunt.com/riggingTips.cfm

[gillrod2728]

Hey there is a good post to look at on here called Senko Presentations  it was started by MIke type it in on the search it is a good post. Also try the Gomakatsu finesse wide gap hook 3/0. They will catch fish better then the octopus hook and 2/0 has the chance to gut hook fish.

[whitetailfrazier]

Go buy a wacky rig tool, some o-rings, and owner 1/0 wacky rig hooks, and you won't miss another fish.  I have recently discovered the wacky rig, and wow......it's like cheating.

[fishysnowboarder]

How are you fishing them?  I like to fish them wacky style.  I use the O ring with a 1/0 or 2/0 octopuss hook.  I tried a 1/0 gamagotsu drop shot hook, but I missed alot of fish.  Have yet to miss a fish with the owner octopuss hook.

Has anyone tried the gamagatsu finesse hooks?  they have a nice wide gap, but I dont like the looks of them. 

Gamy wide gap finesse 2/0, wacky and take your time

[BIG PAPA]

How are you fishing them?  I like to fish them wacky style.  I use the O ring with a 1/0 or 2/0 octopuss hook.  I tried a 1/0 gamagotsu drop shot hook, but I missed alot of fish.  Have yet to miss a fish with the owner octopuss hook.

Has anyone tried the gamagatsu finesse hooks?  they have a nice wide gap, but I dont like the looks of them. 
[/quote


Thats all I use for wacky