How the heck do I fish a senko!?
I fish a senko! People either tend to love or hate the senko. Usually because they either hammer the fish with them or they don’t fish it properly. There are many ways to fish senkos, and many different varieties on the market. They can be as versatile a bait as there is on the market. It is amazing how many hawgs can be caught off such a small bait with a finesse-like presentation. I don’t know everything about every lure. Yet, if there was one I could call myself an expert on, it is the senko. Hopefully, this will help some people out there that can’t get this popular bait to work for them.
How to fish a Senko, The Ultimate Lure:
Fishing Docks
Senko’s are heavy enough to skip on a baitcast reel. It may take a lot of practice but once figured out, you can get a lethal bait into ideal areas that typically go un-fished. When skipping under a dock I still use weightless and the same setup. This is why I use a 6’6″ rod instead of a 7′. Use a very similar technique allowing the lure to fall. If the fish are very active and conditions are right for topwater, start working it back on top immediately. Do this as soon as you skip it to your desired spot. This is something that the fish haven’t seen before. Very few top water lures are capable of getting back into these spots.
Fishing Mats
The senko can be used to punch mats but I personally think other baits are better. However, the senko is very effective sliding through mats on top of the water and can be deadly in pads. Before you do this you need to go heavier on equipment.
What I prefer is to throw the senko on the edge of the grass mat. Then, slowly pull it off the edge and let it fall just on the outside of the grass. I have caught many fish this way using the same slow technique I described above on the same light equipment.
Wacky Rig
I don’t use the plain wacky rig nearly as often as some do, but many people swear by it. I have used a wacky rig on top of grass mats keeping it on top of the water. This creates an unusual ripple on top of the water that will call the bass other baits leave behind. Most fish the wacky rig the same as they do weightless T-rig. Let it fall and wait.
Carolina rig
When the wind is too strong to fish it weightless, you don’t have to put the senko away. It makes an excellent bait for the Carolina rig. I fish this a bit differently than weightless. Let it fall to the bottom and fish it slow. When I am ready to move the bait, I give a long steady pull on the rod. This allows the senko to get a few feet off the bottom before letting it fall and sit for another few seconds. I still use the #2 hook but upgrade the line to a 15lb copolymer leader.
Shakey head
A senko can be used on a shakey head and it can be very productive. I personally prefer a trick worm, but in some situations, I will use a senko. It does catch some nice fish. One thing I will do is get a 1/8oz shakey head and put a massive 7″ senko on it. I use it in deep water and deep drops. The light shakey head allows it to fall fast enough to get down to the 10-20 foot range without taking all day. It still allows it to fall slow enough that you get strikes on the fall. This also allows the senko to still work magic. I fish this very similar to the way most people fish a football head jig. Again, this is just a different look that may work better on pressured fish.
Drop Shot
I know many of you already use the small 2-3″ senkos on drop shots. For those that don’t, it works extremely well. It also works well wacky rigging them on the drop shot. I even bite the tail off the last 2″ of a regular 5.5″ senko and use it on a drop shot to catch fish. On the drop shot, I don’t wiggle it nearly as much as I do other baits. Sometimes, I just sit back and give my back a rest with a tight line.
Wiggle Rig
I use the big senko’s wacky rigged around cypress trees. Again, minimum movement works best but this has proven deadly. I have nailed some big fish using this technique. I have also used it to catch fish out of shallow weed lines. The wiggle rig allows you to keep the senko at the top of the water column. This gives fish a look they have never seen before. I will keep it right on the surface early and late in the day for good results.
Tip:
The mistake people make with a Senko is trying to fish too fast. A Senko has a lot more built-in action than people give it credit for. In fact, I often get bit when I’m dead sticking a Senko. So, when you’re not fishing for a visible fish, I think slowing down is the key. This is why a Senko is so much more versatile than it gets credit for with bass anglers.
If you’re not using this versatile big fish catching bait, you are missing out. Senko’s The Ultimate Lure can be used in a variety of situations and are effective almost all year. They are exceptionally effective during the pre-spawn when bass are looking for an easy meal. Tie one on and give it a try this year, you will be glad you did.
“Catch The Dream!”