These stick baits can be fished many different ways: The two most popular are weightless and weighted Texas rig and the wacky rig. In addition to these two techniques, the Senko type bait can also be fished on a Carolina rig, a drop shot rig, as a jerk bait and numerous other ways. I probably fish it wacky rigged 90% of the time. Bites can be hard to detect sometimes which can lead to a lot of gut hooked fish. For that reason this past year when wacky rigging I have exclusively used circle hooks or wide gap finesse octopus hooks which require no real hook set. I have not noticed a reduced hook up and I have very few gut hooked fish.
While you can rig a Senko type any number of ways, the one thing you should always remember is to not over work the bait. Fish it slow, and then slow down even more. I have had great luck just letting them fall and not even working them. The horizontal fall of this bait is just irresistible, especially to fish suspending around docks or rock overhangs. Then I like to twitch the bait just before it hits the bottom and work it back to just under the surface. Then let it fall and repeat. Another great tip is after it is out of the strike zone real it back to you and pause and let it fall several times. Many times fish are following the bait and can’t resist attacking it when you let it fall and work right in their face. It also works very well as a follow up bait, especially when working top water. If a fish misses my buzz bait, you bet I am throwing a Senko right to the spot and more times than not it is “Fish ON”.
The Senko style bait is one of my favorites and has made for many memorable days on the water! Grab a pack and give them a try!
About the Author: Joe Maione is an avid fisherman and is a Pro Staff Member at Yakangler.com. He is addicted to kayak fishing and spending time with his son and daughter in the outdoors. Joe considers himself a novice writer and photographer.
Comments