Fishing Senko

[Stephen Reoch]

I was out fishing with Tony last Saturday. And he showed my how to fish a Senko. The problem is what colours & what maker. How many colour do I need to start?

Stephen......

[Pete]

Hey Stephen,

Not sure which way Tony showed you how to fish them but there are several ways to fish a senko type bait. You can fish them wacky style, texas, carolina rigged, weightless or weighted. Each has a specific place for each technique.

I wrote a small article on senko type baits called Tiki Sticks. You can find it here www.peterlarmand.com/Tiki%20Stick.html. Perhaps after reading this it will give you a better understanding about senko type baits.

Howver, to answer your questions and I will answer them in the order you asked them.

Colours: Every lake has a colour or combination of colours that works best on that particular body of water. For example, I find black and blues work well on White Lake, green pumpkin and pumpkinseed colours work well on the Big Rideau. Chartreuses and watermelon colours work well on Mississippi. So what colours to get I would suggest that you pick a range of colours. Perhaps a pack of each of the colours mentioned. If you don't want to do that then a couple of the darker colours (your greens / pumpkins) and a couple of the lighter colours ( chartreuses, wateremelons)

Which Manufacturer? The senko was originated from Gary Yamamoto and since this type of bait started winning tournaments for the pros and some big cheques being cashed because of this bait; there have been knockoffs or different versions of this bait.

A personal preference for this style of bait would be the Tiki Stick by Wave Worms. For me, they are more durable, the action is better. They also have a scent to them called moko which for me has been a big reason why I have caught bigger fish with the Tiki Stick as oppose to the others that are out there on the market today.

All of the major plastic companies has a version of the "senko" as mentioned earlier Wave Worms Tiki Stick, Yum Dinger, Gambler Ace Stick, Berkley Sinking Worm etc.

I hope that this answers your question about senkos. If there is any other questions, please ask.

I hope that other members of the board will offer up their opinions on this subject.

Sorry for the long post.

Just remember no matter which manufacturer you go with, tie one as soon as you can and hold on. Let the games begin.

Pete

[andy]

Hey Steve.

If you are going to fish a senko you have to try a tiki bamboo blake blue, red shade, watermelon with neon tip. For some reason for me these ones are the best.

See you on the water
Andy

[Jeremy]

Hey Buddy (Stephen)

I thought at first they were just another worm, tried them last year ?

Was I wrong now I have about 16 colours and 5 different sizes I fish them on bait cast gear and spinning weighted and unweighted and carolina rigged I'm finding out that they all , colors and sizes have a place. I'm sure you have a pet colour try it you might be surprised? I was.

God Bless,
Jeremy

[Gary]

Stephen,

Senkos are an awesome go-to bait when not much else is working. There have been many a time for me when all else was failing but they'd bite a Senko. I like to fish them weightless, either wacky-rigged or Texas-rigged, and will use them weightless even in deep water, if it's relatively clear. I've caught oodles of smallies on Lake Champlain, for example, in 30 feet of water. I'd cast out the senko and let that puppy sink for minutes at a time. They also work very well weighted and fished as a Texas-rigged worm, or flipped into cover, etc. A very versatile bait.

There are many brands of them but not all of them have the right action, and it's the action that makes them so good. I'd highly recommend the original Senko, the Kinami Flash (Which is identical to the original Senko, but less expensive. They are made by the same people.) or the Wave Tiki Sticks. I've tried all the other brands and find most of them don't have the right action. The Gulp Sinking Minnows work well too, though I prefer to use those on a Texas rig.

As far as rigging it, I've found that rigging it wacky style produces numbers, but Texas-rigged produces bigger fish and less numbers. As for colours, anything greenish works anywhere, but black, black/blue are good staples as well. My favourite colour is Baby Bass in either the Senko or the Flash. Natural Shad can produce as well, especially in the fall.

Hope that helps in addition to the info everybody else has provided.

Cheers!

Gary

[Stephen Reoch]

Thanks All.
I need 6 colour to get started.

Peter are you going to be at SEBO on Sunday?

Stephen.....

[Pete]

Stephen,

There's a good chance that I will. It all depends if I get my boat back tomorrow.

Why??

Pete

[Stephen Reoch]

Peter
Iwill be going up to see the blast off.

Stephen.....

[Pete]

Stephen,

If I am at the tournament on Sunday I will be in a red and white Nitro.

Pete