How to Fish for Bass with a Senko Lure

The Senko is one of the most outstanding bass lures available today. Designed by Gary Yamamoto, it is an incredible lure and can be fished multiple ways. It has spawned a myriad of copy-cat baits, some that work just as well and some that aren't worth it. If you haven't fished the Senko yet, grab a pack at your local bait and tackle shop today, and try these simple tips out when fishing it for largemouth or smallmouth bass.

Rigging:

The Senko can be rigged in a huge variety of ways, which is partly why it is so popular. For starters, I would recommend using a Texas rig or a Wacky rig. The Texas rig can be fished with or without a weight (bullet weight pegged to the front is the usual setup for a Texas rig). I prefer fishing it without a weight, as the lure is usually heavy enough to cast on its own. If I am fishing in a less algae-covered water, I'll switch to a Wacky rig. This is setup by simply hooking the worm once in the center of its body. Twitches, even small, really bring out the action in this lure when rigged this way. Other rigging styles include Carolina rig, Dropshot, and on a jig head. I haven't tried these methods yet, but the Dropshot method of rigging is supposed to be excellent for smallmouth bass.

Gear:

As with most bass fishing, pick your gear based on the water and cover you are fishing. I'm a light line guy, and will routinely fish with the lowest pound test line possible. I throw the Senko on 6-8lb test monofilament, and get decent range, even with the smaller 4 inch Senkos. I've wrestled decent size fish out of some thick logs and grass cover, but for especially dangerous areas I would recommend using heavier line, perhaps even braid. I cast my Senkos on a spinning rod and reel combo, but there are plenty of other bass anglers that like using baitcaster reels for Senko fishing. The added sensitivity from light line is my favorite part of fishing the Senko on such light gear, but go with what feels best for your style of fishing and the body of water you are at.

Action:

When Texas rigged, cast the Senko, and, while keeping the line tight, let the lure settle to the bottom. Strikes often occur as the lure is sinking to the bottom, fluttering on the way down. The easiest way to tell is to watch the line for movement, usually the fish will grab the Senko, and take off, slicing the line away from its usual arc. I've also had fish bite the Senko, then slowly inhale it, making it feel like a couple of small taps, then a dead weight is on the line. Be sure to set the hook HARD when fishing it weedless, Texas rig style, as you need to drive the hook home through the plastic. If a fish does not hit right away, lift your rod tip, reel in slack slowly, then let the lure flutter down to the bottom again. If this retrieve doesn't work, speed it up a bit, perhaps not letting the lure hit the bottom before lifting it again.