senko rod revisited: Spinning or Casting

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DavidSA
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Re: senko rod revisited: Spinning or Casting

Post by DavidSA » Thu Jan 28, 2021 2:34 pm

bwjay wrote:
Thu Jan 28, 2021 10:22 am

And speaking of cover, I choose casting over spinning for pitching accuracy around cover which is the only area I'm throwing weightless Senkos in the first place.
I moved to casting because of accuracy as well. Actually I think I was trying to lip a 3# bass on spinning gear when the hook came out and into my thumb. Would have been around 2013 and I put the spinning gear up and went straight casting.

yesterday I was able to make long casts without needing to stop the bait. If I went for accuracy I pitched which I do very well with a spinning rod now after so many years doing this with casting. And, I landed every single fish with a net. Cutting a hook out of my thumb is not somethign I care to do again.

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Re: senko rod revisited: Spinning or Casting

Post by DavidSA » Thu Jan 28, 2021 2:38 pm

Gone Phishin wrote:
Thu Jan 28, 2021 1:18 pm

For those using the OG BSR 852, does anyone know if its characteristics are identical (or at least very similar) to the new GLX 852? Anyone using the 892/3 S for senkos?
I don't have a clue but I bought the NRX 852s at one point and sold it to keep the old BSR. The BSR 852 was a purpose built rod and we had a guy on this board in the early 2000's that claimed he helped loomis design it. He was Canadian guy as I recall. Whatever the real story the butt section on my BSR 852 was a bit stronger then the NRX which was not designated a senko rod. Does not mean the NRX isn't great but I'm fishing around heavy cover in south Florida. On a Kentucky area lake, the NRX would have been just fine.

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ftl1951
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Re: senko rod revisited: Spinning or Casting

Post by ftl1951 » Thu Jan 28, 2021 2:49 pm

DavidSA wrote:
Thu Jan 28, 2021 2:29 pm
that is the model diawa I have as well. Got mine on clearance as well. Were they not something like $169. I've got a 1000 and a 2000 I think. smooth as silk.
Yes, originally $299, then on sale for $169/179, then on clearance for $99. It’s one of the smoothest reels I own. Doesn’t matter about bearings, gears or anything else. These are absolutely low/no inertia and spin forever like crazy. Can’t think of a strong enough adjective for how smooth...😁

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Re: senko rod revisited: Spinning or Casting

Post by DavidSA » Thu Jan 28, 2021 3:04 pm

i don't use mine much but never been serviced. never could find anyone to work on a spinning reel and as you say they are smooth.

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Re: senko rod revisited: Spinning or Casting

Post by ftl1951 » Thu Jan 28, 2021 3:37 pm

Got off track a little, but as I stated earlier, I still use my Loomis BSR852 all the time. Absolutely love it. I also use a Dobyns Xtasy DRX 753SF for Senkos and find it extremely well-suited for weightless worms. I certainly have caught a lot of bass using the Loomis and I’m sure I’ll catch many more.

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Re: senko rod revisited: Spinning or Casting

Post by DavidSA » Fri Jan 29, 2021 3:43 am

typically I fish the NRX 893 with 5 inch senko's in light vegitation. The cover can be a tad bit heavier then what the BSR852 can handle and not wear me out. I think having one's hand under the rod/using a casting rod is a mechanical advantage to wrestling fish in vegitation as is the longer rod.

However, when I'm fishing senko's over hydrilla beds I fish the NRX 894. The 893 just can't keep the fish from diving deep into the grass. A rod I like just as well for heavy cover is the Kistler HE 7'3H. Nice tip on this rod for launching the bait out.

that said, after this weeks observations I will be giving the bsr852 a try any time the conditions will allow vs automatically just picking up a casting rod

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Re: senko rod revisited: Spinning or Casting

Post by adam lancia » Sat Jan 30, 2021 4:25 am

Honestly, it depends on how windy it is for me. Things can get pretty gusty where I live so having a wacky senko flailing through the air and having a gust of wind come up in your face isn't fun with a baitcaster :lol: :lol:

Casting: 7' MR Tatula (new model, but I was using the OG and that rod is great for the technique too), Ito 103HL with an OG ZPI NRC002 spooled with 20# Sufix 832 with a 12# Tactical fluoro leader.

Spinning: 7'3" MXS Tatula (new model), '14 Caldia 2506 spooled with 10# Sufix 832 with an 8# Tactical fluoro leader. I'll usually go with a lighter wire hook on my spinning gear.

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Re: senko rod revisited: Spinning or Casting

Post by Gone Phishin » Sat Jan 30, 2021 5:21 am

DavidSA wrote:
Thu Jan 28, 2021 2:38 pm
Gone Phishin wrote:
Thu Jan 28, 2021 1:18 pm

For those using the OG BSR 852, does anyone know if its characteristics are identical (or at least very similar) to the new GLX 852? Anyone using the 892/3 S for senkos?
I don't have a clue but I bought the NRX 852s at one point and sold it to keep the old BSR. The BSR 852 was a purpose built rod and we had a guy on this board in the early 2000's that claimed he helped loomis design it. He was Canadian guy as I recall. Whatever the real story the butt section on my BSR 852 was a bit stronger then the NRX which was not designated a senko rod. Does not mean the NRX isn't great but I'm fishing around heavy cover in south Florida. On a Kentucky area lake, the NRX would have been just fine.

Thanks for the info buddy. 8-)

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Re: senko rod revisited: Spinning or Casting

Post by eagleriver1_fish » Sun Jan 31, 2021 7:23 am

For TX Posed unweighted 5" Senkos my top two are the NRX 893c and 894c depending on cover. I have a GLX 853c jwr that is really good too, but I don't use it as often anymore. For wacky rigged I will use the same rods, but I will also reach for spinning rods, especially in deeper water and casting to targets where a straight drop is critical (ie dock piling). For my spinning rods I like the NRX 803s or the 852s depending on the situation.

I love fishing Senkos and I'm always looking for that "better" rod. This year I'm going to try a ZBone 734, NFC SWC SJR 736, MB X7 Super Rekkai and a Legend Elite 610MXF (wacky).

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Re: senko rod revisited: Spinning or Casting

Post by Matt_3479 » Sun Mar 07, 2021 1:21 pm

It depends on what and how I’m fishing. In general I prefer to fish a casting reel/rod but for 5” senko on presentation I find the spinning reels do a nicer job. If I’m fishing ledges or slightly deeper water I prefer my nrx 852s. If I’m fishing near any cover in slightly shallower water I prefer my nrx 853c. I’m learning to skip with my nrx 853c but when I get frustrated my spinning set ups come out for docks with the senko.

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Re: senko rod revisited: Spinning or Casting

Post by DrPerf » Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:33 pm

Current Senko combination:
-MB F5-75X Javelin
-Steez SV TW 1016-SV-HL

Changed to Steez's gears to 8.1 to maintain/add to the champagne gold accents rather than the purple of the 8.1 model. Completely disassembled, cleaned, polished and tuned by myself. Combination casts 10g 40-45 yards with moderate casting effort. One-half ounce or more will cast further than ever needed. Oh yes, swapped the stock spool for a ZPI NRC001-PG G spool. Stock spool is in an OG Steez 100HLA :D

Pitches like a dream and "bombs" casts when needed, both with great accuracy.

Used exclusively for 5" weighted ("Izz Rigged") and 5"/6" unweighted Senkos.

Love it, a tie for my favorite combination at present.
Wish that I had bought two Javelins.
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Re: senko rod revisited: Spinning or Casting

Post by Tokugawa » Sun Mar 14, 2021 5:27 pm

The Lami XMG50 LMB864 used to be my go to 5" senko blank. Gulfcoastwader has that custom now. :crying: The XX Braillist is now the go to 5" senko. It is very reminiscent of the XMG, even tho it is 3" longer.

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Re: senko rod revisited: Spinning or Casting

Post by SteveSchmelzle » Mon Mar 15, 2021 7:19 pm

NRX 804s XMR

Stella 3000FB

I named her Stella Blue.

The combo of all combos. I fish senkos in heav(ier) weeds and I 100% prefer spinning over casting with senkos. After breaking an 803s NRX I settled on the 804s XMR
1-2%

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Re: senko rod revisited: Spinning or Casting

Post by Obz » Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:46 pm

Kistler7ft he3 ltmh, alpha sv 105, 12lb fouro.. I think sniper

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Re: senko rod revisited: Spinning or Casting

Post by clemsondds » Tue Aug 16, 2022 5:39 am

This was a great read! Always interesting hearing the process of deciding between casting and spinning.

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