Heavier Senko Alternatives
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Heavier Senko Alternatives
In an attempt to become a better more well rounded angler I have recently decided to learn soft plastics inside and out. I also want to learn my equipment better so I decided to start going out on the yak with exactly 1 rod and reel. Right now that is my steez target sniper. I purchased this particular rod to be a dock jig skipping specialist but with my current reel trying to learn skipping from the yak has been frustrating to say the least. My secondary uses for this rod are soft plastics/texas rigs.
I have several bags of senkos in my tackle room with which I have never caught a bass. So I told myself I was going to take the target sniper and a couple bags of senkos out and not buy another soft plastic until I use the senkos up. I went over to bassresource and researched the method described in RoadWarrior's post "Guaranteed To Catch Bass". Watched a couple different videos on senko fishing and headed out to the water. In my last two outings I have yet to catch a bass still.
Now, maybe it is my technique but I can say one thing for sure. I have never had such a tough time with backlashes before in my life. So a huge portion of my time fishing the 5" senko was spent picking out backlashes and messing with my reel setup. After a frustrating night I decided to switch out to a 1/2oz bait and was able to shoot off cast after cast effortlessly with zero backlashes.
So long story short, it looks like the 5" senkos are going to be relegated to Wacky Rig spinning rod duty. Now I am searching for a plastic that uses the same techniques and has a similar action to the senko but weighs a little more and casts better on my target sniper. I know this goes against my original vow to not purchase anymore soft plastics until the senkos are uses up but oh well.
I know adding a weight to the 5" senko is an option but for now I would like to work on weightless soft plastics. Should I just go to a 6" senko? Or does anyone have any suggestions for alternatives? One I have been eying is the 6" OSP dolive stick but other than that I haven't seen anything that piques my interest.
I have several bags of senkos in my tackle room with which I have never caught a bass. So I told myself I was going to take the target sniper and a couple bags of senkos out and not buy another soft plastic until I use the senkos up. I went over to bassresource and researched the method described in RoadWarrior's post "Guaranteed To Catch Bass". Watched a couple different videos on senko fishing and headed out to the water. In my last two outings I have yet to catch a bass still.
Now, maybe it is my technique but I can say one thing for sure. I have never had such a tough time with backlashes before in my life. So a huge portion of my time fishing the 5" senko was spent picking out backlashes and messing with my reel setup. After a frustrating night I decided to switch out to a 1/2oz bait and was able to shoot off cast after cast effortlessly with zero backlashes.
So long story short, it looks like the 5" senkos are going to be relegated to Wacky Rig spinning rod duty. Now I am searching for a plastic that uses the same techniques and has a similar action to the senko but weighs a little more and casts better on my target sniper. I know this goes against my original vow to not purchase anymore soft plastics until the senkos are uses up but oh well.
I know adding a weight to the 5" senko is an option but for now I would like to work on weightless soft plastics. Should I just go to a 6" senko? Or does anyone have any suggestions for alternatives? One I have been eying is the 6" OSP dolive stick but other than that I haven't seen anything that piques my interest.
Re: Heavier Senko Alternatives
An un-weighted (not weightless) 5" Senko is about 5/8oz in weight. There is no reason you should be having the difficulty you described casting that bait. I'd suggest tightening the spool tension knob or just adjusting the brakes on your casting reel and trying again in your backyard or in front of your house before moving on to alternatives.
Cal, Managing Editor
"fish with mindfulness : beware the darkside"
"fish with mindfulness : beware the darkside"
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Re: Heavier Senko Alternatives
5" senko+hook weighed 11g on my gram scale. I don't disagree though, I feel like this reel should be capable of throwing that weight lure. I think my difficulties probably arise from the fact that the lure doesn't load up the rod super well.Cal wrote: ↑Mon Jun 06, 2022 6:40 amAn un-weighted (not weightless) 5" Senko is about 5/8oz in weight. There is no reason you should be having the difficulty you described casting that bait. I'd suggest tightening the spool tension knob or just adjusting the brakes on your casting reel and trying again in your backyard or in front of your house before moving on to alternatives.
Re: Heavier Senko Alternatives
A big part of the Senko's allure is how it falls and (slightly) wiggles on that fall. I think there are heavier alternatives out there, but the weight difference won't make a difference in castability, and often they look the same as a Senko, but don't have the same action. If you're looking for more weight I'd Texas-rig the Senko with a 3/16-1/4oz bullet weight, or do a Neko rig in deeper water (your Target Sniper might be too heavy for working that effectively, though).
Never had significant issues casting a weightless Senko myself. If you keep fiddling with your reel controls you should be able to find a comfortable sweet spot. I'll assume you're a baitcasting pro anyway, but just in case:
Definitely adjust the tension knob; I think there's a common misconception that a free spool will enable longer casts, but it actually leads to shorter casts (and more backlashes!) because the spool overspins during the cast and the line becomes loose on the spool, rubbing against the casing and creating friction that slows everything down. I'll take properly tightened spool tension over a loose spool any day; you'll cast farther and won't backlash often.
Never had significant issues casting a weightless Senko myself. If you keep fiddling with your reel controls you should be able to find a comfortable sweet spot. I'll assume you're a baitcasting pro anyway, but just in case:
Definitely adjust the tension knob; I think there's a common misconception that a free spool will enable longer casts, but it actually leads to shorter casts (and more backlashes!) because the spool overspins during the cast and the line becomes loose on the spool, rubbing against the casing and creating friction that slows everything down. I'll take properly tightened spool tension over a loose spool any day; you'll cast farther and won't backlash often.
Re: Heavier Senko Alternatives
Ahh... forgot about the rod.. that too!Firstoutfisher wrote: ↑Mon Jun 06, 2022 8:54 amI think my difficulties probably arise from the fact that the lure doesn't load up the rod super well.
and 11g is about 3/8 of an ounce... maybe I'm thinking the 6" senko... nevertheless, 3/8oz is within the range of any capable casting reel.
Cal, Managing Editor
"fish with mindfulness : beware the darkside"
"fish with mindfulness : beware the darkside"
Re: Heavier Senko Alternatives
Senkos don't stand up well to being skipped. I prefer a 1/16 oz wacky head and a stiffer Senko knock off. The additional weight of the head will pickup the fall rate and get even the stiffest Senko clones wiggling like mad. Weighless Bellos Gill or knock offs, Feadfin Darters, Cover Craws and 3/8 oz Dark Sleepers (do not use the 1/2 oz) all skip well. I skip 1/16 head and floating worms on the light end up to a Gilly 130 on the heavier end. I do a lot of skipping from a kayak.
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Re: Heavier Senko Alternatives
Unless I am pitching I usually adjust the spool tension knob on all of my reels just until side to side play is eliminated. I'm going to give it one more outing and play with reel settings and If I can't get it down I may try the 6" senko, or texas rigging the senko with a 3/16 oz weight or one of the alternatives. I appreciate all the bait suggestions lowrange, always good to hear from a fellow kayak angler.
I seem to remember reading somewhere that the metanium is designed to run with all the internal breaks on. With almost every bait it has performed phenomenally with 2 on 2 off and using the dial to adjust. Maybe I will try 4 on and then use the dial.
I seem to remember reading somewhere that the metanium is designed to run with all the internal breaks on. With almost every bait it has performed phenomenally with 2 on 2 off and using the dial to adjust. Maybe I will try 4 on and then use the dial.
Re: Heavier Senko Alternatives
Top Shelf Magic Sticks
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Re: Heavier Senko Alternatives
Geecrack Bellows Stick
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Re: Heavier Senko Alternatives
Man, those things STINK!
Try not to let your mind wander. It is much too small to be outside unsupervised.
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Re: Heavier Senko Alternatives
Absolutely!
Re: Heavier Senko Alternatives
Check out the wave worm tiki bamboo stick, a fat bodied 5" stick bait, casts a mile, skips well, very durable, doesn't have that same shimmy as the original though.
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Re: Heavier Senko Alternatives
OSP Do Live Fat Stick 4.5inch. casts better than 5inch senko for me.
- Hogsticker2
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Re: Heavier Senko Alternatives
Anyt from OSP is the T! TS!!lightcricket wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 7:55 pmOSP Do Live Fat Stick 4.5inch. casts better than 5inch senko for me.
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Re: Heavier Senko Alternatives
just weighed both the 5inch senko and 4.5inch DoLive Fat Stick. 10g vs 11g respectively, but I think it has to do with the Fat Stick having more dense plastic in front and a thinner tail, allowing it to be casted like a bullet...