Guaranteed To Catch Bass

[nascar2428]

This is absolutely some of the best advice on this site. Every bank fisherman should heed this advice. I have caught more fish using this basic technique than all of the others combined. Thank You RW, for this wonderful piece of advice!!  

[JickleFish]

There seems to be a lot of members that are not catching bass, some are just starting out and a few have never caught one. If that's where you are, then this short piece is for you. If you want to start catching some bass, follow these instructions EXACTLY, no modifications or adjustments.

Equipment:

Medium or Medium Heavy Power/ Fast Action spinning rod and reel.

#6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid, Ultra Soft, P-Line or XL.

Gamakatsu 4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hooks.

1 bag GYCB 5" Senkos, watermelon with black flakes (194)

1 bag GYCB Fat Ika (194)

Place:

A pond at least 5 acres in size, preferably with some bottom features or contour. Or, if you have access to big water, a well defined cove, not a bay. Whether you fish from a boat or the shore, you will fish exactly the same way.

Method:

Start with the Senko. Cast parallel to the bank, 10-15 yards off the shoreline. Let the bait sink to the bottom, count to 30 (as in 30 seconds) then move the Senko 6-12" with a slow horizontal sweep, allowing the bait to fall on slack line. Count to 10, then repeat. Continue all the way back, move ten steps forward and repeat.

Fish the ENTIRE shoreline regardless of whether you see cover or structure. Fish two Senkos and if you are still not catching bass, switch to the Fat Ika and fish it until you lose it. Don't switch back and forth. Fish the Fat Ika EXACTLY like you fished the Senko.

To make this testing fair, you need to spend at least one hour out fishing, two would be better. You can't hurry and you must stay focused. If you don't catch a bass after two trips or four hours of fishing, you need to find new water.

While I love Senkos, if you are just starting, and don't have a high budget, go with some YUM Dingers. They have the same action as Senkos, but don't rip as easily.

[Wfo123]

How are you rigging the senko ? whacky or t rig?

[Heron]

How are you rigging the senko ? whacky or t rig?

I suspect since the recommended hook is a 4/0 EWG...its probably T-rigged.   

[Heron]

This certainly is a fine enough thread to be worthy of a pinning. 

[Heron]

RW - you ought to make a video demonstrating this technique.   Youtube viewers and Bass resource members alike, would enjoy watching this being done first-hand. 

[cabrela]

RW - you ought to make a video demonstrating this technique.   Youtube viewers and Bass resource members alike, would enjoy watching this being done first-hand. 

 

X2!

[roadwarrior]

How are you rigging the senko ? whacky or t rig?

 

T-rig, weightless & weedless.

[FrogFreak]

It's amazing how this advice is still great after all this time. It's also a true testament to the success of the Senko that it works across the country. 

 

It reminds me of a video I watched awhile ago. Ike was showing his "panic box" that had some old tried and  true methods that he goes to when the bite is tough (inline spinner, ball jig and twister tail etc.). I think we all get caught up in the newest and greatest lures and presentations and forget what got us there. The point is, this thread isn't just for the new angler. I think it helps us that have been doing it for awhile as well. To that end, I went out and bought some more Senkos and the 4/0 Gammys. Gary Y should pay you for this thread RW!!

[sk8ter107]

I tried this at a new pond I found and didn't catch a single fish.  Threw a KVD 1.0 squarebill on before I left and caught a fish first cast.  Why won't the Senko/Fat Ika work but crankbait will?

[Brian6428]

I tried this at a new pond I found and didn't catch a single fish.  Threw a KVD 1.0 squarebill on before I left and caught a fish first cast.  Why won't the Senko/Fat Ika work but crankbait will?

Just a coincidence. No lure can be truly guaranteed to catch fish every time, but the senko is probably the most consistent lure for simply catching fish.

[datkins]

Sorry to resurrect such an old thread, and hopefully I didn't miss this somewhere in my read through of the topic, but is there a way to adapt this for smaller fish? There's a creek nearby where I like, and there are definitely some bass in there. Nothing crazy, around 3# or so, but definitely in there because 1) you can see them swimming sometimes and 2) I've been fishing in this creek several times with a friend of mine whos managed to catch at least a couple every time we've gone.

 

I've tried using exactly the same bait he was using, green pumpkin magic super fluke, and emulating his technique as best I could, twitch-twitch-pause from what I could tell, but I've not caught anything there. I've been several times on my own as well and used a ton of different lures and soft plastics, but only manages to catch a few blue gill and one enormous snapping turtle. 

 

Reading this thread is encouraging that I may yet still catch one of these bass, which coincidentally would be my first bass ever to catch, but I think that the baits you recommend may be too big for the size of the fish I've seen in this area.

 

Any advice on how to scale this down or adapt it to fit that situation?

[bigturtle]

In the world of fishing, there is no such thing as a "guaranteed catch".

If you arent catching them, use another bait, or use a different worm. 3lb bass should have no problem hitting a senko of that size though. If you want to downsize, try thinner worm in 3-4" size

[roadwarrior]

...but I think that the baits you recommend may be too big for the size of the fish I've seen in this area.

 

A 5" Senko is definitely not too big and the Fat Ika is the equivilent of a Twinkie to fish!

Give them a try, I don't think you will be disappointed.

 

-Kent

[Senko lover]

A 5" Senko is definitely not too big and the Fat Ika is the equivilent of a Twinkie to fish!

Give them a try, I don't think you will be disappointed.

 

-Kent

 

I have caught bass (hooked in the lip!) on a 5-inch senko that were smaller than the bait. Don't worry about size, just throw it.

[Arv]

I think that the baits you recommend may be too big for the size of the fish I've seen in this area.

 

 

I agree with the other guys. Definitely not too big. I've caught a ton of small fish, same size as or smaller than the worm. While a stick worm works (arbitrarily) 95% of the time for me, there are a few guys out there that have never caught a fish on a stick worm. I don't know how they are actually fishing it, but anyways, I don't catch fish off a stick worm every day I throw it either.

[datkins]

Thanks for the follow up guys. Stopped by Dick's today and picked up some Senkos, thought they're not the exact color. They're "Watermelon Magic." I could find any Fat Ikas though, so I'll probably give it a go in the next couple of days with just the Senkos and see what happens. 

 

Some follow up questions regarding retrieve technique: When you say "...move the Senko 6-12" with a slow horizontal sweep..." do you mean just move the tip of the rod sideways instead of up and down? And as far as leaving enough slack, do you reel any at all after you've made the sweep. or do you reel some in before you start the move?

 

Sorry if these are basic questions. As I said, I've not caught any bass before, so I'm just trying to give myself the highest chance of success possible.

[livemusic]

I read quite a bit of this thread and then realized it is 9 years old!

 

Do people still like the Fat Ika? What hook do you use? Do you find a more effective soft plastic bait than Fat Ika? I have been using flukes, weightless, with success. As well as SK Finesse Elaztech worm on shakey head jig. I had been using Fluke but caught 15 yesterday on the latter.

[datkins]

You guys were absolutely right, the 5" Senkos worked great!

 

My 2nd cast of the morning I ended up with my line over a branch. As I was reeling it up I hooked a fish and it stayed on all the way up until it got to the branch, then jumped off, and my hook got caught so I lost that and one worm. The very next cast I had another fish on the line but it snapped my line or the hook came untied, not sure which.

 

I moved down the bank to a couple of other spots, and finally caught what I think was about a 4lb. fish! Then I moved on to one more spot and caught a little 1-2lb. one.

 

Overall, pretty stoked I decided to go out this morning, and I can't wait to keep honing my technique.

[BrownBear]

Nice fish and congrats!

[datkins]

I couldn't resist the urge to go out again this morning. After about 2 hours, 1 fish jumping of, and about 10 "This is my last cast"s, Ifinally managed to reel in this good looking fish!

 

I also stopped by a local tackle shop looking for some Fat Ikas. They didn't have any, but I did find another squid-like bait that I'm going to give a try. I'll let you know how it goes! 

[MichaelCopeland]

On 9/18/2006 at 6:03 AM, roadwarrior said:

There seems to be a lot of members that are not catching bass, some are just starting out and a few have never caught one. If that's where you are, then this short piece is for you. If you want to start catching some bass, follow these instructions EXACTLY, no modifications or adjustments.

Equipment:

Medium or Medium Heavy Power/ Fast Action spinning rod and reel.

#6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid, Ultra Soft, P-Line or XL.

Gamakatsu 4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hooks.

1 bag GYCB 5" Senkos, watermelon with black flakes (194)

1 bag GYCB Fat Ika (194)

Place:

A pond at least 5 acres in size, preferably with some bottom features or contour. Or, if you have access to big water, a well defined cove, not a bay. Whether you fish from a boat or the shore, you will fish exactly the same way.

Method:

Start with the Senko. Cast parallel to the bank, 10-15 yards off the shoreline. Let the bait sink to the bottom, count to 30 (as in 30 seconds) then move the Senko 6-12" with a slow horizontal sweep, allowing the bait to fall on slack line. Count to 10, then repeat. Continue all the way back, move ten steps forward and repeat.

Fish the ENTIRE shoreline regardless of whether you see cover or structure. Fish two Senkos and if you are still not catching bass, switch to the Fat Ika and fish it until you lose it. Don't switch back and forth. Fish the Fat Ika EXACTLY like you fished the Senko.

To make this testing fair, you need to spend at least one hour out fishing, two would be better. You can't hurry and you must stay focused. If you don't catch a bass after two trips or four hours of fishing, you need to find new water.

Is this being Texas rigged weightless or with a bullet type weight? Or is it rigged a different way? Also I use 50lb Power Pro Spectra braid, should I use a leader? If so how long should it be? The water I fish is pretty murky. I have a 6'6" MF spinning rod with 6.2:1 gear ratio. I don't have real senkos but I have Yum Dingers, will those work?

[tcbass]

35 minutes ago, MichaelCopeland said:

Is this being Texas rigged weightless or with a bullet type weight? Or is it rigged a different way? Also I use 50lb Power Pro Spectra braid, should I use a leader? If so how long should it be? The water I fish is pretty murky. I have a 6'6" MF spinning rod with 6.2:1 gear ratio. I don't have real senkos but I have Yum Dingers, will those work?

 

 

I've never used a leader but I use 15lbs. Power Pro braid, not 50lbs; a leader might be a good idea. 

 

I've tried Yum Dingers, BPS stickbaits, nothing worked as well as the old Senko. I also use a rubber tubing so that I don't lose so many Senkos. 

[MTPanda]

2 hours ago, MichaelCopeland said:

Is this being Texas rigged weightless or with a bullet type weight? Or is it rigged a different way? Also I use 50lb Power Pro Spectra braid, should I use a leader? If so how long should it be? The water I fish is pretty murky. I have a 6'6" MF spinning rod with 6.2:1 gear ratio. I don't have real senkos but I have Yum Dingers, will those work?

 

 

Texas rigged weightless is probably the better way to go with a Gamakatsu EWG 3/0 hook.  Senkos weightless falling action is really unique and the bullet weight will make it fall down too fast without the unique fluttering/wiggling action.  I always use a fluorocarbon leader of around 6 ft, Seaguar Invizx, anywhere from 8lbs to 14lbs, depending on the type of cover I'm fishing.  Yum Dingers should work but I personally prefer Senkos.  The unique falling action the senko possesses is quite amazing, especially wacky rigged.

 

I've caught my personal best of 5.97lbs off a wacky rigged senko but I was drop shotting it around 25ft, slowly tugging it along the bottom.  I would get hung up in the treelines and gently shake it off and get hit hard right after breaking free of the structure.  I told my friend to do the same and he landed his pb of 3.97lbs the same day.

 

Just a few days ago I tossed a weightless texas rigged senko parallel to some tulles and instantly got nailed by this 3.84lber

 

 

If you look beyond the fish, I tossed my senko directly in front of those tulles and slightly jerked and paused the senko only twice and then I got a huge bite.

 

[Wagster]

What a great and informative post. If I'm not getting bit on the Senko I try skipping it across the water. Sometimes this drive the bass crazy.