If I'm going to fish weightless the original senko is the way to go. If im fishing weighted wacky any other stick bait can work but I prefer yum fingers or strike King shim e sticks

If your are seriously considering adding stick worms to your arsenal, someone already mentioned it. Buy bulk,  look around or take advantage of the site sponsors and buy 50 pack of stickbaits. BPS currently has a sale of bulk stick o's. 

I like the fall action and the texture, but for it to be $7 a bag, I'd hope they'd be a little more durable.

 

I often use the Gambler Ace, which is another stickworm like the Senko but with better durability.

The tip-waggle of the Gambler Ace is very similar to the Senko, but don't take my word for it,

run a simple field comparison. Rig an unweighted Senko and unweighted Ace on separate rods using the same line.

Find a gin-clear lake and compare the 'tip-waggle' of both worms during side-by-side freefalls.

You might be surprised to find that the Gambler Ace will often look as good or even better than the Senko.

Furthermore, there are times when bass will want more action or less action.

The Yum Dinger has the least action of any stickworm I've tested, yet it's a favorite stickworm of many fishermen.

 

Roger

Senko is a Yamamto trade name for the lure he invented, all other are knock off's.

Always amazes me when bass anglers whine about the price of soft plastics and complain about paying a fare market price for something that works good. You spend hours of your time on the water catching nothing or very few bass and saved less than $1.

If you find something that works better for a similar price, go for it!

Tom

Senko is a Yamamto trade name for the lure he invented, all other are knock off's.

Always amazes me when bass anglers whine about the price of soft plastics and complain about paying a fare market price for something that works good. You spend hours of your time on the water catching nothing or very few bass and saved less than $1.

Tom

 

The term "knock-off" might have a negative connotation, but refers to any product introduced after the prototype.

The original version of any product has no lock on superiority. In fact, provided there's no patent pending,

many knock-offs include upgrades and improvements over the original version.

I kind a like the knock-offs of the original Wright Brother's airplane 

 

Roger

A patent is awarded for invention of a new concept, doesn't mean follow on products of that concept are inferior. The GY Senko was first of it's kind, not patent item or a prototype, it is a production lure that worked so well the other soft plastic worm makers copied to get a share of the business by selling at a lower price point or some type of improvement that gives the new lure an advantage, catches more bass. Being copied is a form of flattery, not sure if originator see's it that way.

Gary invented the Senko about the mid 90's, nearly 20 years ago! It's only been about 10 years since the GYCB has become well known because of the Senko. Gary started in Arizona with Twin T's soft plastics, twin tail grubs, back in the early 80's.

Tom

I moved in 1998 about 300 miles from my previous home.I had been using senkos for a year or two before the move , and, I was very surprised to learn that senkos were almost unheard of in the new location......Didn't take long tho for aenko fever to catch on.

Senko not aenko!...LOL

I've caught the majority of my fish on senkos.  I use the pumpkin G&B fleck, weightless, t-rig and skip them under docks with great success.  

 

I always have to laugh at the people that get upset when plastics break down.  They break down BECAUSE YOU'RE CATCHING FISH.

 

 

I've lost many a Yamamoto plastic without ever getting bit.  Things just come flying off the end of my line or jig.    

Mr Twister Comida deserves honorable mention.  Nice baits but durability is probably no better than GYCB Senko.  However, they are cheaper and have good action. 

I've lost many a Yamamoto plastic without ever getting bit.  Things just come flying off the end of my line or jig.    

I probably went through a whole bag this past week fishing a wacky rig that just cast off. 

no offense MB but if you are willing to buy and upkeep a boat ( which I can't pull off fishing 6 days a week) spending a couple extra dollars to actually catch the fish doesn't seem like much of a burden. and that softness is why picky bass bite 'em.

It's true. They have their place for sure but I must admit I have a vendetta against them. I went through a whole bag in an afternoon and said never again... I bought some zinkerz last fall and literally still have a few left in the bag. Definitely a personal preference thing but I do not like "regular" stickbaits strictly for durability's sake. Those baits blow apart when you give them a nasty look and that plastic clogs up the fish's digestive tract often killing them. It's not just a presentation thing, it's a precautionary thing too.

You know I hear people talk about durability issues.  I have never had this problem.  Ive caught multiple fish on the same senko rigged texas.  If wacky it usually will come off, but I have never had one come off on a missed hook set or blow apart in pieces.  Idk, but I appear to be in the minority on this one.

I think I must be in the minority here but I've never even had a bite on a senko. I've tried fishing them like they show you to in the videos and nothing. Maybe they don't like the color on mine or something. I've tried four different ponds with no luck. Usually give up after an hour or so and switch back to a minnow/spoon/spinner.

You know I hear people talk about durability issues.  I have never had this problem.  Ive caught multiple fish on the same senko rigged texas.  If wacky it usually will come off, but I have never had one come off on a missed hook set or blow apart in pieces.  Idk, but I appear to be in the minority on this one.

 

Yeah I've never had durability issues with them either.  My last 4 smallmouth were caught on the same Senko, and I'll be using that same one again tomorrow morning.

I caught the biggest bass of my life last week on a white Yum dinger.  I recently got a pack of white senkos in a trade so I'll use both, but if I'm buying from now on I'm going to stick with Yums.  I haven't fished the senkos yet, but TBH the Yums look like a better lure, as far as action and having some flakes to maybe get the fish's attention.  

 

I'm not going to pay an extra $5 for something that is almost the exact same thing.  I don't think the bass know how much you spent on them anyway

But in defense of the senkos, they do say they are made in America, and IME any stick bait has done a lot better than all but one of my cranks.  After I started fishing Yum dingers, I honestly might as well have thrown 95% of the rest of my tackle box in the garbage.  I would say the average fisherman, like myself, is going to be better off buying any brand of stick bait and a bag of O rings, than they are going to be spending the same money on crank baits.  

Try Jackall Flickshakes, they have outproduced senkos for me and have caught my 3 personal bests. They are cheaper too.

I probably went through a whole bag this past week fishing a wacky rig that just cast off. 

 

 

I got some o rings on ebay that make the stick baits last a lot longer.  They're about $5 for 50, but you could probably get those rubber bands kids put on their braces a lot cheaper and they'd do the same thing

I really like the wacky rig. I am going to bring out some 3/0 circle hooks for us today. I think they might hook up on them well

I was under thw impression that line is not needed as just the opened bag of senkos on the deck would cause the fish to throw themselves into the boat

Go to that tackle store online that starts with tackle and ends with warehouse and purchase the following

 

O WACKY TOOL

The Brute O-Rings

VMC Sureset Circle Hooks

 

And you're all set. You will catch around 5-7 bass per worm using this rig.

Is there a purpose to the wacky tool?  I just stretch the worms out and roll the O rings on.  

My two cents on this topic......

 

I love a good deal as much as anybody when comes to fishing equipment and lures.  I try not to buy anything unless it is on sale or clearance. With that said, I have tried many other baits (knock offs) like the senko and nothing compares to the original.  IMHO, they just catch more fish than anything else but I do get bored using them.  I generally get them at DSG for about $3-4 a pack.  I just wait until they go on sale, use a coupon or two and stock up.

 

As far as durability goes, if I catch a fish and it breaks, I'm good with that.  That seems to be the case with most soft plastics but not all, of course.   Maybe it's me but when I set the hook on a fish most soft plastic rip at the tip and push there way up the line.  I have caught multiple fish on the same senko but it's rare.  

 

So for now, I will stick with the senkos but I will try some of the new stuff along the way. 

Weightless wacky style with an 'o' rig. I went through 5 in an hour hooking directly then switched to the 'o' ring and I have used the same one for a while now