My testimonial...

[Fish the Mitt]

So I've never been one for jumping on every new lure or technique out there. I can barely keep track of the tackle I do have, I don't need to worry about adding more.

However, I ran into a situation the other day that no matter what I threw.... no takers. In over 6hours of fishing, I was well on my way to getting skunked. Now usually, I would just move to some guaranteed spots I have to salvage the day...and my pride - but NO LUCK!! The entire lake/river was tight lipped. Chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jerkbaits, jigs, T-Rigged soft baits (weighted and none), etc.. nothing worked.

So there I was, pondering, and I decided to try; for the first time,.............a wacky rigged Senko (weightless).

BOOM! That's all I'll say to that.

[GetBent]

It's like a cheeto surrounded by fat kids- it won't last. 

[Senko lover]

@roadwarrior "From a human perspective, they're like twinkies"

[Hez]

I have yet to try this technique - is it really that simple?  Hook a worm perpendicular in the middle and go to town?

 

[riverbasser]

What makes a wacky senior better than a weightless t-rig senko? It still sinks parelell with tail shimmy

[GetBent]

Not sure what makes it better, but I know it works lol my go to when I get a whiff of the skunk. 

[Darren.]

Wacky rigging is my favorite technique.

Super easy, almost always works  

[Fish the Mitt]

2 hours ago, hezeez@gmail.com said:

I have yet to try this technique - is it really that simple?  Hook a worm perpendicular in the middle and go to town?

 

Yea, dude. I'm not into singing praise for anything other than hard work - but this flat out caught me a few bass in an hour when I was bassless for the previous 6. I also don't consider myself a noob. Not a pro, but not a noob. So keep it in the back of your mind the next time the bite gets tough. It'll always be there for me now.

[soflabasser]

Try using finesse techniques.

[kcdinkerz]

Yes the senko! My last resort as well. If I can't get a bite on a senko I'll know I did everything I could lol.

[buzzed bait]

3 hours ago, GetBent said:

It's like a cheeto surrounded by fat kids- it won't last. 

hahahaha  not around me they won't!!

[ErikmonBillsfon]

Last year I boycotted it. Fished ice out in CT and was skunked 8 times. Refuse to buy GYCB, guess what my first fish of the year was. Green pumpkin chatruse tail GYCB. I was soo ticked but hey they work. It's still my last option and although I've listed the boycott I'd much rather throw a curly tail or a jackall flick shake. Senko still seems like cheating and I'd rather continue to learn new techniques.

[primetime]

I have had a few similar experiences...I usually turn to a Slider Worm or Trick Worm first, but I find nothing works better for finicky Bass in Summer that are under undercut banks or under pads than a Nail weighted finesse worm or stick bait so it glides under the bank or dock etc. and it often get's smaller fish but it sure does does get inactive fish to just inhale it.

I have a friend who hates flipping or Punching and finds it boring. When I am fishing heavy mats for bigger fish, he casts a wacky rigged stick worm weightless parallel to weed edges, open water, and lets it sink to the bottom even in deep water and only pops it once after it hits bottom. He hardly moves his rod until the line stops moving, lets it soak, give it a pop pop, waits 10 seconds and then starts working it back like a jerkbait and sometimes he will end up getting strikes working it near the surface as it comes close to the boat....I don't know what it looks like to a bass, but They must follow it sometimes and strike it near the boat as he speeds up, but he slays em mid summer, mid day, and he get's them all sizes....He uses some crazy colors as well, that Metholiante color is the ticket on some days in the summer in stained water....

 

[snake95]

On 6/7/2016 at 0:45 PM, SemperBass said:

So there I was, pondering, and I decided to try; for the first time,.............a wacky rigged Senko (weightless).

Semper Bass, 

Because of your post, two people are now happy:

1) My 8 year old boy.

2) The manager at my local Dicks Sporting Goods.

I asked for advice on the forums about how to get started using plastics in ponds.  I took some of the advice I got - and tried a few different things.  I've done great on creatures and paddletails since then.  I've even caught bass with T-rigged senkos - with a guide - when that's what we were using.  But I've just resisted using what I thought was such a boring bait - despite the obviously massive fan base.

Last night I picked up a bunch after thinking about your post.  This morning - didn't land anything on my creature baits.

As a last resort, thinking about this post - I showed my son how to use the o-ring tool I picked up 2 years ago and let him chuck the bait out.  Before I know it - the yelling starts and the bass are going wild.  

I will be getting more... so, thanks, bud!

[Crestliner2008]

On 6/7/2016 at 1:20 PM, riverbasser said:

What makes a wacky senior better than a weightless t-rig senko? It still sinks parelell with tail shimmy

With the Texas rig, you are correct, the tail section does accomplish the "wiggle" as you put it. However, wacky rigged, both ends wiggle the same way. This produces a very near duplication of a dying minnow descending through the water column. As has been said, candy to bass.

[Fishin' Fool]

50 minutes ago, Crestliner2008 said:

With the Texas rig, you are correct, the tail section does accomplish the "wiggle" as you put it. However, wacky rigged, both ends wiggle the same way. This produces a very near duplication of a dying minnow descending through the water column. As has been said, candy to bass.

Is your preference to bury the hook parallel or perpendicular to the worm? Does it matter?

[Crestliner2008]

6 hours ago, Fishin' Fool said:

Is your preference to bury the hook parallel or perpendicular to the worm? Does it matter?

You know, I've been told one way is better than the other (and vice versa). My results do not prove this out however. And it's just easier to hook them inline, as opposed to perpendicular, or cross ways. Never had an issue hooking bass either way. But I'm using a large Gammy 1/0 Inline circle hook for this technique.

[j bab]

On 6/7/2016 at 0:15 PM, hezeez@gmail.com said:

I have yet to try this technique - is it really that simple?  Hook a worm perpendicular in the middle and go to town?

 

Sometimes. Don't expect it to work every time even though it is a good finesse technique.

[Dave A]

I like to powder coat size 6 split rings with transparent candy red powder paint  and slip it onto the senko. Setting the hook up between the ring and the senko and not piercing the bait with the hook helps to prolong the life of the bait. When the bait is rigged this way, both ends wiggle on the fall as Crestliner has said. But you can also wiggle the senko by flicking your rod tip. I also like the way the wacky rigged bait vibrates in the water as you reel it in.

[Senko lover]

For those of you looking for a good hook, the Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot hook is a fantastic wacky rig hook.

[Onvacation]

60% of the time it works every time.  

[Fish the Mitt]

12 minutes ago, Senko lover said:

For those of you looking for a good hook, the Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot hook is a fantastic wacky rig hook.

That's exactly what I use.

[GoCougs14]

Not to derail the thread but when would you pick up a wacky rigged senko instead of say a ned rig? Just curious what other do here, I lve had success with both and sometimes Im a little torn on which one to pick up. 

Maybe the wacky rig is a bit more of a drop technique and the ned you can cover more water with?

[Fisher-O-men]

Just don't put a small nail weight in one end of the worm.  That never works.

[loudcherokee]

/Field of Dreams voice "Throw a senko, and they will come"

A wacky rigged senko is my absolute go to anti-skunk bait. The ned rig is a close second. Followed then by a weightless texas rigged senko. The senko, in my experience, seems to get bigger fish.

I've had them hit it on the fall, dead sticking, while twitching on the bottom, sitting on the bottom while picking out a wind knot, while swimming it back slowly, fast, jerking and popping like a fluke or jerking bait, burning it back across the top after an errant misplaced cast, right up on the bank in 2 inches of water, out deep in 40 foot of water, on a bed, etc. It just flat out catches fish.

I've watched as a bedding bass ignored or ran from 10 different baits with multiple presentations. I tied on a senko, and the fish inhaled it before it even touched the bottom.

 

LC