I received an O ring tool in my Christmas stocking and wanted some opinions  on using O rings. I know they will make the bait last longer but have you seen a lower hook up rate then without them? I have always thought they would hinder the hook up rate. I could be wrong. Let me know if you have any experience with them. 

 

Thanks,

Tom

They didn't hurt my hookups, but they also didn't make my baits last any longer. Think I might try small zip ties this year.

Hi, sounds like you are only using 1 o-ring so that the hook lays parallel to the worm. Use 2, criss-cross them, then put hook through them.

 

 

Exactly ^ 

 

Yes IMO just using one o-ring and having the hook to the side does effect hook up ratio. 

 

I was doing that before I found the o-rings , hook though the middle and then back out again to keep the worm on the hook when I was getting strikes. But I stopped because I was convinced the angle of the hook was making me miss fish. I'd rather lose baits than fish ! Lol 

 

But yea as bigturtle said. Use 2 , and cross em. 

I was a fan of O rings so it was easy for me to transition to aquarium tubing.  amazing stuff.  you'll still occasionally lose senkos if skipping too hard with O rings.  And be careful not to play tug of war with baitfish or they'll slip right off. Bluebass86 zip tie idea sounds great so I'll have to experiment this season.

 

I tried just about everything the last two years. I finally settled on this rig.  I still hook thru the bait but it no longer tears them in half like before.

 

Nylon tubing last the longest......and push the hook right through both

i use 1 o ring and havent seen a differnce with my hookup ratio but i dont use nearly as many worms. 

I used to buy Yamasenkos for $8/bag plus the cost and hassle of putting O rings on.  Now I switched to Kalin Wac O Worms for $4.49/bag and stronger scent/taste, slightly heavier, great weightless sink rate - and tons of fish.  

 

The fish in my Avatar were pre-spawn smallmouth last Spring on a heavily pressured metro area river and caught as many or more than I typically did in years past on the Yamasenkos - which I still like but think I've found a better and more cost effective solution.  Kalins are not only half the price of Yamasenkos but last twice as long too.  No need for an O ring IMO. 

Never used O-rings on senkos but I can tell you that hook position and a good, strong hook set go along way in increasing your catch ratio. 

I have always used a single O-ring. I have no prob with hook up %. I do let the fish take the bait longer then most tho. I get 20+ bass on a single stick

If your hook up ratio is bad using an o'ring it's most likely your hook that is wrong. On occasion the senko will get stuck on the hook point but that happens with or with out an o'ring. And yes they do extend the life of the bait by quite a bit. 

 NH Bull, I use plastic tubing also. Just cut a ring off when needed. Never thought of putting the hook thru the tubing and the worm. I just used it as you would an o-ring. d**n fine idea.

I rarely use gybc senkos, but when I do, I use two o-rings and it does not seem to make any difference in hookups. I do however get to spend more time with my expensive worm rigging it before it gets torn in half when a bluegill swims by at a rapid pace.  

On 1/7/2017 at 3:30 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

They didn't hurt my hookups, but they also didn't make my baits last any longer.

 

That's because the fish you catch are total savages!

 

I've not tried O-rings just because it adds to the cost of the bait.  I'd heard from several others they didn't last longer so just figured what's the point of making it more expensive.

I've tried using o-rings, and didn't feel like they increased the durability enough to justify using them.  I've also used plastic tubing, and that worked OK but my hooking ratio suffered.  Then I tried shrink tubing, and haven't gone back.  I can usually get eight to ten bass per senko using shrink tubing.  For five inch senko's the 3/8 inch size fits perfectly.

i use elastic braces bands

I use two rings but didn't really notice a difference when I only used one.  You get a lot more out of the Yamamoto senkos which are super soft.  Without rings, it's one and done.

2 hours ago, NCbassraider said:

I use two rings but didn't really notice a difference when I only used one.  You get a lot more out of the Yamamoto senkos which are super soft.  Without rings, it's one and done.

 

Not really though. I usually average 3-5 easily. Sometimes 8. With no o-ring. 

 

I start with em Texas weightless, if it's too torn I'll cut about 1/4" off and re-hook. Right back in the fresh plastic. Start with a 5" senko and before I'm grabbing a new one it's 3 and 3/4" . . Sometimes I'll just flip it and throw it wacky. 

 

Some people believe these baits are limited to only throw wacky style. And although wacky is very effective; I could argue (based on results) that Texas rigged weightless is more effective. 

 

If anybody is only wacky rigging stickbaits they are missing out on these baits hardcore. 

18 hours ago, Yeajray231 said:

 

Not really though. I usually average 3-5 easily. Sometimes 8. With no o-ring. 

 

I start with em Texas weightless, if it's too torn I'll cut about 1/4" off and re-hook. Right back in the fresh plastic. Start with a 5" senko and before I'm grabbing a new one it's 3 and 3/4" . . Sometimes I'll just flip it and throw it wacky. 

 

Some people believe these baits are limited to only throw wacky style. And although wacky is very effective; I could argue (based on results) that Texas rigged weightless is more effective. 

 

If anybody is only wacky rigging stickbaits they are missing out on these baits hardcore. 

 

I rarely wacky rig but when I do, I use rings.  I thought that was what this thread  was about.

 

Gary Yamamoto designed the 5" senko to be thrown weightless Texas rigged on a 3/0

I just started using O-rings on my wacky rigged senkos. So far I got hit 4 times and pulled in 2 of them. I'm not going to blame the 2 I missed on bad hookup ratios because I feel as if I let those fish get away. The worm is still in great shape after 4 hits and has a long way to go in my opinion. I use 2 O-rings by the way. I only use yamamoto senkos.

7 hours ago, LxVE Bassin said:

I just started using O-rings on my wacky rigged senkos. So far I got hit 4 times and pulled in 2 of them. I'm not going to blame the 2 I missed on bad hookup ratios because I feel as if I let those fish get away. The worm is still in great shape after 4 hits and has a long way to go in my opinion. I use 2 O-rings by the way. I only use yamamoto senkos.

 

If you double a "Goodie" (ask your wife or girl friend) instead of an o ring you will get two benefits. First off, the choice of which direction you want the hook to point (perpendicular to, or parallel to the worm). Either hooking has the same band pressure on the worm. I've been using these extremely inexpensive bands for many years and my Senkos last better than not having any band at all. Can't say they make them bullet proof, but certainly better than no band at all. And cheaper than o rings.

On ‎1‎/‎7‎/‎2017 at 6:08 PM, NHBull said:

Nylon tubing last the longest......and push the hook right through both

What exact kind of tubing? Where do I get it? How do I apply it? Thanks for this info.

Shrink tubing works, also.  3/8" for Senkos and 1/4" for trick worms.  I got mine online, but I believe you can get it at the hardware store.