I’ve always had luck with Senko fishing. I recently found a new pond and my go-to bait was Senkos - I was catching at least 2 bass a day. 

However recently I haven’t gotten any. The other day I hooked one but it got off. The bite has been terribly slow, til the point I’ve gone days without one fish. 

It can’t be my presentation, because I’ve tried a whole bunch. 

Is it because they no longer want my Senko? 

Should I switch baits or something? I don’t want to use a crankbait because there a lot of heavy cover. 

Any advice would be appreciated 

 

I fish a pond that sounds exactly the same. It isn't my favorite place to fish by any means, but it is the closest, so I stop by from time to time when I want to fish but not travel. 

 

What I have found is, there is no pattern. No rhyme or reason as to where they are. They just a scattered mess and the bite is tough. I have had to down size to a 4 inch Senko rather than my typical 5 inch. And then... DEAD STICK! Even in the vegetation. Maybe flick it a little bit once in awhile but don't move it far. 

 

My wife and I just got back from this similar pond this evening. Caught 2 fish each, and then we had an epic double. We popped a squat and just let the Senkos flutter down and sit, and we just chit chatted, barely flicking them once in awhile. And then the double happened. 

 

Exactly what he said...try a 4" worm. I keep it very simple with colors, but maybe try something different. f you're fishing with green, try a black one, or maybe junebug. Also, try different rigging. I always did well wacky rigging them. But for some reason they will only eat it if it's texas rigged this season on my local lake. Makes no sense, but it's working. 

Switch up occasionally with a Fat Ika.

 

 

 

I fished a small private pond yesterday that I've fished for several years.  About all I could get them to take were Senko's or other stick baits.  And I caught a lot of big bass on them there.  Occasionally they'd bite on a chatterbait, never on anything else no matter how much I tried.

 

Yesterday I wasn't getting any hits, so I figured what the hell, I'll try a squarebill, 6 bass in an hour, all good sized. So, you never know!

 

7 hours ago, Dens228 said:

I fished a small private pond yesterday that I've fished for several years.  About all I could get them to take were Senko's or other stick baits.  And I caught a lot of big bass on them there.  Occasionally they'd bite on a chatterbait, never on anything else no matter how much I tried.

 

Yesterday I wasn't getting any hits, so I figured what the hell, I'll try a squarebill, 6 bass in an hour, all good sized. So, you never know!

 

Yes, but I’m afraid to fish a crankbait because this pond has some pretty heavy cover. That’s why I always used a Senko. 

3 hours ago, Mottel said:

Yes, but I’m afraid to fish a crankbait because this pond has some pretty heavy cover. That’s why I always used a Senko. 

My point is more about don't be afraid to switch it up when the standard go-to isn't working. Swim jigs, spinnerbaits, etc.

switch up the bait if they are not hitting the senko, what do you have to lose?

As has been said if you want to stay with Senkos, switch up size/color or go with another weedless presentation like the Ika or Swimming Senko to change the profile.  You'll get bit.  

Try a worm, like a trick worm, swamp crawler or ribbon tail.  Weightless or up to 1/4 oz wt.  Drag, deadstick, hop, etc.   Try different speeds.   Try adding a glass bead between wt and hook.  Last, experiment with color.

When the Senko bite stops, break out the Ned Rig

I used a Keitech Swimg Impact on a weighted swimbait hook, rigged weedless in thick weeds.......it ripped through easily and I had a VERY good day on a weed filled lake......there's another thing to try.

 

If they aren’t biting on senkos, would they possibly want to bite a craw?

If the senko or topwater bite isn’t going then I normally will try a creature bait weightless if I can get away with it. Rage tail structure bugs in summer craw is normally what I use.