So long Mr. Senko.  Hello Mr. Ocho!

 

 

I think they hit a real “dinger” with the Ocho. 

Fished it last year, not replacing my Senko's or Sticko"s.

I'll stick with Yum Dingers. Half the price of Senkos, more durable, and work well for my applications. 

Nice post.

 

As always the stickbait debate rages on.  I really like the Ocho and have done well with it.  Met Steve Parks and he's a super nice, and very experienced and talented guy.

 

The Ocho plays a role in my tackle.  I'll also still toss stickbaits from various producers, including the senko and the dinger.

I used ochos last year a little, they caught fish but I didn't think they were anything special. 

I'm with Sake95.  I had some success wacky rigging a 5 inch Ocho last year.  I'm not ready to say it relegates my Senkos to second string though.  Another tool in the box. 

I don't know that they actually move any better, or more, than a GYCB senko, but they are a nice stickworm option. Good price too. 

I'll take the Ocho over any stickbait out there if I'm fishing it weightless. Academy had them for $1-$3 a pack and I bought a bunch of them. The sink rate and wobble are great. They're also more durable than a Senko. 

I like the Ocho and have them in my bag right now, but I find they are one of the least durable of that style bait. 

 

I got in on the Ocho close out at Academy Sports last winter also.  I think I got 20 or so bags.  I have a couple of friends who make jigs, and unopened bags of soft plastics are good to trade.

I think that the echo's are good baits, but like other posters, I'm not sure that they are overwhelmingly superior to any number of different soft plastic stick baits, so some times I'll use one brand, sometimes another, mostly depending what color I want to try next.

I mostly throw the ocho tx rigged with a 3/16 tungsten weight, or with a nail weight in the tail, so as to better dive down & away when I throw it a holes in vegetation.

 

On the subject of unsung/under-appreciated stick baits, the ZOOM Magnum Finesse Worm comes to mind.  I find this an excellent pitching bait, thrown to structure/cover with a 3/16 or 1/4 tungsten weight.

I piled up Ochos from Academy last year also. I did so because I think they're the second best stickbait on the market. I strongly prefer the GYCB Senkos, which have a much better shimmy on the drop and a faster rate of fall when fished weightless. I also like the extra weight of the GYCB for skipping, which allows for a little better distance.

The 4" ocho is definitely more durable than the 4" senko, while still having about the same action (and more action than some other 4" stickworms i've tried). I use the 4" for smallies in rivers and streams, and I'll go through twice as many senkos as ochos for the same number of fish.

I prefer the 4” Ochos over 4” Senkos as they are thinner and seem to have more wiggle.  Durability seems about the same.