I know that senkos and jerkbaits, crank baits, and a bunch of other stuff but I don’t know for example when I should use the senko vs a crank bait or jerk bait? Thanks!

Just use a wacky senko whenever you're tired of not catching fish on a reaction bait. They flat out work

I’ve only used wacky rig around docks, I know it works other places. I just like to use it there, I get hung up less with wacky rigged. 
I use it when the sun is high, it’s a place with shade. I don’t aggressively fish wacky, it’s kinda my lazy way to fish. 
 

2 minutes ago, GRiver said:

I’ve only used wacky rig around docks, I know it works other places. I just like to use it there, I get hung up less with wacky rigged. 
I use it when the sun is high, it’s a place with shade. I don’t aggressively fish wacky, it’s kinda my lazy way to fish. 
 

That's the way I fish them, when I feel lazy and just want to slow down.

They certainly catch fish and skip well, but I'm impatient at times.

After a root canal and before I stick a phillips screwdriver in my eye...

4 hours ago, GRiver said:

I’ve only used wacky rig around docks, I know it works other places. I just like to use it there, I get hung up less with wacky rigged. 
I use it when the sun is high, it’s a place with shade. I don’t aggressively fish wacky, it’s kinda my lazy way to fish. 
 

thanks!

Around here the ponds and small lakes see a lot of wacky rigs.  I have better luck fishing straight weightless.

Years ago I watched a video from Al Linder where he talked about vertical versus horizontal baits.  Basically are the fish active and chasing baits or do you have to hit them on the head to bite. I almost always start out with a spinnerbait,  crankbait, etc just something that moves. What I am looking for is followers. If they follow the bait but don't strike I need to switch baits.  If I don't see any or get no bites I switch over to a bottom contact bait. There are too many variables to get into it all but that's how I start most days of fishing. 

 

Allen 

On 9/16/2022 at 7:03 PM, NorcalBassin said:

Just use a wacky senko whenever you're tired of not catching fish on a reaction bait. They flat out work

look most of us dont want to admit it but when it sucks and we need some bites we put on a wacky rig senko and throw it around some of the best cover. it just pain gets bit.

7 hours ago, Munkin said:

Years ago I watched a video from Al Linder

Fishing personality, spiritual motivation speaker, and lawn ornament all wrapped up into one...

Our local lakes the bass are rarely chasing hard lures, maybe 10% of your day on the water if you are lucky.

This means slower more precise presentations work a higher percentage of the time. 

5” unweighted wacky rigged Senko falls slowly wiggling down through the water column is hard for bass of all size to pass up. Being precise means you should be casting a Senko to high % targets where you know or think the bass are located and approximately the depth they are using. You basically cast to the target or structure and let it sink watching the line for movement to indicate a strike. Slow boring if catching nothing but when you catch a bass every 10 minutes or so it’s no longer boring.

Options like Drop Shot and Slip Shot are no different but a little faster presentations. Jig fishing is another similar option and bullet weight T-rigs are both a little faster and less boring.

The objective is catching bass so use what is working.

Tom

I will fall back to a senko wacky style during certain times. Post spawn and fish are not chasing, summer time once water temps get really warm and fish become lethargic again, after turnover fished tight to cover and after a major frontal passage. 
 

Jerkbaits for me have always been early season before fish have started to move into areas where they are looking to spawn, and colder water temps.

On 9/17/2022 at 7:27 PM, Munkin said:

Years ago I watched a video from Al Linder where he talked about vertical versus horizontal baits.  Basically are the fish active and chasing baits or do you have to hit them on the head to bite. I almost always start out with a spinnerbait,  crankbait, etc just something that moves. What I am looking for is followers. If they follow the bait but don't strike I need to switch baits.  If I don't see any or get no bites I switch over to a bottom contact bait. There are too many variables to get into it all but that's how I start most days of fishing. 

 

Allen 

What if they hit it right at the boat? Thanks!

12 hours ago, Caiden24 said:

What if they hit it right at the boat? Thanks!

 

You need to change something up? They followed it all the way there because they liked it but were unsure. A lot of times when I get hits right at the boat its either I stopped moving the bait or it speeds up when pulling it out of the water. 

 

Allen

Sometimes i start with a Wacky rig. They kill on the River.  I use a small weighted wacky head if there is alot of wind or current