Hello, my name is FatBoy and I'm a senkoholic...

Senkos are definitely my go to bait.  I also have tried the fat ikas but with way less success.  To be honest, though, that's because I haven't given the ikas a fair shot.  I usually try for a short time and then switch back to the senko since I'm more confident in those.  

My question: Are there situations or conditions where the fat ika works better than a senko?  Is there ever a time when you're not catching them on senkos, but they'll hit the fat ika?  And if so when?  What should I look for?

Fat Ika's are great baits.   One very cool aspect is that if rigged with the skirt up an weightlss they will swim away and down.

This is great for pitchin to matted cover.  pitch the bait to the edge and it swim a good foot or more under the canopy before it starts that great GYCB shimmy.    They tend to catch larger fish than is typical with the 5" senko.

Never leave home without em.

I fish the Fat Ika EXACTLY like a Senko, in exactly the same places and the same situations. It's just another profile. For the past few years the Fat Ika has simply been more productive than the Senko for me, especially for better fish. However, most of my DD bass have been caught on a 6" Senko and I have yet to catch one on a Fat Ika.

 

I fish it with shallow horizontal movements, 6"-12" then allowing the bait to fall back on slack line. I'm trying to imitate what I think a crawdad might look like as it moves across the bottom and over rocks. When the Fat Ika is pulled forward the tentacles are pushed backwards against the body. When the bait falls, the skirt flutters upwards. Even when the bait lies on the bottom, the tentacles make it appear alive (or just recently killed).

Thanks for all the info.  I'll have to spend more time with the ikas...when it cools off that is.

hey rw where are ya getting those inka's at? i cant find those anywhere. and you know my online ordering situation. Hmmmmm maybe ya can send me one  ;D

JBC Outfitters (Brad Coovert) is one of our sponsors and he offers a discount to BR members:

http://shop.jbcoutfitters.com/main.sc

thanks rw bro i apperciate it

Found this video on YOUTUBE.COM, anyone ever fish an IKA like this?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-DOCD6cfhe0&mode=related&search=

I just watched the video.  I am purchasing IKAs as I write this.  I didnt know they were to be rigged upside down or I guess skirt up.  Wow They look awesome!!!!

I can't catch a fish on an Ika to save my life. I would rather throw an 1/8 oz jig first, maybe that's my problem. Everyone seems to love the Ikas so much that I bought a few packs, but they just don't produce for me....even tried them today, when nothing else was working.

just my .02.  :-?

I can't catch a fish on an Ika to save my life. I would rather throw an 1/8 oz jig first, maybe that's my problem. Everyone seems to love the Ikas so much that I bought a few packs, but they just don't produce for me....even tried them today, when nothing else was working.

just my .02. :-?

This suggestion is for ALL new lures/ baits: A true test, a better test, of a new bait or technique is "when the bite is hot." If things are slow, you don't know if it's the fish, where your're fishing or what's up. Try a new approach when everything is ALREADY working!

hey rw ya sound just like my old paw paw there for a minute but i gotta admit your right about that, now just like i asked ole paw paw years ago what if nothings working?

The original question was; what's the difference?". In my book the main difference is, when rigged backwards, you can fish the Ika much deeper than you can fish a Senko. I have a hard time fishing a Senko much deeper than 10 feet or so. Maybe a little deeper in dead calm conditions, but that's about it. I can fish an Ika down to 20 feet with no problems, and have fished effectively down to 30+ feet on Table Rock, catching smallmouth.

The place where the Ika really outfishes the Senko is along very steep banks. When you pull a Senko forward a couple of feet, it can drop several feet on a steep bank. The Ika, with it's "scoot backwards" drop, will not fall near as far. It is much easier to work a steep bank, and hit a lot more spots along it, with the Ika.

Cheers,

GK

The original question was; what's the difference?". In my book the main difference is, when rigged backwards, you can fish the Ika much deeper than you can fish a Senko. I have a hard time fishing a Senko much deeper than 10 feet or so. Maybe a little deeper in dead calm conditions, but that's about it. I can fish an Ika down to 20 feet with no problems, and have fished effectively down to 30+ feet on Table Rock, catching smallmouth.

The place where the Ika really outfishes the Senko is along very steep banks. When you pull a Senko forward a couple of feet, it can drop several feet on a steep bank. The Ika, with it's "scoot backwards" drop, will not fall near as far. It is much easier to work a steep bank, and hit a lot more spots along it, with the Ika.

Cheers,

GK

Now that's the kind of thing I was looking for.  And that makes a lot of sense. That might work really good on this flooded quarry I fish once in a while!

My wife and I fish out of a canoe and just discovered these baits this year.  We have tried several colors and so far the green pumpkin with black and the pumpkin with red flake and my favorite, watermelon and red flake have worked well for us.  The great thing is you can turn them over when the tips get trashed and reuse them upside down.  What an ingenious bait!  

MB