Twise95
08-17-2009, 02:49 AM
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/P1030009.jpg
Hey guys!
Recently after a fishing trip with Matt, he wanted me to bring up a post showing how I fish the Senko for Smallmouth and Largemouth bass. So I made a little photo journal showing the different steps of the process of how I rig the plastic bait and I'll explain how I like to use it as well.
So first... the rigging!
I love using the senko Wacky-Wormed for a few reasons:
1) Its gotta be one of the simplest forms of finesse fishing worms I've ever seen.
2) It works great for fish who are quiet biters and a little weary (great in early season cold water where fish are not as active but still looking to eat)... but on the other hand it can also be an explosive technique for finding fish on the move. This is really the only slow-fishing I do for Bass.
3) It allows you to cover water slower, but more thoroughly, which I personally like. The rig is pretty durable and once you get practiced, it can be hard to get hung up too.
4) The rig can be set up very quickly... in under 30 seconds to a minute once you get good at it.
So... Let's get started!
To fish this rig effectively, you will need:
-A rod and reel setup that you feel comfortable finessing a worm with. I use a 7'0 UL spinning rod usually rigged with 6-8 pound test (you can go up on the line rating if you are using larger worms / fishing for bigger bass, certainly). I use a UL just for fun but its nice to have a good solid backbone in the rod too if you want to jig it a bit. So 6-7 foot light to medium action works great. A long rod with light line allows you to maximize your casting efficiency, especially since most of the time I'll fish this worm weightless.
To make the rig, you will need:
One senko style bait (My preferred length is 3''. You can certainly fish 4'' up to 6'', but personally I've never seen anything bigger then that really. 3'' is the best all-around length, which will get you into more fish then the larger ones).
One extremely sharp wide-gap hook. Match the hook size with the size worm you are using. For 3'', I like to use a #2 hook.
(Optional) One sliding bullet sinker. I like to use 1/8 to 1/4 ounce for the 3''. Again, match it with the size of bait you are using and the type of water you are fishing (i.e. think about if theres a lot of current, etc.). I like to fish the worm completely weightless if possible, but sometimes the wind will pick up and it will be harder to throw and present it the way you want to, so putting a sliding sinker above the worm works great for that and does not mess with the presentation at all.
Should look something like this...
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/P1030010.jpg
So, you will start off by taking your bullet sinker and sliding it up the line a ways, like so. This is if you decide to use one - otherwise, you will just skip to the next step.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/P1030011.jpg
Next, you will take the end of your mainline, and you will go ahead and tie a fisherman's knot to the eye of the hook. Its a knot I've been using since I was 4 years old, and is my strongest connective knot. This is how you do it:
You take the line, put it through the eye of the hook, pull about 5'' through, then twist it 5-6 times creating 5-6 wraps above the eye. Then you take your tag end and you put it through the first opening that is created between the first wrap and the eye of the hook, then you finish by taking the tag end once more, and putting it through the new opening that is made from putting the end through the first opening. Grab the tag end and the hook, put a little bit of saliva on the line, and pull tightly to finish the knot. Cut the tag end off.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/P1030012.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/P1030013.jpg
Then, you take the Senko.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/P1030014.jpg
To rig this wacky-style (named after the fact that it just looks plain weird), you take the worm and you fold it in half, like so:
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/P1030016.jpg
And you finish by placing the hook directly in the middle of the worm, basically at the midpoint that is made by folding the worm in half.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/P1030018.jpg
In the end it should look like this:
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/P1030019.jpg
And that's how you rig it!
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/P1030020.jpg
I only recently in the last year or so picked up Wacky worming the Senko... and I have been VERY pleased with how it has produced fish for me, seemingly when I had trouble picking up fish any other way.
Just like most worms, you can fish this just about anywhere - rocky points, shelfs, lily pads... anywhere that has structure that will hold bass. Mornings and late evenings are generally the best time to fish this lure (as is much of anything for Bass) but it can also be a great alternative during the day when the water warms up a lot and bass are looking for places to stay cool.
Because it has an open point, yes... sometimes it can have a tendency to get hung up, especially since you fish it on the bottom and/or around structure. But don't fear... like I said, the rig is very fast and easy to replace quickly on the fly, and the gear itself is relatively inexpensive. If you get hung up, don't put any pressure immediately on the gear... give it slack first for a few seconds, and then slowly try to lift it off. A lot of the time it will get hooked on a rock or a log, and if you give it slack, it will loosen itself and get free.
How I fish this rig:
Cast out and let it sink completely to the bottom. How the Wacky worm Senko works is that the natural sinking motion of the worm gives it a wavy presentation that resembles a sinking minnow. I've been told that more often then not, fish will hit it on its first trip towards the bottom. Detecting bites during this time can be difficult, so its important to WATCH YOUR LINE. If you see ANY sudden movements, go ahead and set the hook. It will take time to get used to it... personally I still have trouble with this.
Once you see that it has hit the bottom, reel up slowly to where you have just a little slack in your line, and give it a slow jigging motion, just once... letting it come off the bottom 5 to 6''. Repeat every 6-10 seconds, and again, watch your line, as most of the time, this will be your only indication of having a bite.
Every couples of jigs or so, reel up all of your slack SLOWLY, and put your finger around the line near the rod handle, and just hold it and wait. Sometimes fish will see this pause in the motion as a time to attack, so just watch your line and feel for bites. The majority of the bites I have are during this time. If you feel a fish attacking your worm, set the hook!
Repeat this ALL THE WAY in, to within 5 feet or less of where you are standing. You won't believe how many fish follow your worm all the way to the shore, and then attack at the VERY last movement. I've caught very many fish just mere feet from my own feet.
Once you have done this... cast out and repeat the process. Don't be afraid to change things up. Give it a more quicker retrieve... Harder or softer jigging motions. Jig three or four times at once instead of only one time. Find new techniques. By experimenting you will find how you like to fish it. That's what I've found with my own experiences. :-)
Gary Yamamoto made the Senko quite a few years ago, but nowadays you can find a LOT of copies of the same lure, some for cheaper then the original Senko. There are TONS of ways to fish this worm. This is just one of them. I've fished a few different types and they all seem to work about the same for wacky-style. The original Senko has always does the best for me, however.
I hope this was instructional for those who are looking to pick up a new easy way to get large numbers of Bass over the year.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/TeddyFirstBassOfTheYear.png
(Some real proof it actually works! This was my first fish of the 2006 season picked up in March, a beautiful Columbia River Smallie that weighed around 4 pounds, using a 5'' Wacky-wormed Senko fished REALLY slow :D)
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/assorted09/tedbass.jpg
As always if you have any questions about wacky worm fishing the Senko, feel free to PM me.
~ Teddy
Hey guys!
Recently after a fishing trip with Matt, he wanted me to bring up a post showing how I fish the Senko for Smallmouth and Largemouth bass. So I made a little photo journal showing the different steps of the process of how I rig the plastic bait and I'll explain how I like to use it as well.
So first... the rigging!
I love using the senko Wacky-Wormed for a few reasons:
1) Its gotta be one of the simplest forms of finesse fishing worms I've ever seen.
2) It works great for fish who are quiet biters and a little weary (great in early season cold water where fish are not as active but still looking to eat)... but on the other hand it can also be an explosive technique for finding fish on the move. This is really the only slow-fishing I do for Bass.
3) It allows you to cover water slower, but more thoroughly, which I personally like. The rig is pretty durable and once you get practiced, it can be hard to get hung up too.
4) The rig can be set up very quickly... in under 30 seconds to a minute once you get good at it.
So... Let's get started!
To fish this rig effectively, you will need:
-A rod and reel setup that you feel comfortable finessing a worm with. I use a 7'0 UL spinning rod usually rigged with 6-8 pound test (you can go up on the line rating if you are using larger worms / fishing for bigger bass, certainly). I use a UL just for fun but its nice to have a good solid backbone in the rod too if you want to jig it a bit. So 6-7 foot light to medium action works great. A long rod with light line allows you to maximize your casting efficiency, especially since most of the time I'll fish this worm weightless.
To make the rig, you will need:
One senko style bait (My preferred length is 3''. You can certainly fish 4'' up to 6'', but personally I've never seen anything bigger then that really. 3'' is the best all-around length, which will get you into more fish then the larger ones).
One extremely sharp wide-gap hook. Match the hook size with the size worm you are using. For 3'', I like to use a #2 hook.
(Optional) One sliding bullet sinker. I like to use 1/8 to 1/4 ounce for the 3''. Again, match it with the size of bait you are using and the type of water you are fishing (i.e. think about if theres a lot of current, etc.). I like to fish the worm completely weightless if possible, but sometimes the wind will pick up and it will be harder to throw and present it the way you want to, so putting a sliding sinker above the worm works great for that and does not mess with the presentation at all.
Should look something like this...
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/P1030010.jpg
So, you will start off by taking your bullet sinker and sliding it up the line a ways, like so. This is if you decide to use one - otherwise, you will just skip to the next step.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/P1030011.jpg
Next, you will take the end of your mainline, and you will go ahead and tie a fisherman's knot to the eye of the hook. Its a knot I've been using since I was 4 years old, and is my strongest connective knot. This is how you do it:
You take the line, put it through the eye of the hook, pull about 5'' through, then twist it 5-6 times creating 5-6 wraps above the eye. Then you take your tag end and you put it through the first opening that is created between the first wrap and the eye of the hook, then you finish by taking the tag end once more, and putting it through the new opening that is made from putting the end through the first opening. Grab the tag end and the hook, put a little bit of saliva on the line, and pull tightly to finish the knot. Cut the tag end off.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/P1030012.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/P1030013.jpg
Then, you take the Senko.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/P1030014.jpg
To rig this wacky-style (named after the fact that it just looks plain weird), you take the worm and you fold it in half, like so:
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/P1030016.jpg
And you finish by placing the hook directly in the middle of the worm, basically at the midpoint that is made by folding the worm in half.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/P1030018.jpg
In the end it should look like this:
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/P1030019.jpg
And that's how you rig it!
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/P1030020.jpg
I only recently in the last year or so picked up Wacky worming the Senko... and I have been VERY pleased with how it has produced fish for me, seemingly when I had trouble picking up fish any other way.
Just like most worms, you can fish this just about anywhere - rocky points, shelfs, lily pads... anywhere that has structure that will hold bass. Mornings and late evenings are generally the best time to fish this lure (as is much of anything for Bass) but it can also be a great alternative during the day when the water warms up a lot and bass are looking for places to stay cool.
Because it has an open point, yes... sometimes it can have a tendency to get hung up, especially since you fish it on the bottom and/or around structure. But don't fear... like I said, the rig is very fast and easy to replace quickly on the fly, and the gear itself is relatively inexpensive. If you get hung up, don't put any pressure immediately on the gear... give it slack first for a few seconds, and then slowly try to lift it off. A lot of the time it will get hooked on a rock or a log, and if you give it slack, it will loosen itself and get free.
How I fish this rig:
Cast out and let it sink completely to the bottom. How the Wacky worm Senko works is that the natural sinking motion of the worm gives it a wavy presentation that resembles a sinking minnow. I've been told that more often then not, fish will hit it on its first trip towards the bottom. Detecting bites during this time can be difficult, so its important to WATCH YOUR LINE. If you see ANY sudden movements, go ahead and set the hook. It will take time to get used to it... personally I still have trouble with this.
Once you see that it has hit the bottom, reel up slowly to where you have just a little slack in your line, and give it a slow jigging motion, just once... letting it come off the bottom 5 to 6''. Repeat every 6-10 seconds, and again, watch your line, as most of the time, this will be your only indication of having a bite.
Every couples of jigs or so, reel up all of your slack SLOWLY, and put your finger around the line near the rod handle, and just hold it and wait. Sometimes fish will see this pause in the motion as a time to attack, so just watch your line and feel for bites. The majority of the bites I have are during this time. If you feel a fish attacking your worm, set the hook!
Repeat this ALL THE WAY in, to within 5 feet or less of where you are standing. You won't believe how many fish follow your worm all the way to the shore, and then attack at the VERY last movement. I've caught very many fish just mere feet from my own feet.
Once you have done this... cast out and repeat the process. Don't be afraid to change things up. Give it a more quicker retrieve... Harder or softer jigging motions. Jig three or four times at once instead of only one time. Find new techniques. By experimenting you will find how you like to fish it. That's what I've found with my own experiences. :-)
Gary Yamamoto made the Senko quite a few years ago, but nowadays you can find a LOT of copies of the same lure, some for cheaper then the original Senko. There are TONS of ways to fish this worm. This is just one of them. I've fished a few different types and they all seem to work about the same for wacky-style. The original Senko has always does the best for me, however.
I hope this was instructional for those who are looking to pick up a new easy way to get large numbers of Bass over the year.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Twise95/TeddyFirstBassOfTheYear.png
(Some real proof it actually works! This was my first fish of the 2006 season picked up in March, a beautiful Columbia River Smallie that weighed around 4 pounds, using a 5'' Wacky-wormed Senko fished REALLY slow :D)
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/assorted09/tedbass.jpg
As always if you have any questions about wacky worm fishing the Senko, feel free to PM me.
~ Teddy