The Yamamoto Senko 6″ is the original soft plastic stick bait from legendary bait designer Gary Yamamoto. The 6″ Yamamoto Senko is a soft plastic stick bait that mimics the action of many different types of forage fish across the country. Through the years many companies have tried and failed to match the quality of the Senko, yet still after all these years the Senko holds its spot on top of the stick bait market. The 6″ Senko is simple to fish, in fact its often over fished by anglers thinking it needs more action, the key is to let the bait do the work. Rig the Senko Texas style weightless or wacky rig it and let it free fall to the bottom, once on bottom lift the rod tip and repeat the free falling action. The unparalleled action of the Senko is a proven fish catcher. The 6″ Yamamoto Senko is perhaps the most popular model when it comes weightless Texas-Rigging. The size and weight of the 6 inch version allow anglers to have a bit more control when compared to the lighter, 5″ model. We also find the 6″ model to be a great flipping bait – whether you are pitching to grass clumps or fishing docks; it will certainly produce and often the results yield larger bass than the smaller alternatives.
When to use the 6″ Senko
The 6″ Senko works all year round, but shines from spring to fall when bass are roaming the shallows looking to pick off easy meals. In the Spring, the 6″ Senko is one of the most popular flipping baits. Bass are still lethargic and therefore need a little extra time to locate their meal. Furthermore, the slow fall and bulky size of the 6″ version make it a killer bait for blind casting to spawning beds. During the summer, the bait replicates bluegill during their own spawn up shallow. Bass will wolfpack during this period in hopes of cornering the weakest bluegill in the bunch working together to get their high protein meals. When shad school up, bass will chase them near the surface in hopes of capturing a few as they reach the barrier between water and air – many times these shad will jump out of the water to escape, but upon returning to the water they are scooped up by opportunistic bass. The Senko is ideal for casting to fish that are chasing these baitfish and also makes a great follow-up bait for fishing topwater. During the colder months, anglers find success in deeper water on long underwater structure such as points. When fishing it in deeper water, a small weight is recommended.
Where to use the Senko
Yamamoto says the Senko is best in shallow water, especially in spawning areas in early spring. However, he has caught fish in cold water from as deep as 30 feet at Beaver Lake. Shallow cover, such as grass and stumps are good, while bluffs are tailor-made for throwing a Senko.
Rigging the Senko
Most anglers prefer a 4/0 to 5/0 extra wide gap (EWG) hook when fishing the 6″ version Texas-rigged with 10 to 16-pound test fluorocarbon line and a medium or medium-heavy action rod. The 6″ Senko is often used for flipping or pitching around reeds, docks and grass as its a bulkier bait than its 5″ predecessor and is much easier to fish without any weight. Fluorocarbon line is preferred over monofilament because its density allows it to sink with the bait and does not interfere with the fluttering action the Senko is famous for. When weights are desired, 1/8- to 1/4-ounce screw-lock weights work best.
How to use the 6″ Senko
The Senko is a finesse bait, but can be worked in a few ways. The most popular way to use it is without a weight of any kind. Simply rig it as you would on a Texas rig and skin hook it with the point just under the surface of the plastic. It’s important that the bait hangs as straight as possible on the hook, otherwise the signature fluttering action of the bait will be lost. If skipping a Senko under a dock, the wacky rig is a good option. Wacky rigging is simple, but not very weedless. The worm is impaled through the middle much like a live nightcrawler. A third option is to weight the Senko. Yamamoto will fish it weighted if he wants a different look or is in deep water (10 or more feet). He says a 1/8-ounce screw-lock weight is best because it stays with the worm and makes it spiral as it falls. The simplicity of the Senko doesn’t s”top” with the design. It’s also a simple bait to use. Yamamoto says while he designed the Senko to be a jerkbait, few people use it that way. The action on the fall is what draws the most strikes. Yamamoto will cast it to shallow cover and simply let the worm fall. The fluttering action draws the strikes. Yamamoto says the slower you fish the Senko, the better. After watching the line to see when the bait is on the bottom, Yamamoto will let it sit for several seconds, then raise the rod tip 6 inches or a foot, then let the bait flutter down again. Repeat this until the bait is no longer near any cover. “When the fish hear the splash, they look to see what it is. When they see the worm, they may not grab it right away, but go over and inspect it. When they get a good look at it and it moves again, that’s when most strikes occur.” Once you feel pressure from a fish, Yamamoto says a jarring hook set is not needed. Since the worm is skin-hooked, all you need to do is reel until the line is tight and allow the fish to set the hook for you as it swims away.
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DHEP) and lead, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer, and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
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