The Senko is arguably the best bass fishing lure of all time! It comes in more than 100 colors, all sorts of sizes, and can be fished so many different ways it will make your head spin. The bait is so effective that an entire category of lures called “stick baits” have been designed to imitate it. Do you really need all those options to catch fish? Of course not! Here’s what you need to know…
If we could only have one Senko to get us through every day on every lake it would be a 5″ Yamamoto Senko in Green Pumpkin Black Flake. That bait can be Texas Rigged or Wacky Rigged and will catch fish in virtually every lake in the country. From there, the Neko Rig has earned a special place in our arsenal, as have a few different colors for specific water color situations.
Below you’ll find links to the Senko, some of the better Senko alternatives, as well as the gear we use to rig and fish these stick baits. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.
SENKO…
-Yamamoto Senko:
Favorite Sizes: 5″ and 6″
Best Colors…
-Green Pumpkin Black Flake
-Watermelon Copper Orange Red Flake
-Electric Shad
Clear Water Colors…
-Baby Bass
-Natural Shad
-Green Pump Purple Copper
Muddy Water Colors…
-Black Blue Flake with Blue Tip
-Junebug
-Black Blue
SENKO ALTERNATIVES…
-Yum Dinger:
Colors: Green Pumpkin, Bama Magic
-Big Bite Baits Trick Stick:
Colors: Green Pumpkin, Tilapia
Gambler Fat Ace:
Colors: Green Pumpkin, Magic Craw
-Magnum Baits:
Colors: Green Pumpkin, Kush
WEIGHTLESS RIGGING…
Bait- Yamamoto Senko 5″:
Hook- Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap 1/0:
VMC CrossOver Pliers:
VMC CrossOver Bands (7mm and 8mm):
NEKO RIGGING…
Bait- Yamamoto Senko 5″:
Hook- Owner Weedless Finesse Neko 1/0:
Weight- Swagger Tungsten Pagoda:
VMC CrossOver Pliers:
VMC CrossOver Bands (7mm and 8mm):
TEXAS RIGGING…
Bait- Yamamoto Senko 6″:
Hook- Gamakatsu Superline EWG:
Hook Size: 3/0 for 5″, 4/0 for 6″
TIM’S 5″ WACKY RIG SPINNING COMBO…
Rod- G Loomis NRX+ 852S JWR:
Reel- Shimano Exsence A 3000:
Line- Sunline SX1 12 lb Braid:
Leader- Sunline Super FC 8 lb:
TIM’S 6″ SENKO TEXAS-RIG COMBO…
Rod- Megabass Orochi XX Braillist:
Reel- Daiwa Tatula Elite:
Line- Sunline Super FC 20 lb:
BUDGET ALL-AROUND SENKO COMBO…
Rod- Shimano Intenza 7’1″ Medium Heavy:
Reel- Shimano SLX 150 (HG):
Line- Suline Super FC 12 lb:
WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR??
We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here…
TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs:
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MAJOR EQUIPMENT WE USE DAILY…
Trolling Motor- Minn Kota Ultrex 112:
Electronics- Humminbird Solix 15:
Anchors- Minn Kota Talons:
Net- Frabill Conservation PLD 2612:
Camera- GoPro Hero 9:
FAVORITE TOOLS AND GEAR…
Favorite Storage Box:
Favorite sunglasses:
Favorite Pliers:
Favorite life jacket:
Favorite Scale:
Favorite Lure Retriever:
Favorite Braid Cutters:
Favorite Split Ring Pliers:
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If you plan to do any shopping, using our links before doing your shopping at Tackle Warehouse is the single greatest way to support us! You won’t be able to even see a difference but they’ll know you’re one of us!
#senko #bassfishing #fishing
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How many times does that happen? You're right, you can't draw it up any better than that. Nice work Tim. ✌🏻🎣
That “Daddy, can I hold it?” Touched my heart. Lol I have a 5 yr old daughter who wants to fish with me so bad but is allergic to seafood and fish. I may take her and her Epi-pen with me and just let her lip one 😂
Great video as usual.
You need to add watermelon red flake for real clear water and junebug black flake for dirty water or at night.
it just looks like a plastic worm that's colored like a crawdad XD XD XD XD
Bro, perhaps one if the best video you've every made for a variety of reasons. Put this one in the vault, it will age well!
Senko is my #1 confidence bait! I took my buddy with early ALS bass fishing on Lower Otay Lake in San Diego years ago and gave him a spinning rod with a black senko Texas rigged. He just kept casting into the tules and caught a 5lb’er! It was the last time he was able to fish so the senko has a pretty big place in my heart. I think the simplicity of it is why I like to fish it so much. Thanks for another great video Tim.
I would love if you guys did a "deep dive" into rod lines and explain the different models, their actions, and what techniques they would be good for. The hookup tackle has done this for a few rod lines and I'd be interested in your and Matt's opinions/perspectives on the various rods you fish. For instance I fish mostly St. Croix and I've heard from many different people in rod reviews that St. Croix's "fast" action is typically more moderate than many other rod companies' "fast" actions.
Awesome video Tim. Your co-angler was awesome too! Hes the next future Angler Champion. Thanks for making my day with this video.
“See what happens when hen you’re quiet during daddy’s videos?” Lol.
Wow!!! Skips the senko to demonstrate and catches one. Tim I’d rather be lucky than good lol.
I will say, I’m constantly perplexed by one of the most wild paradoxes of fishing:
– Pressured fish get tired of seeing the same lures, and need to see something new, that stands out, to get them to bite.
– Senko is the most widely used presentation on earth, and somehow also the most effective at getting bites in pressured situations.
I don’t get how those two realities exist together…but they do.
Also…that was the most wacky rig moment ever to effortlessly catch a fish on your example cast. Too funny 😂
I needed this video before I went out today. Yes I can and have caught fish using the senko but I'm not the greatest. I never really understood the tactics. Kinda loose my patience with the whole worm thing. I'm more of a jerkbait guy. But I also acknowledge how great senkos are and can be. Forcing myself to get better at it, thanks for simplifying it all in three different ways.
What size VMC crossover ring do you recommend for the 5” senko?
Sir, your channel is $$$
Thank you for another very Informative video! Just curious if you have tried facing the hook point different ways on Neko rig, and what way you would recommend? I'm guessing hook point facing tail of bait!? Thank you!
Hands down the best video I have ever seen by you guys, and you both have made some amazing videos and shared some incredible knowledge. But to see you so excited to catch that fish and to see you include your son and both of your authentic excitement was so nice to see. Keep up the great work and thanks for doing what you guys do..
20lb line on a brailist?!
I’m currently using 12lb Sunline fc invisible on the Orochi brailist with a Tatula sv tw probably gonna bump it up to like 15lb abrasx
Awesome watching your son getting into bass fishing. He did really well.
Super nice video
Where is a neko rig more effective than a shakey head?
Its been 30 to 40 degrees here in IL and either raining or snowing most days. It going to clear up tomorrow. What would you recommend after a spring snow/rain storms? All the lakes and ponds are thawed out and open water.
Awesome video Tim.
There is a cup on the senko because the way they are hung to dry after they are shot in the mold to cool down before they get bagged up.
I agree with the shimmy. That's the trigger. I didn't know that about the Yamamoto but I do now! By the way bruh, Nanna always said life is like a bowl of fruits and veggies 🤣
What kind of camera 🎥 do you use on boat
So I know the worm will work good. Keep up the great work
I’m hitting guntersville 7/8/9 April
You are awesome with little man. I hope he dose what you do know
that was awesome!
very good video👏❤
Y’all the only ones keeping it simple and using what actually works.
Instant like: tactical magic
Tim doing the shimmy move would make a great GIF.
Him showing us his fish was AWESOME !!
Good video man 👌🏼
I gotta get me one of those badass hats and shirts!!!
Tight lines guys!!
The one thing better than dad and son fishing, is dad, son and grandsons fishing.
Say Tim, did your son grow two feet in a year? Really a good looking kid( takes after his mom). It's really good to see you guys out in the boat, it's what makes memories for him. Senko could be the subject once per month and I would watch them all. You have to know how much we value your time and knowledge. Thank you.