JACK WOLLITZ Soft plastic lure gains in angler popularity

A lure that's a staple in the tackle box of many pro bass anglers is quietly gaining popularity in northeastern Ohio.
The hot new baits are soft plastic "worms" that are heavier than their conventional cousins and built with virtually no action-inducing shape.
Senko is the trade name of the first of its kind to gain a hold in the market and are packaged and distributed by Gary Yamamato Custom Baits. As is typical with most successful baits, a number of other companies copied the lure and sell their own versions.
A Senko-style worm features a straight body with hundreds of small ridges. Both ends are blunt. The most popular size is 5 inches long. They look rather ordinary to the human eye, they unquestionably have a magical appeal to fish.
Other plastic worms drop headfirst through the water and attract fishes' attention because of the tails' vibration. Senkos, on the other hand, sink horizontally, undulating slightly.
Best way to fish them
Anglers have learned the best way to use the blunt lure is weightless -- either Texas -- or whacky-style. The Texas rig is the standard weedless setup. The whacky rig puts the hook in the lure's midpoint and both ends dangle evenly.
Rigged either way, Senkos are the epitome of do-nothing fishing. The fishermen tosses the bait, lets it fall into the suspected strike zone, pulls in a foot or two of line, and waits for the lure to fall again. All that is required is keeping in touch with the bait to detect when a fish picks it up.
And they often do exactly that.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass are particularly fond of Senkos. Local anglers have discovered that under certain circumstances, there is no better choice than a Senko.
Going slow pays off
While they work as a primary presentation, Senko fishing is a slow and tedious process. In fact, the slower the bait is worked, the better it tends to produce.
They also are a great lure to toss as a secondary, or follow-up, offering when a bass has swirled and missed at a buzz-bait or top-water plug. Quickly pitching out the soft plastic lure to fish that missed the first bait often results in catching the short-striker as it searches for whatever it was that it tried to eat initially.
Senkos are great for working around brush and weed lines. They also are excellent baits to skip under boat docks and other overhanging cover.
Strikes feel much like those on standard plastic worms. When a fish picks up the bait, the angler will feel a telltale tick or thud.
Keeping watch
Because some strikes occur while the line is slack, it also is a good idea to maintain visual contact. Set the hook if you see the line jump or if it starts "swimming" in an unusual fashion.
Senkos work great on all of this area's bass waters, including Lake Erie. Smallmouth anglers have discovered they often can pick up big fish on deep structure with Senkos on jig heads or drop-shot rigs when the smallies are not hitting plastic tubes.
As with all other soft plastic lures, Senkos are poured in a rainbow of colors. I prefer the same colors that make up the majority of my tubes and worms -- watermelon, green pumpkin and pearl.
Anglers who haven't tried them yet ought to consider experimenting with these unique fish-catching baits. With a little practice, they will add an enjoyable and productive option to your fishing arsenal.
jwwollitz@aol.com