Getting More Bass From Your Texas Rigged Senko

Fishing with a Texas rigged Senko or any soft stickbait can be a highly effective technique for catching bass. Because of the Senko's soft composition,however, some anglers may find that they're not getting as many bass per Senko as they wish. Luckily, there is one easy hack you can try to get more bass per bait when using a Texas rigged Senko.

When rigging a Senko onto the hook, insert the hook into the head (thick end) of the bait and push it through until it comes out the bottom. Next, turn the hook 180 degrees, pull the hook down the Senko until the hook eye is buried in the head and insert the hook point back into the bait.  The Senko should hang straight and the point of the hook either hidden in the body or punched through and Tex-posed on top. 

Each time the Senko is cast, runs into cover, or the hook is set, the hook tears the plastic around the hook eye as well as the body where the hook point penetrated. After several casts the torn areas often become large enough to make re-rigging next to impossible causing many anglers to discard the bait for a new one. 

Although some folks may use a soft plastic glue to temporarily mend the torn areas for another cast or two, here's another hack that gets several more casts and a few more bass too...

Simply flip the Senko around, pinch about a 1/4" off its tail end and set-up the Texas rig as depicted via the image below:

Since both the hook eye and point/shaft of the hook now penetrate solid, non-torn plastic, the nearly spent Senko is ready for more action and bass!

Fishing the Neko Rig for Pressured Bass

Fishing for bass can be a challenging and rewarding experience, especially when the fish are pressured. When bass are constantly exposed to lures and other baits, they can become skittish and difficult to catch. 

However, with the right technique and equipment, you can increase your chances of hooking a bass, even in pressured waters. One technique that has gained popularity in recent years is the Neko rig.

The Neko rig is a simple rig that involves threading a soft plastic worm, crawfish or stick bait on to a Neko-style hook parallel with the length of the worm then inserting a small nail weight in the head of the bait.

To fish a Neko rig, you need a spinning rod and reel, light line, and a small hook. The ideal spinning rod should be medium power with a fast action, and it should be around 6.5-7.25 feet long. The reel should have a good drag system to help you control the fish. Use light line in the range of 4-8 pounds, and choose a hook that matches the size of your soft plastic bait.

Start fishing by casting your Neko rig to the desired location and let it sink to the bottom. The Neko rig has a unique fall rate, and the weight will cause the bait to stand up vertically when it hits the bottom. Once the bait is on the bottom, lift the rod tip, and then let it fall again. Repeat this process, working the bait slowly and methodically. This technique mimics a dying or injured baitfish and can entice even the most finicky bass.

Great Lures for Late Winter Bass

Many anglers do not fish throughout the winter months, epecially northern anglers where their favorite bass lakes are covered with ice. Once winter’s grip releases and ice out occurs however, it’s time to prep the bassin’ gear and set up a box wit the best baits for catching late winter bass.

When setting up your late winter specialty box, here are some of the best lures for late winter bass you should consider:

1) Jigs and pig or craw trailers: use a slow drag or drag n pause retrieve keeping the jig around the bottom;

2) Single and double blade spinnerbaits to be slow rolled over and around bottom cover;

3) Lipless or flat-sided squarebill crankbaits fished slowly while deflecting off bottom weeds or rocks;

Fishing Wing Dams for Bass

Wing dams are man-made structures designed to control and regulate water flow in rivers and streams. They are often made of rocks, concrete, or other materials and are positioned perpendicular to the shoreline, creating an extended point into the water. These structures can greatly impact the way fish behave and can be prime spots for fishing.

Bass are known to position themselves differently on wing dams depending on the flow conditions and the time of year. During low flow conditions, bass will typically be found near the back of the wing dam, where the water is deeper and provides cover from predators. In high flow conditions, they will move to the front of the wing dam, where the current is strongest and provides more oxygenated water.

Bass position of on wing dams also changes throughout the year. In the warmer months, they will typically be found near the surface, where the water is warmer, while in the colder months, they will be found at deeper depths, where the water is cooler.

When fishing for bass on wing dams, it’s important to understand the flow conditions and the season. Here are a few tips to help you catch more fish:

Spring Smallmouth Bass and Buzzbaits

Here’s a great tip to both help catch more smallmouths this spring and explosive strikes at the same time …

It’s definitely a little slice of springtime smallmouth fishing paradise!

The technique involves fishing buzzbaits for smallmouth bass once the water temp approaches 50 degrees and continues right through the spring season.

The pattern is actually very straight forward and targets staging smallies as they either prepare to invade the shallow spawning areas or are starting to make the transition back to deeper water.

Position the boat along the first major breakline (usually in 8 to 12 feet of water) then fish the buzzbait parallel to the break and stopping to fan-cast the bait over the shallows every so often.

Play with the cadence of the retrieve and find what entices them, the hold onto your rod and enjoy the fight!

When fishing river situations, getting your buzzbait to plane as soon as it hits the water can be key as explained in this  video…