How to Fish Fast with a Wacky Rigged Senko

Fishing with a wacky rigged Senko can be a highly effective technique for catching bass. 

The wacky rig refers to the way the bait is hooked, which allows for a more natural and erratic action that can entice fish to bite. Though widely considered a slow, finesse-type presentation, a wacky rigged soft stickbait can also be fished quickly in a quasi power fishing mode.

If you're looking to fish fast with a wacky rigged Senko, here are some tips to help you get started:

Choose the Right Gear: Selecting the right gear can help you fish faster and more efficiently around shallow cover. A medium to medium-heavy spinning rod with a fast action tip is recommended. This will give you the power and sensitivity needed to detect bites and set the hook quickly. Pair your rod with a high-speed spinning reel and 10-20 lb braided line with fluorocarbon leader to help you quickly reel land your catch.

Cast and Retrieve: One of the keys to fishing fast with a wacky rigged Senko is to cast and retrieve quickly. Cast your bait out and let it sink to the desired depth before reeling it in with a steady lift and drop retrieve. You can also try a twitch-and-pause retrieve, which involves twitching your rod tip to make the bait move erratically before letting it pause to sink again.

Cover Water Quickly: Another strategy for fishing fast is to cover as much water as possible. Focus on areas that are likely to hold fish, such as weed lines, drop-offs, around docks and other shallow cover. Move quickly from spot to spot and try to make as many casts as possible in a short amount of time to optimize your efficiency.

Vary Your Presentation: If you're not getting bites, try varying your presentation. You can experiment with different retrieve speeds, twitching patterns, and pauses to see what the fish respond to best. You can also try different colors and sizes of Senkos to see if that makes a difference.

Though I use this method from mid spring until mid fall, bass pro Jacob Powroznik describes how he uses it during the heart of the bass spawn in the following video from the folks at Bassmaster magazine...