Choosing Between 4" and 5" Senkos for Bass

Bass fishing is as much about strategy as it is about skill and choosing the right bait can make all the difference between a successful day on the water and a frustrating one. One popular soft plastic bait that has proven its worth among anglers is the Senko soft stickbait. 

Despite its overall effectiveness under a variety of conditions, the size of the Senko-type soft stickbait can significantly impact your success anytime you're on the water. 

In the following post, we'll identify some of the conditions when a 4" Senko may trigger more strikes than its larger counterpart, the standard 5" Senko.

Matching the Hatch: Bass are sometimes selective eaters and their preferences can vary based on the available forage in a particular water body. The 4" Senko closely mimics smaller prey such as young baitfish, flying insects like dragon flies and smaller worms. If the bass in your area are feeding on smaller forage, presenting a 4" Senko can often be more appealing and trigger more strikes.

Subtle Presentation in Clear Water: In clear water conditions, bass can be more discerning when it comes to inspecting lures. A 4" Senko provides a more subtle and finesse-like presentation compared to a 5" Senko. The smaller size closely mimics natural prey, making it an enticing option for bass that may be hesitant to strike a larger, more conspicuous lure.

Coldwater Conditions: During colder months, bass metabolism slows down, and they are less likely to expend energy on chasing down a meal. Downsizing to a 4" Senko caters to the bass's diminished appetite, offering a more manageable and enticing target. The slower fall rate of the smaller lure can be particularly effective in enticing sluggish bass in colder water.

Post-Spawn Period: After the bass have completed their spawning activities, they can be in a recovery phase and may be more interested in smaller, easier meals. The 4" Senko, resembling juvenile prey, can be particularly effective during the post-spawn period when bass are looking for an easy and satisfying meal.

Pressured Waters: In heavily fished waters, bass can become conditioned to larger lures commonly used by anglers. Downsizing to a 4" Senko presents a different profile and may catch the attention of bass that have become wary of larger offerings. This strategy plays on the element of surprise, increasing the chances of triggering strikes from cautious bass.

While the 5" Senko remains a popular and effective choice for bass anglers, there are specific scenarios where downsizing to a 4" Senko can make a significant difference in triggering strikes. 

Understanding the factors that influence bass behavior and adapting your lure selection accordingly is key to becoming a more versatile and successful angler. Experimenting with different sizes and paying attention to the conditions will allow you to fine-tune your approach and increase your chances of landing that trophy bass.

Underwater Tests of Five Different Soft Stickbaits

I love fishing soft stickbaits like the Yamamoto Senko from the time ice leaves our lakes until it returns each year. 

Why? 

Simply put, they catch bass under almost any condition!

I'm also like most bass anglers that are always interested in new baits even it's just another company's version of a popular bait like the Senko. Though I always try and do my own on the water comparisons between similar baits even weighing the baits before I hit the water and conducting rudimentary sink rate tests when on it, it's great to find videos where other anglers have done more intense underwater testing.

A few days ago I came across this video where bass pro Mark Fisher conducted underwater tests of 5 different 5" soft stickbait brands evaluating them for relative sink rate, wobble while sinking, durability, cost/bait and notes on scents. The brands include the Senko, Yum Dinger, Berkley Maxscent General, Strike King Ocho and BPS Stik-O.

Though there were a few hiccups relative to scent content and relative costs which he addressed in a later video, his efforts produced some great insight regarding sink rate, wobble and durability for sure. Take a few minutes and watch the following video to see what I mean...

I thought it was pretty cool that after my own testing I found the BPS Stik-O has the closest fall characteristics yet more durable to the Senko as well. Both are the most prevalent soft stickbaits you'll find in my soft stickbait bag :)

Check out more of Mark's videos by clicking on the link below:

Mark Fisher YouTube Channel

You'll be glad you did!

Great Soft Stickbait Options

Soft stickbaits are a versatile and effective bait that has become increasingly popular among anglers. Their lifelike appearance and realistic action make them ideal for a variety of fishing scenarios, especially when you're targeting bass. With so many soft stickbait brands available, it can be challenging to determine which ones are the best. 

Here is a list of several soft stickbait brands that are worth considering. Each of these brands offers a 5” length; many offer other lengths as well. All brands have a variety of bass catching color patterns in their lines and links to more information for each brand’s bait are provided in the description below as well.

• Gary Yamamoto Senko - The Gary Yamamoto Senko is arguably the most popular soft stickbait brand on the market. Its unique design and lifelike action have made it a go-to choice for many anglers.
• Zoom Zlinky - Zoom is a well-known brand that offers a variety of soft plastic baits, including soft stickbaits. Their 5” Zlinky claims to be loaded with salt, soft yet durable, includes a hook slot for Texas rigging, and comes in a variety of popular colors.
• Berkley PowerBait MaxScent “The General” - The Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General is a great choice for bass fishing. Its soft, yet durable design provides a realistic feel plus the added Powerbait scent makes it difficult for fish to resist and helps bass hold onto the bait longer than other brands.

Quick Tip for Using EWG Worm Hooks with Soft Stickbaits

Ever since I started fishing soft stickbaits over 20 years ago, it became one of my go-to baits from the first trip after ice out until the last before ice in. Though I haven't formally tracked the numbers, the soft stickbait likely accounts for more than half the bass I catch each season. It’s definitely a bass catcher.

Most of the time, I use a 5" (some brands produce slightly longer versions) bait though I also use 4 and 6 inch lengths under certain conditions.

Rigging Soft Stickbaits with EWG-style Hooks

When fishing a soft stickbait, I often switch between a Texas and wacky rig depending on the type of cover being fished and the mood of the bass. A few trips each season, I have several rods rigged with the baits I use for an outing; one rod with a 5” soft stickbait Texas rigged on a 3/0 EWG hook and a second stickbait wacky rigged on a #1 or #1/0 wacky style hook.

Most of the time however, I fish from the bank or a kayak and only carry a couple of rods with me. During those trips, I use a 3/0 EWG hook for both rigs when regularly switching back and forth between the Texas and wacky rigs. That way I don’t spend extra time retying baits during short trips and when I have limited tackle available due to space concerns.

This approach works well when fishing cover like sparse weed patches, rocks/boulders, open docks or logs/stumps without lots of branches. When fishing heavier cover however, I’ll re-rig when switching since the wacky-EWG rig is far from snag proof.

Is this the best system when wacky rigging soft stickbaits?

Perhaps not but when time and gear are short and I want to quickly switch between a Texas and wacky rig, it works for me! :)

Is One Soft Stickbait Better Than Another?

One question that regularly pops up when discussing the myriad of soft stickbait choices in the bass fishing market today…

Is one soft stickbait better than another when it comes to catching bass?

Though many sponsored anglers tend to claim their supporter’s bait is best, they will also often quietly admit they will default to the grand-daddy of soft stickbaits, the Yamamoto Senko, when the chips are down and money is at stake!

There are also quite a few “regular” folks touting the features of the Senko and how it outshines all other softstick bait brands at catching bass…

I will admit, there have been many days when the Yamamoto Senko came through for me even after starting with a competing, usually less expensive brand at the beginning of the day.

A couple of years ago I was introduced to Mister Twister’s soft stickbait version, the Comida and started fishing it with considerable success on many outings.

Since the Senko vs Comida (as well as other brands) question seems to always loom, this past season I tracked how the Comida fared vs the Senko on numerous days on the water…

What I discovered is very interesting as explained in the following video…

So what are your thoughts?

Does your favorite soft stickbait produce as well as the Senko?

Is the question really that simple?

Curious minds want to know 

Sight Fishing with Soft Stickbaits

Ever since the Senko was introduced by Gary Yamamoto many years ago, bass anglers quickly learned that it may be one of the bet bass catching baits of all times.

Combining the seductive nature of its descent through the water column with the many ways it can be rigged and fished, the Senko (as well as many other soft stickbait knock-offs) has become a staple in almost every bass angler's tackle box.

Personally, I have a Senko or other soft stickbait rigged from the time the ice leaves our waters until they freeze again in the late fall. They really are that good!

Beyond its year-round versatility, the Senko also makes a great bait when sight fishing for bass as bass pro Kelly Jordan describes in this informative fishing video...

Do you need to restock or add more Senkos or other soft stickbaits to your stash?

Check out the variety of Senkos and other soft stickbaits available from the folks at Omnia fishing by clicking on the following text link!

Soft Stickbaits @ Omnia Fishing

Tight lines and full live-wells!

Using Soft Stickbaits and Spinners in Stained Water

Many anglers avoid using soft stickbaits in highly stained water due to the subtle nature of the presentation. 

Savvy anglers understand by adding a tail spinner to the stickbait, it adds both flash and vibration to the presentation when fishing dirty water. It's also a presentation many bass never see under those conditions.

Take a moment and watch as the folks from Falcon Rods provide an overview on how and why to use "spinner worms" to you stained water bassin' arsenal:

Fishing Soft Stickbaits for Inactive Bass

When I saw this video it brought an instant smile to my face since it's about fishing the one bait/presentation I use more than any other from ice out to ice in here in the north country... the Texas rigged soft stickbait!

Though bass pro Brandon Cobb discusses using the t-rigged soft stickbait to catch finicky Florida bass, the bait and presentation works anywhere bass are lurking in cover strewn across expansive flats.

Take a few minutes, watch the video and hear what he has to say!

Though I sometimes fish a soft stickbait on a similar casting rod set-up here in the northeast, my typical set-up is a 6.5' medium power, fast action spinning rod with 8 lb line for areas with sparse cover or a medium-heavy rod with 10 lb line with denser cover given the ultra-clear water I normally fish.

Yes it can be a tad nerve racking when you set the hook into a big bass like the one below but most are landed even when using 8 lb test, as long as I remember to re-tie often that is ;)

Tips On Fishing Sinking Senko-type Baits

Ever wonder how to fish those salted, sinking stickbait worms like the Yamamotto Senko?

Confused about when it’s the time to use either a Texas or wacky rig with soft stickbaits?

The tips provided in this video by college angler Nick Barr will help!

Great info on fishing soft stickbaits like the Yamamotto Senko, don't you think?