Choosing the correct size for your Senko is critical to making sure you maximize your fish catching capabilities in every bass fishing situation.
In short, the 5-inch version is best in most situations but the 4 and 3-inch sizes may come into play when fishing finesse situations such as wacky-rigs or drop-shots.
In the article below, I will be outlining specific Senko sizes matched up with their situations so that you’ll know exactly what size bait to throw in every condition.
3-Inch Version
A 3-inch Senko may seem like it’s without use but it can be deadly when used in super finesse conditions. Ned rigs and drop-shots are all techniques where a 3-inch Senko can be put into play.
The Ned rig is one of the hottest baits in the country and with good reason. It’s proven to be a deadly smallmouth bait as well as an excellent way to catch trophy largemouth around the country. The 3-inch Senko is a perfect sized bait to slide onto your Ned rig hook.
The drop-shot rig is an amazing bait when looking to catch numbers of bass and downsizing your bait to the 3-inch variety can be paramount when targeting overly pressured bass. Rigging your 3-inch Senko wacky style on the drop-shot hook is a style that most fish haven’t seen and can imitate the unique, tantalizing fall of a wacky rig at much deeper depths.
Although the 3-inch Senko’s uses are limited, its capabilities expand into realms where other sized Senkos wouldn’t.
4-Inch Version
The 4-inch version of a Senko is by far the deadliest when it’s wacky rigged and skipped under trees to catch small or lethargic fish that need to see a smaller profile than the typical 5-inch version. Adding a nail weight to the head of your bait makes it much easier to skip in situations like this.
Neko rigging is also an option with the 4-inch version. Similar to wacky rigging, a Neko rig allows your bait to reach deeper water while still maintaining the unique presentation of a wacky rigged worm.
If you’re looking for a bulkier drop-shot or Ned rig bait, the 4-inch Senko is a great choice. A bigger profile will pop out better in dirtier water and also has the ability to imitate a larger meal for a potentially larger fish.
5-Inch Version
A 5-inch Senko is a staple of every serious bass fishing angler’s arsenal. One of the most dependable lures out there, the 5-incher can be rigged in a wide variety of ways.
The most common use of a 5-inch Senko is Texas rigging it weightless and letting it sway and shimmy its way through the water column. This is a very natural presentation and catches fish across the country. A weightless Senko is super easy to skip under docks to reach un-pressured fish.
Wacky rigging a 5-inch Senko and skipping it under deeper docks is a great tactic in the summer when fish are seeking refuge from the sun’s rays. The 5-inch version is SUPER easy to skip when thrown on a wacky-style hook and the slow, tantalizing fall will entice even the most pressured fish to bite.
Pegging a small, tungsten, bullet weight to the head of your Senko and flipping it around wood and grass can produce some very big bites. The do-nothing action of a Senko outdoes the sometimes overbearing action of a craw-style bait with flapping legs. If flipping is a popular tactic on your home lake, choose to flip a Senko on light line and even heavy fluorocarbon if the situation allows for it.
6-Inch Version
The 6-inch Senko is a rare bait to pull out but it certainly has its applications depending on the situation.
Dragging a worm is a popular tactic in the summer in the South when fish like to sit in deep grass or on shell beds. A big worm such as a 6-inch Senko is great for targeting fish like these since it presents the fish with a big, slow-moving, meal.
A 6-inch Senko is also perfect for flipping into heavy cover where you may feel like the 5-inch version does not suffice. Dirtier water as well as thicker vegetation may warrant the use of a bigger worm such as the 6-incher.
Jerking a Senko on top of the water is a great way to elicit big strikes on top of the water and is especially effective in topped out grass. I discussed jerking a Senko on top of the water and why it works so well in more detail in the article below…
All four main sizes of the Senko have their situation specific uses. I hope this article helped to make clear the exact techniques and tactics that each size Senko has an application for.
Related Questions
1. Where should I fish a Senko?
A Senko can be fished anywhere as long as it is rigged correctly for the situation. Texas rigs, drop-shots, Carolina rigging, and shakey heads are all ways for a Senko to be fished on the bottom. In shallower water, the Senko can be fished weightless or wacky rigged.
2. What line should I use with a Senko?
When Texas rigging a Senko in dirty water, braid is the best choice due to its lack of stretch. In most other situations, fluorocarbon is best due to its invisibility underwater.
3. What Does a Senko Imitate?
In brief, a Senko imitates small earthworms, bluegill, fleeing shad, and wounded shad. When wacky rigged, a Senko can also mimic the breathing motion of a baitfish. This is all determined by a Senko’s size, color, and rigging style.
