~ ~
Senko Tips for River Smallmouth

Rigging the Senko? Well, there are really as many ways as one might imagine, Jay, but I strongly suspect that two main methods win the day:

First, the "stick bait" rigged method, I'll call it. Simply use an offset worm hook texsposed. I usually use a 1/0 wide gap hook, like a Daiichi or a Gamakatsu for the 4" version, increasing the hook size as necessary as I go up. I have no compunction against using the 6" version of the Senko to fish for smallmouth. I have had too many 15" fish inhale the 5" version stem to stern to be reticent to go one inch bigger.

One big key to this rig is to be sure the Senko hangs straight. This can be a challenge with a texsposed rig, and playing with pressing the hook point into the plastic perpendicular to the hook direction will yield good results. Straight hanging is not critical in the vein that they won't hit it if it's humped. What I have noticed is that sometimes they seem to want it humped, and sometimes they want it straight. Humped is easy to rig, straight must be practiced.

If a weight is desired (only in heavier current, usually), I would start with a 1/32 oz. head. I know that sounds small, but the fact is that with the Senko's density, a little weight has a lot of effect.

The second popular method of rigging them, and one rarely used in rivers in my experience, is wacky-rigging them. Personally, I prefer for them to hang by the middle, as opposed to a little off to one side as some do. I bend them with the tips touching to identify the middle, and I tend to reduce hook size greatly if not using the Yamamoto splitshot hook (which I will describe in a minute). Try to be sure that the direction and point of pull is perpendicular from the middle point.

Maine Master Guide (and fellow Inside Line Pro writer) Chuck Duggins uses the splitshot hook to great effect in his guide business. He will either "nose hook" a Senko (to get the classic stick bait action) or wacky-rig it. To nose hook a Senko, look at the Senko from end on and think of the circle profile like a clock. Back about 1/2 inch from the end, insert the point at, say, 6 o'clock and bring it out at 12. As long as it is exactly opposite, that's the idea. In this rig, super-max loading the rod can throw them off the hook, so some care is called for. These things cast like a bullet, so backing off the loading should not be a problem.

To wacky-rig with a splitshot hook, bend the Senko tip to tip, find the middle, and insert the hook from 9 to 3, so that the Senko sort of hangs in an axis (the hook) which is perpendicular to the length of the Senko. 

In either case, DON'T SET THE HOOK WITH THE SPLITSHOT HOOK!! This will only pull the hook out of the fish's mouth. Just reel, gradually raising pressure with rod angle. The fish will nearly always be hooked in the right corner of its mouth.

Respect the Resource...Put 'em back when you're done.

~ ~