Am I Fishing too lite?

Bud Kennedy · May 10, 2018, 07:50:27 AM

Just been wondering if I need to move up a bit on my weights. I don't particularly like fishing senko style presentations. Knowing that this is the right thing I have been doing it more now than in the past. I however don't seem to have a good feel for the bait and I move it along.

My question becomes am I not using enough weight with my bait. I tend to fish very light with weights of 1/16 oz or so but seldom if ever do I go any heavier. If I use a jig head then I have a good feel but just texas rigging a senko on a worm hook not so much. So should I consider using heavier weight to improve the feel or do I just have to learn to develop a feel for the very light baits.

SFL BassHunter · May 10, 2018, 08:02:56 AM

To me it depends on the worm you are using.

Stick Bait: Weightless up to 1/8oz. Usually 1/32 or 1/16 as to not hinder the action of a stick bait.
U-Vibe: 1/16 to 1/8, sometimes slightly heaver depending on depths fishing. I drag, and swim these.
Big worms: 1/8 to 1/2 oz because I normally drag these.

You'll need to learn to develop feel, but most importantly is line watching. The right rod and line should provide you with a clue that you've got a bite, but ultimately you'll need to know what that feels like, and best of all if you can see the line jump or twitch or move you'll know you have a bite.

Wizard · May 10, 2018, 08:12:55 AM

I only fish a senko one way. Wacky rigged and weightless. Senko is a heavier bait that sinks well on it's own. I want both ends of the senko to flap and wiggle as it sinks. I use it mostly around floating docks in the post spawn. The action mimics a dead and dropping bait fish perfectly for a tired out post spawn bass.

Wizard

Bud Kennedy · May 10, 2018, 08:18:17 AM

My feel problems seem to have started when we started to fish the river. The river is constantly moving current due mostly to tidal conditions. When I was fishing the lake this was certainly not an issue and weightless was not a problem. Since my vision is not as good as in the past, I have just acquired some hi viz line to help me see the line. I will spool this up before the next trip.

SFL BassHunter · May 10, 2018, 08:25:39 AM

Not sure how fast the river flows, when fishing the canals here if they have current I will usually go 1/16 or higher on anything I throw. It depends on how fast the boat is moving, how fast the current is moving and how much wind there is too.
Lot's of factors, and the more factors there are the harder it is to detect a bite.

Bud Kennedy · May 10, 2018, 08:34:59 AM

Current speed is variable depending upon tides. Yesterday the tides were light so the boat would move at 2-3 mph. Some currents will move the boat up to 5mph. This is usually towards the end of a low tide cycle. I usually don't fish against the tide just because the trolling motor works you to pieces trying to do that. It is not unusual to only get one shot at an area you want to explore before the boat is just out of position.

Princeton_Man · May 10, 2018, 09:47:06 AM

Why are you fishing Senkos? With the currents, I'd probably opt for a jig, Ned rig, or T-rig.

Bud Kennedy · May 10, 2018, 09:57:47 AM

Quote from: Princeton_Man on May 10, 2018, 09:47:06 AM
Why are you fishing Senkos? With the currents, I'd probably opt for a jig, Ned rig, or T-rig.

A T-Rigged what. I do fish jigs also and typically use a NuTech naked jig and that works fine. But from time to time I just won't to try a senko. the question remains, what weight for the senko or other 5-6" worm of some sort. Often with the worm selection is a ribbon tail fyi

Princeton_Man · May 10, 2018, 10:16:35 AM

Quote from: Bud Kennedy on May 10, 2018, 09:57:47 AM
A T-Rigged what. I do fish jigs also and typically use a NuTech naked jig and that works fine. But from time to time I just won't to try a senko. the question remains, what weight for the senko or other 5-6" worm of some sort. Often with the worm selection is a ribbon tail fyi

Depends on what the typical prey would be. For rivers around here a T-rigged Reins Ring craw is my choice. I let the current aid my presentation. The claws float up and move with the current. If the current is strong, I'll move up to a 3/8 or 1/2 ounce NuTech with a Doc Irv craw trailer.

I love Senkos, just not sure what a good presentation would be in river currents other than simply letting the current carry it downstream in a natural way.

D.W. Verts · May 10, 2018, 01:12:50 PM

I'm not a Senko guy (yet). They came out after I was done with my first life. But I do know that this time of the year, until I have to change something around, that I'm doin' what they call POWER Fishin'. I don't go finesse or whatever until I have too.

Like, December?

I do believe in using the lightest weight that you can get by with at any given time. Then there comes the day that the really fast fall is what makes 'em bite. Man.

Oldfart9999 · May 11, 2018, 06:14:18 AM

Bud, the high vis line will help you watch what is happening. I would use those tight to cover out of current, maybe with a wacky jig, depends on depth. If there is current I would go with a t-rig, jig, or reaction bait.
Rodney

njpaulc · May 11, 2018, 08:40:00 AM

When i started bass fishing I read all the fishing magazines and they all said fish the lightest weight that allows you to feel the bottom. So I struggled with 1/4 ounce jigs and 1/8 ounce worm weights until on day I'm reading how Denny Brauer won a tournament filpping a 1/2 ounce jig in 2 feet of water. Bingo, a light went off. This is what I believe. Fish light, fish heavy, fish whichever way you want, but be ready to change because ultimately the fish decide. They may not want a Senko that touches the bottom, or they may want one that appears to be glued to one spot, or one slowly drifting in the current on it's way to the bottom. Until you get bit, you won't know, and contrary to popular belief, you can't force feed the bass, they want what they want.

basss · May 14, 2018, 10:19:15 AM

Quote from: Wizard on May 10, 2018, 08:12:55 AM
I only fish a senko one way. Wacky rigged and weightless....

No T-rigged Senko action? I'm almost the opposite, rarely do I wacky rig a Senko.

caddyjoe77 · May 15, 2018, 10:44:24 PM

Bud, one thing I would consider is: You recently bought some new rods and the like. Are you using the same power rod and/or line because that can definitely have an effect.

Something to consider..

Pferox · May 16, 2018, 09:34:08 AM

You are fishing a totally different world than a lake. Tidal stuff is a whole new thing, it took me a long time to figure it out, and I'm still not great at it.

Wind is a factor, the current movement, and salinity also plays a part, even though you are inshore. I'm sure that your water goes from fresh drinkable water to pretty salty brackish stuff. Fresh water fish are pretty tolerant of slight salinities.

I was surprised that someone using a light weight around here was talking about quarter ounce, to me that was super heavy stuff when coming from the lake environment. Fishing weightless sometimes meant you added an 8th ounce weight just to keep the bait from surfing.

I talk about using an ounce weight in some places and guys will say that I am finesse fishing. LOL

Try a stick bobber, about a foot or two above your lure rig, toss it out and watch how long it takes to stand straight up, that can give you an idea of how fast or not your lure is falling, it will also help you to visualize many variables that you don't normally see. AND you never know you might hook up on something. If it is windy, use the boat to block it, even cut down on some of the surface current.

Trolling motors don't work well as you have discovered, your best bet is to stake your boat down, that will hold you in a position for quite a long time, allowing you to work an area, pull the stake and move on a bit and re-stake. I used a poling pole and length of rope to stake the boat down, it was inexpensive and worked well. They actually sell this kind of stake reasonably now. You can use an anchor, but that gets old pretty quick.

The lightest weight you can get away with is much different in tidal current, and the big challenge is that it changes as the tide goes on, which might limit some of your presentations that you used to do in the lake.