By John Merwin

One of the most useful things I learned last season was a new way of wacky-rigging Senko soft-plastics for bass.

For several years I’ve been using a rubber O-ring around the middle of such baits to enhance durability. Last year, a fishing guide suggested using a small zip tie instead. This is actually pretty simple, but had never occurred to me.

A plastic zip tie is substantially easier to apply around the bait and even more durable than an O-ring. Simply tighten and trim, and you’re good to go. Zip-ties are available in a rainbow of colors. I happened to have a surplus of pink ones, so that’s what I’ve been using. I can’t say that color hurts or helps. Seems to work, anyway.

The whole object, of course, is to keep the hook from tearing up the bait when a fish bites. Not only would you have to then change baits more often, but torn Senkos tend to come loose in the water. In that case, they’re an environmental hazard--sometimes ingested by fish that then can’t digest them.

The hook in the photo, by the way, is a Gamakatsu Finesse Weedless model, that comes with a built-in weedguard that actually works. I have never found a better hook for wacky-rigging.

Comments (11)

from treelimit wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

John,

This may be a profoundly stupid question, but it's unclear from the photo: does the hook make a shallow pass through the bait or are they just adjacent to one another in this method?

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from Douglas wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

Great tip! I have used o rings and never liked them much. With these lures at about $6 per pack, it makes good economics to rig like this.
I do like the action much better though with a senko on a plain bare hook.

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from buckhunter wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

Caught my biggest bass on a Senko rig last year. Will have to give this rig a try.

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from Lovematic Grandpa wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

Great tip - gonna try it this year. Thank you!

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from small game sportsman wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

thats a good idea, i will defiantly try that

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from habben97 wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

this will be good for the local lake. the bass there love senkos.

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from Marine ATC wrote 20 weeks 3 days ago

Bass in the larger canals out west have an appetite for senkos as well...

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from FlyinMonkey wrote 20 weeks 3 days ago

That is freakin' awesome. And it is so simple I am smacking myself in the head for never thinking of this. Great tip.

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from johnmerwin wrote 20 weeks 3 days ago

treelimit: adjacent.

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from JustTakeMeHunting14 wrote 19 weeks 6 days ago

a better idea is the metal o-rings that are sold specifically for the purpose of wacky rigging with also come in a variety of colors and sizes.Personally I prefer these to other methods

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from coosabass2012 wrote 18 weeks 1 hour ago

I like this idea and will try it this year. I always forget my o-ring tool but usually have some zip ties in a pocket or bag for lots of things. Thanks!

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from treelimit wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

John,

This may be a profoundly stupid question, but it's unclear from the photo: does the hook make a shallow pass through the bait or are they just adjacent to one another in this method?

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from Douglas wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

Great tip! I have used o rings and never liked them much. With these lures at about $6 per pack, it makes good economics to rig like this.
I do like the action much better though with a senko on a plain bare hook.

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from buckhunter wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

Caught my biggest bass on a Senko rig last year. Will have to give this rig a try.

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from Lovematic Grandpa wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

Great tip - gonna try it this year. Thank you!

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from small game sportsman wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

thats a good idea, i will defiantly try that

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from habben97 wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

this will be good for the local lake. the bass there love senkos.

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from Marine ATC wrote 20 weeks 3 days ago

Bass in the larger canals out west have an appetite for senkos as well...

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from FlyinMonkey wrote 20 weeks 3 days ago

That is freakin' awesome. And it is so simple I am smacking myself in the head for never thinking of this. Great tip.

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from johnmerwin wrote 20 weeks 3 days ago

treelimit: adjacent.

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from JustTakeMeHunting14 wrote 19 weeks 6 days ago

a better idea is the metal o-rings that are sold specifically for the purpose of wacky rigging with also come in a variety of colors and sizes.Personally I prefer these to other methods

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from coosabass2012 wrote 18 weeks 1 hour ago

I like this idea and will try it this year. I always forget my o-ring tool but usually have some zip ties in a pocket or bag for lots of things. Thanks!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

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All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.