I have been asked which bass bait I would suggest for any lake in any state. That question is always met with several follow up questions, because to answer that, I need to know about vegetation, water clarity, average depth, lake size, and more.
Once I have that information, I can suggest which bait I would throw if I were fishing that location. But what if there was only one bait option, no matter where you went fishing? Is there any bait option that could be universal? The simple answer is yes. It is the Senko worm.
The Origin
According to a quick search, The Senko worm was invented by Gary Yamamoto in the mid-1990s, inspired by a ballpoint pen. Yamamoto discovered its effectiveness was in its shimmying, horizontal fall, a finesse presentation that became highly successful and launched the popularity of soft plastic stick baits. The name “Senko” was chosen by his son, who picked it from a Japanese dictionary for its meaning of “flash”.
The original design was smooth and about five inches long. The ridges and texture of the bait were added later when it was discovered that the resistance in the water caused a slight vibration that would attract fish. This bait is also called a stick worm, stick bait, or simply a soft plastic worm. One of the most standard baits for all anglers and arguably the most versatile and effective since its inception in 1996. You will not find a pro fisherman anywhere in the country that does not use this bait in some form on almost every trip. Let’s go over the variety of ways you can use this one single bait and you will see why this is the one bait you can use for bass fishing in almost any body of water.
Texas Rig
This technique is very versatile and effective, especially around vegetation or weeds, or any body of water that has cover or structure. Using a wide gap hook, you thread the hook through the bait and then bury the point of the hook back into the bait just so the point and the barb rest exposed on the other side of the bait. This will allow the senko to be worked through weeds without snagging anything and when a fish strikes the bait, the hook will be exposed for a solid hook set. This technique is usually one of my first options due to its weedless abilities.
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Wacky rig
This is my favorite rigging for colder water becuase it moves slowly and creates a unique static action. You accomplish this due to the hook being placed in the center of the senko, preferably through one or two o-rings and letting the bait fall naturally and slowly in the water. As the bait sinks, I give it little twitches and pops which will cause the work to fold and then return to straight and fall again. This is very effective for bass all around the country.
Ned rig
Probably the most popular rigging for finesse baits is the Ned Rig. I use a 1/16oz half round jig head and cut the senko in half and place the jig head at the end of the worm. Another method is using the whole senko and a larger jig with a 1/4oz option. This is a great way to fish the bottom of a fishery where there are little to no weeds to interfere with.
Final Thoughts
Whether you use one of these techniques or one of the many other methods, the senko worm is the best bait to have in your arsenal regardless of where you are fishing for bass. From Michigan to California and from Florida to Maine, the Senko is my go-to option if I only had one bait to use. It is versatile, easy to use and effective.
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