Gary Yamamoto SENKO

[Got Fish??]

  SENKOS best bait on the market , SORRY you other guys. For all around fishing you can not beat em. Comeon Gary $7.49 a pack? I don't know about you other fishermen and women. But I can't bite. Fishing is a pastime for us regular guy's. Lucly BassPro has TOURNAMENT  SERIES stik-0-worm twice the bate half the price.              SORRY GARY

[dashaver63]

I know the Senko is an expensive bait and it's a 1 fish per worm deal most of the time, but the BPS Sticko is just to stiff for me. Senko's have a lot better action and just plain catch fish. If you want an alternative, Cabela's Aquaglo sticks really catch them, and are $2.99 a bag. They are comparable to the slim senko in size. Also Wave Worms and Yum are good baits also. Also, Try the Cabela's Aquaglo split tail grub, it's their beaver style bait. Also a fish catcher.

[Waterfoul]

The Case Plastics "senko" worm also works well.  Then there are the Extreme Tackle baits, which is also a great alternative to the Yammamoto.

If you want to get more fish out of a senko you need Case Plastic's O-ring tool.  Makes a senko bait last 10 times longer than if you are whacky rigging it by poking the hook thru the worm.

[skeeterman190]

 I too thought the yamamota prices are high. I still fish there hula grubs but other than that ive switched. You guys should check out Nemesis Baits. They have a 4" and 5" inch stick work that has the an identical if not better fall rate and a slightly tighter wiggle. Ive seen the tank test from McCarter first hand and there awesome. On a side note to you dropshotters get some of there gobies, bar none the best on the market.-skeeterman-

[10-10 Bass Busters]

Use a o ring on them for wacky rig and they will last longer...there is a guy on ebay who sells -rings cheap... pm me if you want his link.  I also like tiki sticks by wave fishing, a bit cheaper per pack but pretty limp compared to some others.

[bshaner]

This subject varies in it's start but always comes back to everyone has a senko/stick bait that works best for them.

What I draw from the zillion posts about stick baits is stick baits work - pick the one you have the most confidence in and catch fish with it.

Or like some of us (thanks to Joshimotoson - my wife still hasnt forgiven him) you can pour your own.

So my pick for best stick bait is the ones I make.  I catch the most fish on my hand pours than any other.  Of course if I only catch 2 fish in a year on stick baits I could still say I catch the most fish on my hand pours.

B

[Waterfoul]

I too thought the yamamota prices are high. I still fish there hula grubs but other than that ive switched. You guys should check out Nemesis Baits. They have a 4" and 5" inch stick work that has the an identical if not better fall rate and a slightly tighter wiggle. Ive seen the tank test from McCarter first hand and there awesome. On a side note to you dropshotters get some of there gobies, bar none the best on the market.-skeeterman-

Where can you find these Nemesis baits?  Ran a google search and came up empty.

[skeeterman190]

www.nemesisbaits.com you can also pm McCarter or Bender on here and they can give you the inside scoop as they run the company.-skeeterman-

[dartag]

i have tried lots of the others but catch way more fish on Senkos.  i only use one color green pumpkin with black flake.  i did get a wacky from my bro and will give it a try this spring.     use what ever you have confidence in. 

[Waterfoul]

www.nemesisbaits.com you can also pm McCarter or Bender on here and they can give you the inside scoop as they run the company.-skeeterman-

Well heck... now you tell me!  Fished a tourney with Bender on Kent last fall... I'll have to have him give me the "skinny" on his new baits!!

[Revtro]

Long time Senko believer here.  However, last year, I fished 2 baits that I ended up with such confidence in, I felt totally comfortable abandoning the Senko.  The first was the Exodus line of stick worms.  My first thought was "these are crap".  They are stiffer and lighter.  Not a good combination for a "Senko believer".  But when I started using them I was amazed.  For a whole day I had both a Senko and an Exodus tied on and alternated between the two.  Got more bites on the Exodus.  This was on a day when you got bit by a largemouth on nearly every cast.  So it was the perfect kind of day for this kind of test.

Next I tried the Xtreme (by Wayne Carpenter) stick bait and was also very impressed.  Honestly, I just don't see much of a difference between the Xtreme and the Senko.  It's heavy, limp, dense, and plenty salty.  Everything a Senko boy could ask for.  The Xtreme also comes in a color that has been absolutely dynamite in super clear water, green pumpkin with purple and chartreuse flake.  It's a color I haven't seen anywhere else and let me tell you, it's near magic.

Bender was kind enough to give the guys in our club some of the Nemesis stick baits to try out this season.  I can't wait to try them and see how they work.  They look great and feel a whole lot like a Senko IMO. 

I love Senkos, but I'm all about supporting local business.  And if locally made stick worms will work just as good or better, then why spend the extra dough on the original?  Just my two cents.

[joshimoto son]

I have to agree with skeeterman.
If you want a great quality hand pour for less than the senko, you should really do yourself a favor and buy a couple of packs of Nemesis baits stik baits.
Brian and Chris spend a lot of time making quality baits. I think so much that Brian actually names each individual stik
Okay, maybe he doesn't name them, but great quality none the less.

joshimoto son

[Waterfoul]

Next I tried the Xtreme (by Wayne Carpenter) stick bait and was also very impressed.  Honestly, I just don't see much of a difference between the Xtreme and the Senko.  It's heavy, limp, dense, and plenty salty.  Everything a Senko boy could ask for.  The Xtreme also comes in a color that has been absolutely dynamite in super clear water, green pumpkin with purple and chartreuse flake.  It's a color I haven't seen anywhere else and let me tell you, it's near magic.

Bender was kind enough to give the guys in our club some of the Nemesis stick baits to try out this season.  I can't wait to try them and see how they work.  They look great and feel a whole lot like a Senko IMO. 

I love Senkos, but I'm all about supporting local business.  And if locally made stick worms will work just as good or better, then why spend the extra dough on the original?  Just my two cents.

Wayne LOVES purple!!!  And Chris... care to send some samples over to the west side?  You know I like to throw them... and my Monday night back seater is a master Senko fisherman.  If anyone can catch fish and make a comparison it's my buddy Dave.

[karol]

 wayne ain't the only one that loves purple! i had my best year last year on a small lake in kosiocsko county in indiana on canadian mist and caught more on this than g-3, bad thing was , the pike liked it too can't wait to do some d-shotting this year for the smallies i saw that followed 3 at a time on one bait! i'm ready this year..karol

[skeeterman190]

 Nahh i bet he does name everyone of them individually.(McCarter that is) He has a quality that all you fisherman need too look into. A love for this sport and an in depth look at what U need to catch fish. Thats what matters most what U need. these baits are what U need so check them out you wont be disapointed.-skeeterman-

[Bender]

Just saw this post, you guys are very kind. The ones I gave away at the EBA meet were pre-incorporation/serious work; just trying things out and playing with recipes and colors. Hope they work just the same though.
I do suggest supporting local hand poured companies though, this way you can get special and custom colors that are proven on our local lakes among other advantages.
I saw the $7.49 price tag recently on the Yammies and I was surprised too, that seems pretty steep.

[Got Fish??]

   thanks for all the advise.  I will try some of your picks.It's nice to belong to a brotherhood like this one.See ya out on the lake!

[McCarter]

Yamamotos are great baits.  I threw them for years.  I didnt like the price when it was $5.99 a bag.  But, supply and demand!  Honestly, if you find something that works for you, price really shouldnt be an issue.  I know its been said before, but we as bass fisherman look silly in the grand scheme of things buying $40,000 - $50,000 on boats, hundreds or thousands on rods and reels, $20+ for a spool of line, $15 jerkbaits, etc and then complaining about a $7.50 bag of worms.  But, I still complain.  It comes down to value.  Why spend $7.50 on brand y when you can get the similar or same thing for $4 or $5?  Is the name really that important?  Yes, to some people it is.  Theres a lot in a name.  Yamamotos are famous for catching fish.  ANd they are in the boat of every single Pro, Amature, and Weekend angler.  There reputation is incredible.  With that going for you, you can charge whatever you want.

I have heard so many rumors about the 'secret' ingredient in the yamamoto stuff.  Obviously they are heavily salted.  But i have also heard that they use sand, microscopic synthetic beads, moon dust (cant you just see Gary hopping around on the Moon wearing a space suit).  I dont know if there is any 'secret' to his formula but i can tell you that altering the recipe just a little will change everything about the bait.  I think there recipe of plastisol, salt, stabilizer, and softner is just perfect and that paired with the shape of the bait makes the bait do what it does.  I know that i stating the obvious, but whatever.

I appreciate all the good things said about our baits.  We definatly work hard to make them the best they can be.  The guys who have used them know, and so far word of mouth has been key for us.

In Yamamotos defense, the price of everything has went up.  Plastic, molds, shipping, etc.  Plus, they have a lot more expense with the big injection machines and molds.  I still think $7.49 is a bit steep but i do understand the increase.  I work in the metal industry and in the past 5 years, the price of metals has increase 400%.  Molds are made of metal.  Machine parts are, too.  You gotta cover your costs and still make enough for a steak dinner once a month.

[Skulley]

But people still buy them.  I was in a few stores in the last week such as Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops, Sportsmans Warehouse, Dick's, etc., etc., etc.  The price of Yamamoto products I saw ranged from $5.50 to $7.99.  Three (3) inch senko's were $5.99 a bag.  Ten (10) baits I think.  There was additional stock so the stores have product.  They are selling.  I bought a some double tail hula grubs.  Still to me the best around.  I have used some others.  They work pretty good in a variety of places.  I only buy about three (3) or four (4) different colors.  I buy what works for me. 

BD         

[FrickerDude]

I found a great bait to help reduce the cost of buying Senkos.  Jim Porter's Rippin' Stick are a great bait with out a compromise on quality.  The only down fall is the limited colors he has to offers.  They have 3 sizes and the most important colors in my opinion. June bug, charteuse, and one that only comes in a 4 inch size crawfish which is great in river for smallies.  Compared to the others you can order these in at quantities of 25 or more.  I buy 100 of them and mix and match the colors and get them for 26 cents a piece.  Don't get me wrong I still buy other brands for the color selections but for the go to colors I use the rippin sticks.

FrickerDude