What would be a good length and action for a senko bait type rod, like for casting weigthless senkos? My friend says his a 6'6" is the right size for him to cast these baits, but I would think a longer rod like 7 or 7'3" rod for longer casting distance. Just inquiring.

Hi Lorenzo

A lot of anglers 'Drop Shot' with a Senko and like a short rod for doing so. Maybe your buddy is 'drop shotting' or just likes the 6'6 length. If you are looking to build it as a spinning rod and 'Drop Shot' I'd recommend the XSB822.5 6'10 6-14LB FAST ACTION (1/8-5/8)oz That is a very light blank at 1.6oz's and has a beautiful action.

Casting a 'Drop Shot' rig has become very popular where it started as vertical fishing almost entirely orginally.

If you are wanting to dead stick it or pitch into vegetation/some kind of cover, I would use a rod with a little more power such as the XMB843 as a casting rod.

Feel Free to give us a call, I would be happy to help guide you to the right blank based on your application.

Tight Lines and Bull's-eyes,

Get Bit Outdoors
407-542-7840
www.GetBitOutdoors.com
www.facebook.com/GetBitOutdoors

You need to find out how he is going to use it - and also what size.

I've got some guys using 7.5" senkos with 8/0 hooks... you wouldn't use those rods.

I also have guys fishing 5" senkos as a topwater bait. Again, a different rod yet.

I have guys skipping senkos under docks... different build yet.

Basically - need more info.

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Is he rigging it texas style 'hook buried' or wacky 'hook exposed'? Open water or cover?

Tight Lines and Bull's-eyes,

Get Bit Outdoors
407-542-7840
www.GetBitOutdoors.com
www.facebook.com/GetBitOutdoors

Alex has provided very good advice. You do need to decide what size Senko will be used and pound test line to be used. A Senko is a very versatile biat to use and so many different techniques of fishing it. The can be fished weightless or used with a weight system. You can fish them Wacky style, Texas rigged, Carolina rigged, Drop Shot rigged, on a Shakey Head rig, etc. and on and on. A Spin Jig, Drop Shot or Mag Bass blank could be in order, according to the type technique and whether you are around heavy cover or not. Our newly introduced Hi-Modulus blanks, at Mud Hole Custom Tackle are excellent choices for these situations, whether it be a HM-SJ782 MHX, HM-SJ783 MHX, HM-DS822 MHX, HM-SB812 MHX, HM-SJ842 MHX or HM-SJ843 MHX. If you decide to go a bit heavier powered blank, the HM-MB843 MHX. If you need further help, feel free to contact me and I will gladly help assist you.

Bob McKamey
bobm@mudhole.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/30/2011 04:34PM by Bob McKamey.

Mostly Texas style, with braid or 15 lb to 17 lb test, in or by heavy cover, med heavy power fast act. mostly like 5 to 7 inch senko type, 4/0 to 6/0 size hooks. the length between 6'6" and 7'3". and he likes to flip it around cover weightless. I guess we will just have to make a decision. Thanks all help is appreciated.

Lorenzo your post is a question that custom builders are faced with many times.

Your knowledge of the required blanks will keep many fishermen from doing battle with the wrong tool!

Issues -

Where do you plan on chunking that bait?

What size fish is your target?

What do you plan on doing after hook up?

Do you plan on putting the fish in the boat?

Two options:

Either the fish has control and swims away -

or

The angler has control and puts the fish in the boat.

Some guides, tournament fishermen, including Elites, use "flip stick blanks" for these techniques in heavy cover.

Proper blanks selection is important if you intend to have the rod in one piece at the end of the day!

If the incorrect blank is chosen one power run under the boat will tell the tale in many cases cases.

Swampland would like to add our name to the above list of those who are available to discuss the details.

Use the Contact Us link at Swampland would like to add our name to the list list of those who will be glad to communicate the available options.

[swamplandtackle.com]

I use a ML Popping blank rated for 1/4 - 1/2 oz. lure, but I'm using small #1 gamakatsu hooks which take a lot less pressure to penetrate than those big bass hooks he's using.

I would recommend either a popping or MB blank rated for 1/4 - 5/8 oz. lures. You could go with an even heavier blank, as long as it won't break the line, but casting may suffer.

Batson 802.75 Best Senko rod out there that I have built and used:

ISB802.75 Matte Clear 6'8" 1 6-15lb 3/16 - 5/8 OZ 0.515 5.0 Extra-Fast Medium 1.98 oz

This rod is classed as a "med" power, but the butt of the rod will easily rate a MH power. What you have in this blank is a very light fast tip for throwing weightless lures and yet still have a butt powerful enough to rate in the medium heavy power range.

GREAT senko rod.

DR

Duane, what size line are you using? That is a great blank but I'd be tempted to go with an MB, most likely a MB843 since you are pitching it 'not needing casting distance' and may need to pull a fish out of cover. Eitherway, you'll have a blast!! Senkos are deadly and you can't beat the feeling of hooking a solid fish with only a few feet of line out.

Tight Lines and Bull's-eyes,

Get Bit Outdoors
407-542-7840
www.GetBitOutdoors.com
www.facebook.com/GetBitOutdoors

How would a hotshot rod work for a senko rigged with small #1 gamakatsu hooks? The added length may add to the distance of the cast for finesse tactics.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/01/2011 09:11AM by Richard Glabach.

Hi Richard, My thoughts would be that it would probably be pretty sweet if you were rigging it wacky or some other way with the hook point exposed.

Tight Lines and Bull's-eyes,

Get Bit Outdoors
407-542-7840
www.GetBitOutdoors.com
www.facebook.com/GetBitOutdoors

Mb843 is way too heavy of a rod for drop shot or senko fishing in my opinion, and way too heavy of a line wt rating for finisse fishing

Ron Weber

GBO,

6/20 Suffix Braid mostly....or 12lb Excell depending......

Trust me, you'll have the backbone. This blank locks up very early on, leaving you lots of butt power. If it can handle a HOT 45" Musky, green fish shouldn't be an issue! :-)

DR

A number of years ago, I built for personal use a St. Croix SC V - 5C70MF for fishing SENKOS and I love it. This blank is available in SC V, SC IV and SC III graphic.

Since that time, I built six more for guys who tried the rod and immediately ordered one for their selves.

The rod is 7'-0", rated: Medium Power, Fast Action, 10-17 lb, (I use 8# on it) and 1/4 - 5/8 oz. It works great for SENKOS, Flukes and other finesse baits.

While I have never used the Batson rod mentioned above, I am sure it is excellent as well.

On a side note, and in my opinion, Batson makes the best drop-shot rod blank available with their RX 8 XSB 822.5 blank.

Don Campbell
don@sensorfishingrods.com

Last one I built for a customer was on a XSB802.75 RX8, and he absolutely loves it and fishes it heavily in tournaments.

Lorenzo,
I just finished a Castaway XP3 813 for a guy that asked for a rod to throw Senkos. Used all micros, #4, split grip, ACS reel seat, no foregrip, and he loves it more than his $200 Cumaras. Talk to the guys at Swampland and they'll fix ya up right.

St. Croix 3C68MXF would be a great casting rod.,many recommendations on this forum.
Very light,, X-Fast tip w/ plenty of backbone in butt..
Very similar to the Batson 802.75