Summer 2023
®
SLEINNKKOO
vs.
By Marc Marcantonio
I
t has been two decades since I was fishing Kentucky
Lake at the Stratos World Championship when I
received a call from Yamamoto Bait Company. Jerry “Bubba” Puckett shared that Gary Yamamoto had
personally developed a soft plastic lure he called a Senko.
Gary got the idea for its shape from a Bic retractable ball
point pen that was popular at the time. Bubba rushed
a box of Senkos to me overnight delivery to use in the
tournament.
When I opened the box, I admittedly was
underwhelmed. This worm was indeed shaped like a
plumped-up ballpoint pen, and at first glance offered no hint of having any action. The weight of the Senko was surprisingly heavy and unexpected considering its marshmallow-soft texture. Bubba suggested I rig the Senko Texas-style and fish it weightless around cover. He said don’t work the Senko, instead let the Senko work for you. Just cast it next to cover and let it sink vertically. Most strikes will occur before the Senko can reach the bottom.
While I didn’t win that tournament, every bass I did catch on the unfamiliar Kentucky Lake was on the Senko. Upon returning to Washington State, the Senko became a
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