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Winter 2023
page 58
“Damiki Rig” vertical technique that shines during the colder months when fished on a jighead.
When rigged on a jighead, the buoyant plastic is perfect for fishing directly under the boat while watching your electronics. The baitfish profile helps round out the package and will surely catch some fish this winter by those who fish it this way.
As a trailer, the single tail gives the bait a unique baitfish-imitating shake that adds to the action of a vibrating jig. You can also fish the bait solo on a scrounger jighead for a pulsing action from the tail while the scrounger’s head does its thing. There are many uses for the newly appointed largest member of the Shad Shape Worm family.
NED SENKO FLOATER
The Ned Rig has been around long enough that it’s no longer a trend and has earned the status of a bass fishing staple. There are now many choices when it comes to jigheads and plastics and Yamamoto has added a new one in the Ned Senko.
The 3-inch Fat Senko has been around for several years and works for a Ned Rig, but Yamamoto released something that will do an even better job. The Ned Senko Floater is the same shape and profile as the Fat Senko but with the addition of the same floating plastic material used in the five-inch Shad Shape Worm. The addition of the floating material is huge for a Ned Rig, as the plastic will raise the bait and jighead vertically for more bites this winter.
While it’s meant as a Ned Rig bait, the size and profile are great for fishing on a drop-shot rig when finesse and
downsizing are critical. It can be nose-hooked for a bite- sized profile and even wacky-rigged on a drop-shot for a tighter action as the rig is shaken and worked back to the boat.
A SMALLER ZAKO
The Zako was explicitly built for fishing on the back of a ChatterBait and is a perfect combo. You can add it to the back of a swim jig or finesse spinnerbait, but it shines on all types of vibrating jigs.
Now, there is a smaller 3-inch version with the same great action as the original. This size is excellent for compact
ChatterBaits like the Mini Max and other smaller
vibrating jigs. The condensed profile is great for
when bass are less active and feeding on smaller
baitfish, a common occurrence in the fall and
winter months.
7” SPEED SENKO
The swimming worm has been a popular choice for anglers fishing in the grass for many years and now Yamamoto has their version, the Speed Senko. It’s a 7-inch bait with soft Yamamoto plastic and the shimmying action of the Senko, but it has a paddle tail design with a slit for great kicking action.
During the warmer months, it’s a solid option for fishing around the grass with a standard cast-and-retrieve, but anglers can also use it throughout the year. During the colder months, and anytime the bass are deeper, the Speed Senko is an excellent bait for fishing on a Carolina-rig or fished solo on a weightless Texas- rig.