LemonMerAngler- I have not master the senko either. In fact I've never caught a fish on them. I know they work, but I have a lot more confidence in texas rigged plastics when I have the hook point as far back as possible. When I fish double tail grubs I even like it if I can get the point of the hook just in between the tails. The Havoc Pit Boss has a ribbed section in the back of the body to keep the hook point out of the weeds yet makes for easy hooks sets. I think the fish really has to commit to the senko to make sure the hook gets them. Another thing to consider when fishing soft plastics is the weight and movement. Maybe the weightless senko didn't have enough movement to get a bite. I think I was getting the bass on my last outing on a reaction bite. They both hit the pit boss on the move. If weightless isn't working try adding some weight to get the bait to the bottom quickly. Just my observations ;)

Better luck next time...

Fishing weightless Senco-type worms is one of the least complicated ways to catch bass. Just cast it out close to whatever cover you're fishing and let it sink on a slack line, just letting the worm's natural movements do all the work. 90% of your bites will come on the initial sink, with maybe 10% coming as its being pulled back. So I usually fish the sink, or as we call it, "dead sticking." If not picked up by the time it settles to the bottom, I reel it in and cast it out again. While sinking, simply watch your line, looking for a twitch or odd movement. Sometime you won't see anything, but when you begin reeling, you'll see you're line going off in a different direction from where you first cast. Don't be in a hurry to set the hook. The bass won't let go unless it feels line pressure. At the first sign of a bite, drop your rod, allowing the fish to totally suck in the worm, maybe to a count of two or three, then reel up till you begin feeling pressure, then set the hook. Most likely the bites you are missing are pesky little bass, perch and bluegill that love to grab the end of the worm and give it a shake. Hope this helps.

I should add that when fishing shallow, weightless Senco type worms are always my first go-to bait. They have caught me more and bigger bass, both smallmouth and largemouth than any other lure I have used.. But I only use them when fishing banks with all their different forms of cover. If I fish a Senco in deeper water I wacky rig it on a dropshot setup.

You'll catch a gajillion largemouth skipping those suckers under docks too.

The last time I went fishing other day the bass liked the senko sitting on the bottom motionless for about 10 seconds. Caught 3 bass, 1 Largie and 2 smallies, in a small area. Not big but about 1 lb and one Smallie about 2 at the most. So if they aren't taking the senko on the fall, while reeling either fast or slow, then dead stick it for 10 to 30 seconds. Under docks, in the weeds regardless what kind of weeds, and in the rocks as the fish'll be looking for minnow/sculpins and crayfish.

That's some very helpful information. I keep hearing "let the Senko do the work", but it's is tough to do! Not that different than when I tried trolling for the first time last fall: finally put a GPS on my kayak and was amazed at how fast I had been paddling before and what a difference 1.2 mph versus 2.0 mph makes in catching fish or not - had to make myself slow down, so same with the plastics I guess. I know I need to learn where to cast to as well, as with a sit-in kayak you are too low to the water for sight fishing. Got another hour in tonight on Bass Lake - same results, but I have confidence that with more experience those fish can be caught!