Gary Yamamoto Senko Worms
Rubber worms are extremely effective lures for catching bass. While there are different brands and variations, noting compares to that Gary Yamamoto Senko Worms.
Senko worms are the worldwide #1 lure for a reason. They catch fish in every type of water body, and they're the most reliable rubber worm on the market.
Sure, on some days, you may catch bigger fish on topwater lures, or more fish on a jig, but there's nothing else on the market like Senko Worms that will catch fish day in and day out.
Best Senko Worm Varieties
From fishing the dog days of the summer to the cool water temperatures in the winter, bass can always be caught on these things. However, some colors are more effective than others.
If you're new to fishing Senkos, you might not know which colors to choose. Almost every bait & tackle store has an entire wall dedicated to these baits, so picking the right ones can be a challenge.
In this review, we'll introduce you to the best Senko Worm colors, and give you tips on the best conditions to fish each one. If you're a passionate soft-plastics angler, check out our post on the best rods for Senko worms to improve your gear.
Green Pumpkin Senko
The first thing to note is that Gary Yamamoto sells more Green Pumpkin Senkos than almost all other colors combined. This is because it's a simple color, easy to fish, and consistently catches bass.
It doesn't matter whether you're fishing clear water, dirty water, cold water temperatures, warm summer days; this thing will get bites. There's one lure and color that EVERY bass angler has in their tackle box, and it's this Green Pumpkin Magic Senko Worm.
You can catch anything with this lure, but check out our guide to catching more big largemouth bass for tips on fishing this bait.
Watermelon Red Magic Green Flake Color
This color pattern is a versatile option that can be fished in clear shallow waters and deeper waters. The watermelon green body has a realistic appearance, and the flake does an excellent job reflecting sunlight. Sometimes it helps to keep bass fishing simple and tie on just one lure.
The Watermelon Red Magic Green Flake color is the second most popular color behind Green Pumpkin. It gives off the kind of subtle flash you want in a Senko and is a fish-catching-machine!
Green Pumpkin Chartreuse Tail Senko
This color does a great job of imitating the color patterns of bluegill and can help you get the attention of bigger bass. This Senko is a perfect choice for fishing in murky water because the vibrant chartreuse tail makes it visible from farther away.
The Green Pumpkin with the Chartreuse Tail will also be our recommended color if you're going after other species than just bass. Pike especially seem to like the action with this presentation.
This is a great color to start with, but if you've been trying other colors with limited results, this is a must-have second attempt lure for your tackle kit.
Senko Worm Baby Bass Color
The Baby Bass Senko Worm color is a newly released pattern that has proven highly effective. It has a lighter body than Green Pumpkin, which can sometimes be a gamechanger.
Aggressive largemouth bass often prefer targeting juvenile bass over other baitfish. This is because they're competitive fish, and the small fingerlings are an easy meal. We have the best results flipping this worm in shoreline cover where bass spawn in the spring.
Dark Green Pumpkin Black Flake Senko Worms
The Dark Green Pumpkin Black Flake is one of Yamamoto's best color patterns. It's similar to the popular Green Pumpkin Magic, but the additional black flake really gives this bait a great subtle reflection.
You can't go wrong with this one, and you can literally fish it during any season and under any weather conditions.
Ideal conditions to use this color are when there's a little bit of cloud cover and slightly dirty water, but this is just a suggestion. If you're not already fishing this Senko, you need to try it out. It will change your life for the better.
Watermelon Black Gold Flake
The Gold Flake added to this Watermelon Senko best performs on sunny days and in clear waters with more transparency. The gold doesn't affect dirty waters, but you still have a good chance of catching fish in all conditions.
This bait is great for shallow water fishing and serves multiple purposes. It imitates baby bass nicely when you're flipping it along the bank, and it's perfect in deeper waters. The gold flake helps this Senko imitate bluegill, a common baitfish species that bass feed on.
When it comes to choosing flake, use metallic colors on sunny days and others on overcast days or dirty water conditions.
Watermelon Black Red Flake Senko
A Watermelon Black Senko with Red Flake is the last recommendation we have. It's ideal for clear water lakes and rivers and is best thrown along the shoreline.
As you may or may not know, bass can't see the color red after a certain depth, so try to use this bait higher up in the water column. It also helps to avoid murky conditions with this one as there will be more light penetration on the red speckles.
Colors by Water Clarity
The most important consideration to make when choosing what Senko color to use is water clarity. Depending on the visibility, you might want your bait to stand out more, or blend in to look more natural. The best way to change your presentation is to use different colored baits.
Senko Colors for Murky & Stained Water
Murky, dirty, and stained waters have lower amounts of visibility. These conditions have pros and cons. On one hand, the bass won't be as discerning and focused on the details of your lure. However, lower visibility makes it harder for fish to find your presentation.
In these conditions, make sure to use colors that stand out in the water. Baits with gold and silver flake will have more reflection, and shine light through the water.
Try fishing Green Pumpkin Gold Flake and Watermelon Gold Flake Senkos. We also love using Senkos with chartreuse tails because the bright colors are easy to spot in all conditions.
Best Senko Colors for Clear Water
When fishing clear waters, always use Senkos that have a more natural appearance. When the water clarity is high, bass are better at differentiating between prey and artificial lures. You'll often see fish follow your bait for a while, and turn away when they see something that looks too foreign.
The best Senko colors for clear water are Green Pumpkin, Watermelon, and Baby Bass. The Baby Bass color pattern is especially effective since the colors closely mimick the juvenile fish that larger bass frequently feed on.
Colors by Bass Species
Changing your Senko color is also helpful when targeting different species of bass. Smallmouth bass and largemouth bass feed differently, so certain colors will be more effective than others. However, Senko worms are great baits to use when targeting either species.
Senko Colors for Largemouth
Most Senko worm colors are effective baits for largemouth bass. The popular colors, Green Pumpkin, Watermelon, and Baby Bass are known to outperform all other largemouth bass worms on the market.
Largemouth bass are frequently found along weed lines, and in areas with more vegetation. So, picking a color such as Green Pumpkin will keep your presentation looking natural among the brush.
Best Senko Colors for Smallmouth
Smallmouth bass are commonly found in rocky and sandy areas and frequently feed on crustaceans. The best colors for smallmouth bass are ones that closely mimic crayfish and other organisms that these fish feed on.
Our favorite Senko color for smallies is Cinnamon Black Purple Flake. This pattern has brown and purple colors that do an excellent job mimicking crayfish and small baitfish.
Gary Yamamoto Senko Color Chart
Rigging a Senko
Now that you know which colors to use, how do you actually fish a Senko? The great thing about these baits is that they'll catch fish on almost every rig.
The most popular rigs for Senkos are Wacky rigs, Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, and Shaky head rigs. Throwing these baits on a weightless Wacky rig is a great way to make your presentation as realistic as possible.
Senkos are known for their fluttering action as they fall through the water. Throw these worms into cover, and let them glide to the bottom on their own. If you have bass in your local pond, lake, or stream, Senko worms are a sure bet.
