Bass Fishing Forum - Westernbass.com

The new senkos don't seem as flexible as the old ones. Classic colors like baby bass now look like watermelon. Even the hue of green pumpkin/blk flake looks like it was blended with watermelon. Anyway, some of my bass partners have noticed this as well and we are dumbfounded. Anyone else notice this or am I imagining this?

First photo shows new 5" senko on the left, old one on the right. Second photo shows old baby bass on the left new one on the right. Other colors have changed as well.

There twin tail grubs have changed also not only in texture but the colors in some of the color are not the same.

Now that you have mentioned it, I was thinking I noticed some color changes. I fished Shasta end of April and Oroville yesterday - I noticed they still catch fish. By the way, I mentioned to the guy in the pay booth about the inspections for Golden Mussels to begin on Memorial Day weekend and he said he not heard that. ?

Guess I don't understand why Yamamoto Baits would change the most successful bass lure of all time. Colors are one thing but changing the action seems crazy. Saving a nickel?

I believe Gary Yamamoto sold the company recently

Both Yamamoto and Roboworm have been purchased by GSM.

I don’t blame, Gary, Gary or Greg, but I’m not using anything by gsm.

https://www.gsmoutdoors.com/our-brands/

I have witnesses bass pro shop knock off catch em just as good as Yamamoto Big one too

Yes they have changed. They do not fall the same or have the same action in water. When you have one that is torn in half they do not look as "gritty" as they use to look. They are lighter for sure as I now have to add very small weight to the belly of the bait.

Yes. less salt. Electric shad has less pearl on the bottom. baby Bass is darker. Come on that color killed around dusk. the green pumpkin is darker and some of the watermelons are not as translucent. maybe some employees have left. Need to start emailing them about the colors if we what to change things. They still slay them though. BC

Less Salt for sure which affects the ROF, how color takes, how long fish hold on etc... I have a small stores worth of GYCB bags, and Yamamoto bags. The new GSM do feel and look different, but as we know everything changes even the trees

Well heck yes they have....

Gotta roam beyond GSM now as the salt is definitely lighter. I have some Zoom product that I hoarded 20 years ago plus and pumpkin brush hawgs are also very different in color and amount of flake...

At the local Walmart the new 5" packages have 7 senkos not 10 as well.

Golden mussel madness and now this, how much can a bass guy take

Will get over it

Yes. There formulations are not the same. Big companies will kill their reputation to save a penny.

You're not imagining it — I noticed the same thing last season. I picked up a pack of “green pumpkin” and had to double check the label. Feels like they’re cutting corners or experimenting without telling anyone.

So has anyone found a brand they feel compares to the original senko in terms of salt content/rof and action? I tried a handful over the years but always felt Yamamoto was better.

Mark-C wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 6:43 am So has anyone found a brand they feel compares to the original senko in terms of salt content/rof and action? I tried a handful over the years but always felt Yamamoto was better.

Seconded - this is one of the only brands I have been completely loyal to (maybe it's a placebo effect but always felt they outperformed knock-offs). I noticed this spring that they didn't look quite right while falling, and this thread has been eye opening.

Mark-C wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 6:43 am So has anyone found a brand they feel compares to the original senko in terms of salt content/rof and action? I tried a handful over the years but always felt Yamamoto was better.

No, not really. They will all catch fish but have different properties. That salt impregnation that Gene Larew came up with was key to the brands success. Yamamoto still catches fish, but so do other jerkbaits, just like fishing we adjust and adapt to the situation at hand.

drew wrote: ↑Sun May 11, 2025 10:47 am Both Yamamoto and Roboworm have been purchased by GSM.

I don’t blame, Gary, Gary or Greg, but I’m not using anything by gsm.

https://www.gsmoutdoors.com/our-brands/

Well I just had my first experience with GSM. They also purchased Dobyns Rods. I needed a replacement guide for one of my many Dobyns rods. After being on a long hold, a person who knew nothing about rods informed me they would send me an email so I can make a warranty claim for my replacement guide and that their production manager would review my case to see what the cost would be. Well I see where this is going and the email never even came anyway. Now I understand why Senkos have changed.

Mark-C, You might try the Rod website. It has a warranty section https://dobynsrods.com/warranty/

ACRon wrote: ↑Fri May 16, 2025 3:31 pm Mark-C, You might try the Rod website. It has a warranty section https://dobynsrods.com/warranty/

Thanks, that is where I started but they want you call first. I am just going to order my own from Mud Hole.

Gary, Gary and Greg was a reference to the founders of Yamamoto Baits, Dobyns rods and Roboworm.

All of these companies products and/or services have changed.

Mark-C wrote: ↑Fri May 16, 2025 11:33 am
They also purchased Dobyns Rods.

I have not notice much difference in the senkos I just bought
If you get an old bag they are softer. Same thing that happens with the good ole iovino worms
I won’t stop fishing senkos.

drew wrote: ↑Sat May 17, 2025 8:35 am Gary, Gary and Greg was a reference to the founders of Yamamoto Baits, Dobyns rods and Roboworm.

All of these companies products and/or services have changed.

Mark-C wrote: ↑Fri May 16, 2025 11:33 am
They also purchased Dobyns Rods.

Right, I missed the second Gary, when I read it before. I guess it is what it is.

I think you guys are wrong. Senkos are the same as always. If anything I might have some that look lighter in color. They catch fish good as ever
I notice the old packs are soft from sitting around

We use to keep our old hand pour worms in the freezer so they wouldn’t bleed out color

Gary said the Senko was a mistake as he was trying to make a jerk bait better then the Sluggo at the time.That fact it caught bass with the slight wiggle action on the fall just happened not designed.
GSM more then likely made up higher production tooling to keep up with demand and managed to through out the baby with the wash.
Rapala did the same with the Wiggle Warts, new tooling lost the unique hunting action.
Tom

Makes me wonder if the new manufacturing process or materials are messing with the quality. I’ve caught bass on both old and new versions, but the old ones definitely had a more natural look and feel.

Also, that bit about Gary’s original idea being more accidental than intentional is wild — sometimes the best baits come from happy accidents! Hopefully GSM figures it out soon, or we might all have to stock up on old-school Senkos before they disappear. Anyone else noticed a change in how the new ones fish compared to the old?

I had GSM VP Crispin Powley on the radio show this past Saturday to discuss alot of things but this post on WB was one of the topics we covered. Catch the Ultimate Bass Archive to hear his take on the Senko's being different and other baits.

kb wrote: ↑Mon May 19, 2025 6:36 am I had GSM VP Crispin Powley on the radio show this past Saturday to discuss alot of things but this post on WB was one of the topics we covered. Catch the Ultimate Bass Archive to hear his take on the Senko's being different and other baits.

Interesting point about age, so should we start aging them like wine? The older one in the picture seemingly has better action and the new ones I bought this spring were (really) noticeably stiff.

I figured you like a stiff one no?
Haha.
All kidding aside. I prefer the action of the new senko over and old soft one
I like the “stiff one” myself
The new out of the bag has a faster tight shimmer or you might say a vibration. To me that’s what’s triggers the bite. That vibration mimics fear and or a defensive posture that the bass can’t stand.
Of course that’s just my opinion. Take it what’s it’s worth.
In all reality the most important aspect is probably to fish the the bait YOU have the most confidence in.
It’s not the greatest factor but believing and having a high level of confidence it is right up there at the top of the list.
Without it you probably won’t get a bite

The whole reason I started this thread was because I am in disbelief that any company would change the characterics of a bait that is widely recognized as the most successful of all time. Of the tens of thousands of lures out there the original Senko has been KING. So don't mess with it. New colors, no problem.

JVGondal wrote: ↑Mon May 19, 2025 9:43 am I figured you like a stiff one no?
Haha.
All kidding aside. I prefer the action of the new senko over and old soft one
I like the “stiff one” myself
The new out of the bag has a faster tight shimmer or you might say a vibration. To me that’s what’s triggers the bite. That vibration mimics fear and or a defensive posture that the bass can’t stand.
Of course that’s just my opinion. Take it what’s it’s worth.
In all reality the most important aspect is probably to fish the the bait YOU have the most confidence in.
It’s not the greatest factor but believing and having a high level of confidence it is right up there at the top of the list.
Without it you probably won’t get a bite

While we may never know for certain, that's a well-reasoned argument about the vibration.

Good thing I pour my own and know exactly how much salt to add to the medium soft plastic.

I haven’t been able to recreate this behavior. I compared senkos from old 10-packs (in the green bags) that I’ve had for years with new senkos (in blue bags), and they all weigh the same. On some occasions, old senkos had more of a bend to them, but in many other cases (just got myself some green 10-packs off eBay) they’re bending exactly the same. And a senko from a fresh green bag bends less than a senko from an old green bag that has been sitting in the garage.

Isn’t it possible that old senkos that have been stored in hot environments (garage etc.) get softer with the years? Same as boiling your swimbait gets you a more pliable tail.

I can’t speak to the colors, there might be differences there. But action wise, my own tests have all over the place and there isn’t a conclusive change to the product.

Drakestar you raise some good points. There could be something to aging but I am in my 60s and have been using Senkos from the beginning. I don't ever recall them feeling the way many of the "new" blue bags feel from GSM. I have noticed differences between the GSM product where the amount of bend is not consistent. Certain bags feel much stiffer to me.