Best Soft Plastics for Bass
Five soft plastics I fish for bass: the Senko, Fat Senko, Swimming Senko, Roboworm straight tail and Bandito Bug, with the sizes, colors and rigs I use.
The short answer
If I could carry only one soft plastic, it would be the 5-inch Yamamoto Senko, the easiest bait to fish and the easiest to catch fish on. Around it I carry a Fat Senko, a Swimming Senko, a Roboworm straight tail for drop shot and a Googan Bandito Bug for jigs and crawfish looks. I fish green pumpkin in most of them.
Top picks at a glance
| Product | Best use | Size | Colors I fish | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My most trusted soft plastic Yamamoto Senko 5" | Wacky, Texas or weightless | 5 in | Green pumpkin black flake (#297) | Check price (Senko 5", affiliate link, opens in a new tab) |
| The Senko on steroids Yamamoto Fat Senko 5" | Texas and wacky | 5 in | Green pumpkin black flake | Check price (Fat Senko 5", affiliate link, opens in a new tab) |
| For covering more water Yamamoto Swimming Senko 5.5" | Weightless or straight retrieve | 5.5 in | Green pumpkin black flake, black/blue | Check price (Swimming Senko 5.5", affiliate link, opens in a new tab) |
| My drop shot worm Roboworm Straight Tail Worm 4.5" | Drop shot | 4.5 in | Green pumpkin varieties | Check price (Straight Tail Worm 4.5", affiliate link, opens in a new tab) |
| My crawfish bait and jig trailer Googan Squad Bandito Bug 4" | Jig trailer or weighted craw | 4 in | Green pumpkin, red for a crawfish look | Check price (Bandito Bug 4", affiliate link, opens in a new tab) |
Yamamoto Senko 5"
Best for: Wacky rig, Texas rig or weightless, all year
My one constant. I can fish it how I like all year and be successful. It is the easiest bait to fish and the easiest to catch fish on. Hands-on pick.
Pros
- Easiest soft plastic to fish
- Works wacky rigged, Texas rigged or weightless
- Catches fish all year for me
Cons
- Not the fastest way to cover water; that is what the Swimming Senko is for
Yamamoto Fat Senko 5"
Best for: Texas and wacky rigs when you want more bulk
A plumper version of the original Senko. It has a fatter, bigger profile and sinks faster, with the same great action. Great for Texas and wacky rigs. Hands-on pick.
Pros
- Bigger profile than the original
- Sinks faster
- Same Senko action
Cons
- Bulkier than the original, so it is not the finesse option
Yamamoto Swimming Senko 5.5"
Best for: Covering more ground, more quickly
The paddle-tail Senko. I fish it the same way I fish the weightless Senko, or on a straight retrieve, when I want to cover more water. The paddle tail gives it a swimming action fish cannot resist. Hands-on pick.
Pros
- Covers water faster than the original Senko
- Fishes weightless or on a straight retrieve
- Paddle-tail swimming action
Cons
- Bigger than the 5-inch original at 5.5 inches
Roboworm Straight Tail Worm 4.5"
Best for: Drop shotting
The only worm I drop shot with. It comes in many colors, and I like the green pumpkin varieties, though any color works. Hands-on pick.
Pros
- The worm I use exclusively for drop shot
- Many colors to choose from
- Any color works, in my experience
Cons
- I only use it for drop shot, so I cannot speak to other rigs
Googan Squad Bandito Bug 4"
Best for: Jig trailer or fished on its own
A craw bait I use as a jig trailer or on its own, preferably with a bullet weight for a crawfish-like action. Drag it on the bottom, twitch it, or swim it with a jig. Hands-on pick.
Pros
- Works as a jig trailer or on its own
- Many actions: drag, twitch or swim
- Red is great for a real crawfish look
Cons
- Best with a bullet weight or on a jig, not weightless
I do not carry a lot of soft plastics. I carry a few I trust, and I know how to fish each one. This is that list: five baits, the sizes I buy, the colors I fish and how I use each one.
A quick note on how I wrote this
Every bait on this page is one I fish myself. The sizes and colors come from my own tackle box, so check the size and color on the Amazon page before ordering, because most of these come in several.
Yamamoto Senko 5”: the one I’d carry
If I could carry only one soft plastic, this would be it. I can fish it how I like all year and be successful. It is the easiest to fish and the easiest to catch fish on. My color is green pumpkin black flake. I walk through the rigs step by step in my wacky rig guide and my Texas rig guide.
Check price on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)Yamamoto Fat Senko 5”: the Senko on steroids
The Fat Senko is a plumpier version of the original. It has a fatter, bigger profile and sinks faster, with the same great action. I like it for Texas and wacky rigs, and I fish it in green pumpkin black flake.
Check price on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)Yamamoto Swimming Senko 5.5”: cover more water
When I want to cover more ground more quickly, I reach for the Swimming Senko. I fish it the same way I fish the weightless Senko, or on a straight retrieve. The paddle tail gives it a swimming action fish cannot resist. I usually pick green pumpkin black flake or black and blue.
Check price on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)Roboworm Straight Tail 4.5”: my drop shot worm
I use this one exclusively for drop shot. It comes in many colors, and I like the green pumpkin varieties, though any color works. For the full setup, see my drop shot guide.
Check price on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)Googan Squad Bandito Bug 4”: jig trailer and craw
I use the Bandito Bug as a jig trailer or on its own, preferably with a bullet weight to give it an action like a crawfish. Drag it on the bottom, twitch it, or swim it with a jig. Many actions work with this one. I fish green pumpkin, and red is great for a real crawfish look. You can see how I pair it with a jig in my football jig guide.
Check price on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)How to choose
- Start with the Senko. It is the easiest to fish and the easiest to catch fish on.
- Add the Fat Senko if you want more bulk and a faster sink for Texas and wacky rigs.
- Add the Swimming Senko when you want to cover more water.
- Pick a dedicated worm for drop shot. I use the Roboworm straight tail.
- Add a craw like the Bandito Bug for jigs and crawfish looks.
For how these fit with the rest of my tackle on the lakes I fish, read my best bass lures for New England lakes.
Every bait on this page is one I use myself. The Amazon pages cover several sizes and colors, so select the size and color you want before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best soft plastic for bass?
For me it is the 5-inch Yamamoto Senko. It is my most trusted soft plastic, the easiest to fish and the easiest to catch fish on, and I can fish it how I like all year.
What is the difference between a Senko and a Fat Senko?
The Fat Senko is a plumper version of the original. It has a fatter, bigger profile and sinks faster, with the same action. I like it for Texas and wacky rigs.
When do you use a Swimming Senko?
When I want to cover more ground more quickly. I fish it like a weightless Senko, or on a straight retrieve, and the paddle tail gives it a swimming action.
What do you drop shot with?
A Roboworm straight tail in 4.5 inches. It is the only worm I drop shot with. I like green pumpkin varieties, but any color works.
What trailer do you put on a jig?
A Googan Squad Bandito Bug, usually in green pumpkin. It also works on its own with a bullet weight for a crawfish action.
What colors do you fish?
Mostly green pumpkin. With the Swimming Senko I also use black and blue, and red works well on the Bandito Bug for a real crawfish look.