The effectiveness and simplicity of the Senko is what truly makes it one of the best bass fishing baits of all time. The other great thing about the Gary Yamamoto Senko is that it comes in a wide variety of great colors. With so many different color choices how do you know what the best color of Senko is and when to use each?
The best color of Senko for all around performance is green pumpkin with black flake or the black and blue flake. The green pumpkin with black flake is the most versatile and effective color of Senko out there and the black and blue color is best when fishing in murky or stained water.
With that being said, there are a ton of great color options you can utilize to your advantage as you fish with a Senko in different conditions for bass.
If you would like to learn more about what the best color of Senko’s are and some tips and tricks on when and how to use each, please continue reading our in-depth Senko color guide below.
Best Senko Colors for Bass
If there has been a single bait that has changed the bass fishing industry over the years, it’s the Yamamoto Senko. The Senko is used by beginners to professional anglers and is a bait I make sure I always have tied on.
With over 110 different color options and 5 different sizes it can be a challenge to decide what color to use. For that reason, I put together the following list of the best Senko colors for bass that I have the most confidence in.
The Top 10 Senko Colors for Bass
- Green Pumpkin Black Flake
- Black and Blue Flake
- Green Pumpkin Green & Purple
- Watermelon Red Green Fake
- Cinnamon Purple Flake
- Salt & Pepper (Clear Bl Flk)
- June Bug
- Generals Watermelon
- Baby Bass
- Bubble Gum
Let’s talk about each of these colors specifically and when to use what color.
Make sure to check out My Recommended Bass Fishing Gear and Tackle Guide to ensure you have the right gear for your next fishing adventure.
Green Pumpkin Black Flake
The Green Pumpkin Senko is by far the most popular color of Senko and for good reason. This basic color is the most versatile and perhaps the most all-around effective color Yamamoto has created.
It works great in clear water, low light or sunny conditions, stained and everywhere in between. You’ll consistently catch bass on this color anywhere in the country and is a color ever bass fishing anglers should have in their tackle box.
Black and Blue Flake
If you are throwing a Senko in muddy water, its hard to beat the black and blue flake color. Dark colors like this one provide a heavy contrast and remains visible when other lighter hues disappear in muddy or stained water.
The black and blue flake will help make your Senko stand out in the darker water increasing your chances of a catching any nearby bass. This is a staple color that you should always have on the ready.
Green Pumpkin Green & Purple
One of my all-time favorite Senko colors is the green pumpkin green & purple. When I’m not having any luck and I need to get a bite, I’ll turn to this color when nothing else is working. It’s an all-around great color and can be effective in any body of water, anywhere in the county.
Watermelon Red Green Flake
One of the best colors of Senko to use on bright sunny days is watermelon with some type of bright flake. My favorite is the watermelon red green flake.
This color combination allows the sun rays to reflect off the flakes giving it a flash, but also looks natural when paired with the watermelon base.
This color works especially great in shallow water but is also effective out deep. Watermelon with red flake is a color you should consider using the next time you throw a Senko.
Cinnamon Purple Flake
The cinnamon purple flake Senko color is another overall winner that will help you catch a ton of fish. In my experience this color excels in clear to stained water. It has a natural craw color tone and is a great imitation of a wide variety of bass forage. The cinnamon purple flake color is one of the best Senko colors that often gets overlooked.
Salt & Pepper (Clear Bl Flk)
During an interview Gary Yamamoto was asked what his favorite color of Senko was. He said, “One of the best colors that is probably a sleeper is the salt-and-pepper”. he says. “I think it is a forgotten color, but I can take that color any place in the world and fish will bite it.”
This color does a great job at imitating baitfish and if Gary himself says it’s a color that you should use, then who are we to argue? Go try this color out.
Junebug
One of the all-time great Senko color is junebug. This color really shines in the summer when you are fishing in stained water but can be effective in all other conditions as well.
If you haven’t tried fishing this color, I would recommend giving it a try the next time you are faced with stained water conditions. It won’t disappoint.
Generals Watermelon
Another great watermelon-based color is the general’s watermelon. This color features a bright chartreuse bottom with a watermelon top with red and black flakes mixed in.
This is a killer smallmouth bass color. For whatever reason they can’t resist the chartreuses and watermelon color combination. If you are targeting smallmouth this color is one you need to add to your collection.
Baby Bass
There is something about the baby bass Senko color that really drives opportunistic bass crazy. This color of Senko is perfect for imitating shad, perch, bluegill and other small baitfish like a baby bass.
This is a highly productive color that can be deadly in clear to stained water and is one you should add to your arsenal.
Bubble Gum
Really a pink plastic worm? Yep, you read that right. As crazy as it sounds the bubble gum color is a great all-around color to use that can really help you bait stand out.
For me this is a great color to use when bed fishing because its easy to see as your dragging your bait through a bed and it really seems to get both largemouth and smallmouth fired up. This color is worth adding your collection.
Best Senko Color for Murky Water
When throwing soft plastic baits in murky and stained water it can be a challenge for the bass to locate and find your bait. For that reason, the best color of Senko when fishing in murky water is going to be dark and bright colors.
Here are the best Senko colors to use when fishing in murky or stained water:
- Black Blue Flake
- Black Blue Laminate
- Bama Bug
- Bug Grinder
- Chartreuse Black Flake
- Smoke Blk Blu Chart Flake
Best Senko Color for Clear Water
Fishing with a Senko can be a great way to catch bass in clear water as well. When you are faced with clear water conditions natural colored Senko’s like green pumpkin, watermelon and white based colors are fantastic options.
Another factor to consider when fishing in clear water is the light penetration (cloudy vs. sunny days). On days where the sun is high and the water is clear, I like to throw natural colored Senko’s that have bright colored flakes. Colors like watermelon with red or purple flake and green pumpkin with red flake or great colors.
On the other hand, on low light penetration (cloudy days or dawn/dusk) natural colors with darker tones tend to outperform. Green pumpkin with black flake is my go-to option.
Here are my favorite Senko colors for clear water split up into the two different categories:
High Light Penetration (Sunny blue bird skies)
- Watermelon Rd & Grn
- Watermelon Candy
- Watermelon Blue Flake
- Green Pumpkin Lg Red Flake
- Blue Pearl Black & Holo Fake
- Mad Melon
- Crushed Perch
Any Senko color that has color that can flash when the sun high is a great choice when fishing during the middle of the day.
Low Light (Cloudy, Sunrise/Sunset)
- Green Pumpkin Black Flake
- Green Pumpkin Magic
- B Bug Grinder
- Bama Bug
- Black Blue Flake
- Peanut Butter & Jelly Laminate
Any color of Senko that is dark or bright will really make your bait stand out when you are faced with low light conditions on cloudy days or early/late in the day.
Best Senko Color for Ponds
If you haven’t realized already there are ton of different colors of Senko’s anglers to choose from. The most productive color of Senko’s for bass fishing in ponds will be dependent on the water clarity. In clear water the best colors are going to be whites, green pumpkin and natural looking colors. In muddy water darker colors like, black, black and blue will be best.
Here is a quick guideline on when use each Senko color when bass fishing in ponds:
- Clear water: Natural colors, whites, pearls
- Stained water: Green Pumpkins, Watermelons, or any of the colors not on the extreme light or extreme dark ends of the color choices.
- Muddy/Dark water: Dark or bright colors, black & blue, junebug etc.
How to Fish a Senko
A Senko is a one of the most productive and simplest ways to catch bass. However, there are some key tips and strategies that you can utilize that will help you catch more fish with a stick bait.
Watch this video on how to effectively rig and fish a Senko to ensure you get the most out of this bait.
Conclusion
The versatility, simplicity and effectiveness of the Senko makes it one of the most popular and productive bass fishing baits of all time.
Whether you are fishing the Senko in ponds, clear water, murky water, deep or shallow selecting the best color of Senko is a big key for success.
I would encourage you to read through this Senko Color Guide again and use to make the best color choice that’s right for you and your fishing conditions.
Best of luck out there.
