If you’re only using 10 Senkos a day, the bite must not be very good – or else they’re willing to chow on a bunch of different colors. The lure was life-changing for me. Indeed, if I’d adopted them immediately when they first came out, I would’ve been a lot more effective in my early derby days, if I’d been willing to slow down. Still, I shudder to think about how many I’ve gone through over the years.

I don’t like O-Rings, unless they’re strictly necessary for a technique like Neko Rigging, and once they’re torn up a bit I prefer to put on a new one. Some might see that as wasteful, but my time on the water is limited and I want to give myself every possible advantage. I know some people use ‘em longer, and others use various adhesives to put them back together, but I indulge myself with a fresh bait.

That results in leaving a lot “dead soldiers” in the bottom of the boat. Historically, it also meant leaving a bunch of bags with 1-2 baits in my storage compartments. Before each trip I’d throw in a couple of packages of black with blue flake or green pumpkin, and late in the year when I cleaned out the boat I’d find dozens of clear bags of orphans. Of course you can buy the bulk bags in certain colors, including the two listed above, but I find those to be bulky. Instead, the best solution I’ve found is to get heavy-duty 6”x6” ziplocs and fill them up. They’ll hold about 50 5-inch Senkos in a package that’s still small enough to put in your pocket. When it starts to look like it’s running low, you still have about 20 left. Furthermore, it keeps them straight. That may be a lot of words for a simple solution but it’s made me far more efficient.

And don’t forget: Always buy more than you think you’ll need. They’re that deadly.