....and I'm all out of gum

Several years ago – it may have been in this space – I made a vow that I was going to simplify my Senko selection. Green pumpkin (#297) and black with blue flake (#021) that was going to be it. I’d have drawers for each color in 5-, 6- and 7-inch styles, with some stray fours tucked here and there. It would make life so simple.

But, of course, life can never be simple.

It started when Larry Nixon told my wife at one of the Classics that she needed to try some Senkos in the General’s Melon color.

And I couldn’t fully give up black/blue with the hot blue tail. Or some of the shades of watermelon I’ve accumulated and used successfully over the years.

But that was going to be it. No new colors. Until one of my favorite guides at El Salto convinced me that Watermelon Moondust was a catcher. That was two years ago, and except for a few packs of Bruised Shin (just to try them out), I’ve been faithful ever since.

But in November, our guide swore that the group of anglers before us had absolutely s-m-o-k-e-d the bass, including a bunch of big’uns on Bubblegum, which – for those of you who have not memorized the color chart like Ron Colby – is #229. I’ve successfully used bubblegum floating worms and pink spinnerbaits, but I’d never thought to try it in a Senko.

They hadn’t left many behind, but Hanna grabbed an orphaned Senko one morning, and got her biggest bite of the trip.

So yes, when I got home I might’ve ordered a few bags. This is the last time, though, until the next time.