On a quintessential windy day in the California Delta, two
determined bass anglers, Chris Ricci and Reverend Tony Byrd, were pitching
Senkos as they navigated the challenging conditions on Whiskey Slough.
A typical
California Delta bank.
As an accomplished angler, Ricci quickly realized that
Reverend Byrd was catching significantly more bass than he was. This prompted
Ricci to investigate further. He discovered that the Reverend, adapting to the
windy conditions, had modified his Senko set-up to sink faster through the
water column.
While searching through his tackle box for a solution, the
Reverend discovered a Clamshot weight. This clamshell-shaped fishing weight,
similar to a split shot, is commonly used in fly fishing. He had attached the
small weight to his line just before the Senko.
This adjustment effectively achieved the Reverend's goal and
contributed to the bass favoring his presentation. The Rev Rig provided a
quicker fall and exhibited other beneficial characteristics. Ricci quickly
recognized these attributes and refined and developed the technique.
Introduction
Before I delve into the Rev Rig, I want to introduce you to
Chris Ricci and his remarkable journey in the competitive bass fishing world. I
first met Ricci as a Co-Angler at FLW events (now the MLF). This former New
Yorker, now a bass angler in Bend, Oregon, is an OG 'Pro-Co' and my Co-Angler
Road Dog idol. Ricci's journey is inspiring, as he consistently made it to the
final day top ten cut in almost every event he fished.
Ricci has an impressive list of achievements in tournament
bass fishing, including being a 1997 WON Bass Pro/Am Champion and a 2007 WON
Bass Pro/Am Champion. He was also a qualified participant in the Perennial FLW
National Championships and has won the title of FLW Co-Angler Champion.
Additionally, he has qualified for the Forrest Wood Cup and was the 2010 Lake
Mead U.S. Open AAA Champion.
Ricci, a reliable travel companion and tournament 'Wingman',
has spent a significant amount of time alongside the legendary professional
bass angler Mike Folkestad. Folkestad, known for his Hall of Fame career, has
built his reputation as an expert in worm and finesse fishing techniques. The
tradition of finesse techniques playing a crucial role in back deck angling
success is well-established, and there’s no better mentor than Mike Folkestad
to learn from.
Take a bow Chris!
Returning to the topic, Chris and I found ourselves together
at the place where it all began, the California Delta. Named after Reverend
Tony Byrd, DSF presents Chris Ricci's Rev Rig.
Rigging
The set-up consists of your favorite Yamamoto Senko pattern
in a 5" or 6" size paired with a 4/0 Gamakatsu round-bend offset
shank worm hook tied to a 50 lb. braided fishing line and rigged 'Tex-posed'
through the soft plastic Senko with a #5 - 1/20 oz. Clamshot weight placed on
the fishing line before the hook.
Action
Ricci has tested several hook types with this system. The
round-bend offset worm hook best suits the profile of the Senko, providing a
superior keel and action. The Rev Rig, with its unparalleled ability to glide
through the grass, is a technique that you can rely on in challenging
conditions. That characteristic alone makes this technique great, but it gets
better.
An angler can also twitch the Rev Rig Senko by making small
rips on slack line, causing it to move back and forth. Additionally, the
placement of the Clamshot weight in relation to the position of the Senko can
create different falling actions, ranging from a horizontal glide to a spiral
drop. To achieve a spiral descent, simply place the Clamshot weight about 1-inch away from the Senko.
Chris
Ricci with a Delta Double Digit Hog!
Size
The 5-inch Senko tends to catch smaller class keeper Delta
bass. These are good fish, but as Ricci explains, the larger 6-inch bait will
often receive bites from the more massive bass. He is quick to point out that
there are always exceptions to this rule, but typically, when you have a limit
and a kicker fish is needed, the larger 6-inch Senko is Ricci’s Go-To bait
size, a testament to its effectiveness.
Stealth
One of the key advantages of the Rev Rig is its ability to
make a super stealthy silent entry into the water. This feature allows you to
cast the rig on top of vegetation mats or the bank and slide the bait into the
water without alerting the fish. This feature is particularly beneficial in
situations involving heavily pressured bass or cunning big bass.
Weedless
When you have a fishing knot exposed on your line ahead of
the bait, the tag end of the line can become a snagging point for weeds. The
Clamshot, when placed on the line in front of the knot, provides a perfect weed
deflection, protecting the knot and allowing weeds to slide right over. The
Clamshot, when combined with Tex-Posed rigging, transforms the Senko into a
superior weedless presentation. A Clamshot and a Senko form an excellent
combination, but the excitement truly begins when you consider the versatility
of this pair. Senkos and the Delta make an outstanding combination, while
Senkos, weedless, and the Delta create a great combination.
Wind
Anglers who use braided lines know how the wind can quickly
place a sizeable arcing bow in your line when presenting lighter finesse
techniques. When presenting the Rev Rig, anglers can use the wind to their
advantage when the wind is blowing laterally across cover elements. Cast atop
the cover or onto the bank. Then slide your Rev Rig Senko into the water from
off the bank or from atop a weed cluster. The wind will push your braid,
pulling the set-up parallel across the face of the structure and cover elements.
This aspect keeps your presentation in the Strike Zone
longer. Astute anglers know that having your lure remain in an ambush zone
longer is a prescription for producing more and bigger bites. This dynamic
allows anglers to employ retrieve angles that bass will not see often. However,
you must be vigilant and prepared to take up the slack quickly when a strike
occurs. A high-speed reel will facilitate fast line pick-up.
Déjà vu
Ricci and I are fishing down a stretch of the Delta, and the
bite is starting to slow down. Ricci's response was to begin presenting the Rev
Rig. Almost immediately, he is catching fish again, and I have zero bites.
That's right, I'm set up and casting the Rev Rig, too. Taking things up a level,
I’ve rigged a 7-inch Senko, while using the cross-wind glide, and BAM!
Ricci is
now the Master, and I’m the student. The Rev Rig scores big from the back deck!
Results
The Rev Rig is not just a method; it's a powerful tool that
can turn the tide of your fishing experience. It's a virtually snag-free
technique and is also an excellent back deck response for targeting the Reverse
Angle (see the note at the end of the article). With the Rev Rig, you can fish
confidently, knowing it's an effective and reliable technique.
The Yamamoto Senko, all
by itself, is a superior fishing tool. Now, with the Rev Rig set-up, you can
set yourself apart by presenting Senkos with incredible weedless action. This
set-up is straightforward to cast even on a windy day. The Rev Rig provides:
A stealthy entry.
Allowing you to glide cleanly across vegetation
and then drop into pockets and channels.
Quickly climbing over the following weed line.
One of the unique
features of the Rev Rig is its adaptability to wind conditions. In fact, the
wind can significantly enhance the performance of this system. This
adaptability is just one of the many reasons to love the Rev Rig technique.
Experimenting when things aren’t right, thinking beyond the
norms, and seizing the moment when the opportunity presents itself are
long-standing tenets of exceptional angling. These traits are also why Chris
Ricci and Reverend Tony Byrd are unquestionably stout anglers. Chris, my
friend, your outstanding technique has made a significant impact on the DSF
community. Thank you for sharing it with us.
