Rod for shakey head - help

I went fishing yesterday on a pond that is stocked with bass. The bite was slow, so I decided to throw a shakey head (I have very little experience with this presentation but want to learn and use it more often). I got two good bites (both fist were at least 3 pounders) but missed both fish. I admit I could have had better hook sets and in both cases the bass threw the bait after they made their initial jump out of the water. I am not sure I stuck them very well. I was using a 6"6" medium Falcon Low Rider rod. I'm thinking maybe the tip on this rod isn't fast enough or its too stiff for this type of presentation. What casting rod should I consider for this shakey head fishing? I welcome your thoughts. TIA.

I throw mine on a 7' m fast on a traditional shaky head, if I go over 1/2oz I step it up to a mh fast. Make sure you don't have slack in the line and as soon as you feel the bite set the hook.

Bayou kustom rods has a really good shakey head/drop shot casting rod on sale, $120 in the trade post if I remember right. I like a good 7ft+ Med-medhvy.

+1

Thanks guys. Sounds like a need a new 7ft medium fast tip rod....any suggestions that won't break the bank?

Don't know how good they are but Walmart has 7' medium, fast action abu garcia vigilante rods for about $40

Can't beat the quality, or price, of the 7'3" Med. Hvy TFO rod.

The falcon you have is the perfect setup I have the same rod, and I have a shakyhead on it at all times.

I throw all mine on MH fast casting rods or a M fast spinning rod. Shakey heads don't seem to require a very specific rod to thro them on. A 7ft MH fast tip rod with a good bait cast reel and 10-15lb floro is probably a good set up also throw t-rigs on it

Falcon all the way

I throw mine on a Diawa Jupiter, or a Abu garcia vendetta. I don't think it requires breaking the bank to catch fish on this presentation. I have caught them on a $20 walmart spinning combo as well. It will just take some practice on the hook set.

I use this from TW $150
Falcon LowRider XG Spin 6'10" Medium
LFS-4-1610. Shaky Head Special - Since Shaky Head jigs are increasingly popular because of their effectiveness, Falcon designed this rod with a light tip to handle finesse baits and light line but enough backbone to set the hook.

Powell Max 683. This is a very versatile rod and works well throwing a shaky head. You can also find them used for a good price.

7' M veritas

I like the Powell inferno 7' medium extra fast. Excellent sensitivity even on those light bites. Also very versatile, I can throw a drop shot, wacky rig, really light T-rigs, etc. Hope this helps!

I agree. Used this rod for years with shakyhead. I started searching for a "better" rod, and tried a G.Loomis SJR782 GLX, NRX 822 SYR and finally a Mossyback 803S. The first two were softer than I prefer; the 803S is pretty good. But I may go back to the old Falcon.

I have two suggestions if you aren't using these already.
1. Use 10-20lb braid and tie on a 5-6ft 10lb fluorocarbon leader. P-Line 100% is the best I've used for breaking strength and abrasion-resistance.
2. Make sure your shakyhead has a round bend hook. You want the point to be angled out of the plastic, not parallel or tex-posed. This will greatly help your hookups.

+1 This is a great all around rod but if you want to get more specific TFO makes a great Drop Shot/Shakey Head bait casting rod. Here is the link for it, it has been my go to lately for deep structure bass. I use the 7'3" medium lite DS rod for shakey head fishing but the make a 6'10" version as well.

http://www.tforods.com/conventional-rods...ml#.U86VlGdOWUk

http://www.tforods.com/conventional-rods...ml#.U86V5mdOWUk

Spinning gear: Shimano Sahara 2500 reel on a 6'8" Shimano Compre medium rod.

6'10", medium, fast. I prefer the Shimano Crucial

TFO

Thanks guys. Lots to think about and consider. This is all good and one of the reasons I believe that the TFF is one of the best web sites out there!

KLX Drop Shot-Finesse Worm Medium - Fast 6'10"

when it comes to shaky head fish'n, look at the head design - picture the ability to pull it through the clamped down mouth of a bass...if it has a pointed nose it will pull and the hook point will find a home...if it has a flat head that is designed to stand up that might stop the forward progress of the hook point...sometimes...allowing the fish to throw it...that said i like a 7 foot med-hvy spooled with floro 10 to 17lb test...good luck !

TO makes great rods.

G. Loomis 822c or Power Tackle PG143