Shaky Head 101

I have been doing some research lately on really honing in on my strengths in fishing. I am a much better soft bait fisherman than hard baits due to the fact that I grew up throwing a T-Rig with my dad as many of you may have as well.

I recently bought a 7 ft MH fast action Shimano Crucial casting rod from a friend for a great bargain. Ever since I've been using it I have put more fish in the boat and my biggest fish to date on this rod using T-Rigs and Shaky Heads. The majority have been on the Shaky Heads including the 8.1 fish. I have been fishing a Yum 1/4 oz 4/0 Shaky on 14lb line.

Most of the things I have researched on Shaky Head fishing go against what I have been using. I am unsure if it's the rod I bought which I believe according to Shimano descriptors it is a crank bait rod because they don't list a 7' MH worm rod. I can really feel the bites on this rod like no other rod I've ever used (mainly because I've only used less than $100 rods).

Can anybody who is proficient at fishing this style please advise? Thanks.

Shimano Crucial did have a seven foot worm mh as I had one. For bottom contact fast/ex fast action is desired.

i use a dobyns 703, which is a 7 ft. med. heavy rod, for shakey head in the 1/4 oz or 3/8 oz. if i go down to 1/16 oz. then i'll break out the spinning gear.

I haven't used less than a 1/4 oz shaky head so I guess I've been ok there. I probably should have used a light braid being that I was fishing in an area with heavy structure when I caught the 8.1. She wrapped my 14lb flouro around a stump before I got around it enough with my trolling motor to get her off of it. I'm lucky it didn't break.

I did well with what I was doing obviously so I didn't think I was doing anything wrong until I started researching the topic and kept seeing spin cast set ups. After I researched it I just figured I was lucky.

I use 15 lb fluoro on mine. Seguar red label, haven't broke off yet. Its more about having your setup correct and not over pressuring the fish if it gets wrapped.

I like the spinning setup and lightest weight I can get away with. I use shakeyhead for deeper fishing, and with the spinning reel the bait spirals down to depth. Many of my fish will either grab it on the fall, or hit it before I move it.
I also fish it slower with the spinning setup. If the bite is slow and the wind is having its way with my boat, I may take 5 min to reel it back in.
I also only use the shakeyhead on flats, or going downhill. Never uphill as the worm will fall and drag. I will be setting up a pitcing rig for a larger shakey as I have been pitching in the flooded timber with some success lately. It will be a medium heavy action TFO

Has anyone used a 1/2 oz or a 3/4 oz shaky head? And under what conditions did you use it? Thanks.

Any takers on this question?

yeah, structure 20 ft or deeper is where i've used the bigger ones.throw it on the big stick as you need to move a lot of line on those long deep cast and most bigger shakey heads have a bigger wire hook which i want more power to drill home.

like to use mag trick worms and full sized brush hogs on these

ok thanks, this was the info i was searching for. i've never fished a shaky head that deep and didn't know if others have with success. thanks.

Shakyhead is my go to in deeper than 18 foot. Use the lightest weight you can get away with, and if you are not using a spinning reel, you need to feed line so you get the proper fall. If it is windy or in current, go heavy, but that would be the only reason for me to go heavier than 1/4 or 3/8 oz

The idea that you have to fish a shakey head a certain way is nonsense. During summer I mostly throw a
1/8 to 1/4 oz jighead on a med spinning rod with 8-10 lb test. But if the fish are deeper or its windy I'll go up in weight from there.

Fish it the way it feels right.

This is why I am researching this technique. For some reason people use different methods and I suppose it may be due to the way it feels right or what they have had success with. I currently don't even own spinning gear, which is one reason I am asking in case I buy a set up for the lighter shaky heads. Your input is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I do the same.

I caught an 8lb 13oz catfish on a shaky head @ Fork on Sunday with spinning tackle. That was a hoot. I was fishing it in 25ft of water.

In this situation I would probably throw a 1/2 oz shaky head with the 14 lb flouro on my 7'0 MH fast action Shimano Crucial bait caster.