I want to learn everything that I can about "shaky head fishing". I didn't think I needed to change from fishing T-rig to what I thought was a finesse only presentation. I tried it at PK and caught some just under bass when T-rig did not work at all. I know now that I need help on presentation and working it properly. So I am asking for your input.

Me Also

Ya'll came to the right place. The unders tourney guys should be along any time now. That doesn't mean the presentation won't catch BIG fish, too.

bridgeport is a good place to learn it/get a real limber rod #1/downsize your line to around 8lb or 10 lb/ i use small braid/find a good jig head small hook that wont hardly bend/find a good rock bank with 10 foot or deeper/try to move jighead just enough not to get stuck in between the rocks/be ready usally small bite or peck /good luck

I've caught 8 pound fish on 1/4 ounce shakey heads on 10# flourocarbon line.

VanDam caught an 11 pounder on lake Lewisville a few years ago and set a new lake record. It works when other means won't....

Stick to fluorocarbons.and light line i like mine with a medium heavy moderate tip spinning rod and owner shake hooks. I seem to get better bites when i leave semi slack line and shake the tip of my rod a little. Baits that stand up are key

Are you talking about heads that make the bait stand up or worms that float up? I bought Zoom and Berkley power shaky head worms and round head shaky jig heads. What do you recommend?

Omega probably makes the best all around shakey head,when fishing light fluro on spining tackle I tend to go with the cheapest led head push up keeper shakey I can find with a really light hook so that you still get good penatration while performing a more of a load the rod up type of hook set. when doing this baits I like include: Robo worm hand pours, Berkly tripple pour worms, Big Bites Kreit shakey worm and, Scondrel,Zoom trick worm, Hags F5 and F4, and my forvorite Jackals Flick Shake worm. When fishing larger baits that I would usually texas rig like brush hogs, senkos, hags 6.5 or powerworms, on a baitcasting set up I consentrate more on finding a standup type screw lock head with a larger offset hook, Omega again makes an awesome offset shakey head.
I dont mind spending a little bit more on a beter shakey head when fishing a baitcasting set up with heavier line because I dont loose near as manny jigs as I do with the lighter spining set up. Shakey heading can also be a deadly dock/fliping technique that you can use right behind a guy pithching a jig or a t-rig on preasured water to catch more finiky fish, I have more confidence in my finese shakey set up than I do with any thing else I fish. Stock up on the jigs you like cause you loose alot of them.

I use both stand-up heads and soft plastics that float robo worms are a great shakeup bait

Shakeyhead can be frustrating at times. Strikes are many times ultra quick and very light. Just one or two light taps, and they are gone. I've missed many fish working a shakeyhead because I was mentally wandering on a slow day of fishing and by the time I was back in reality and paying attention it was too late and I'd missed the strike.

Shakeyhead technique video
Another video

Just be patient the first few times with this method of fishing and remember the key is to work it slowly. I prefer Buckeye Spot Removers in 1/8 and 1/4 ounce for the larger stuff, and Owner Shaky Ultrahead 3/32 ounce for the really small ultra finesse stuff. I fish them both on 8-10lbs test fluoro and spinning gear. An ultra sensitive rod is a must, but it needs a serious backbone to horse fish out of snag city because thats one of the best places to shakey on a slow day. Another trick is to use braid with a fluoro leader using a uni knot to uni knot to attach them giving you a little better sensitivity. Just check your knots often.

So key points are slow, pay attention and be ready to set the hook, and use the most sensitive gear you have with the lightest line you feel comfortable throwing. Hope some of this helps. Just don't get discouraged if you get skunked, every method has its time and place and this is not a sure fire fish generator by any means.

Mark

I fish a shaky head on a baitcaster because I just like it better than spinning tackle.
I have it on a 7ft M action rod with a Diawa finesse reel and 12 pound Invizx.
I like the Owner round head shaky head, (I get them at Academy) in 3/16 and 1/4 oz.
I like the GrandeBass baby snake in Trophy hunter or the Hags tornado in Storm chaser so far the best but I now have a couple different brands of floating worms that I am going to try out.
Sometimes I make short little hops with it and sometimes I just drag and pause like a c-rig.
I use a heavier football head shaky head with the larger Rattlesnakes or Tornados in deep water. I throw it on a Kistler 7ft 6in Helium with 20 pound Invizx.
I fish both on Fork that is full of timber and that's why I use the 12 and 20 pound test line. You could go with a lighter line If the place you are fishing doesn't have a lot of cover in it to get hung up on.

From my experience I'll tell you to keep the mindset that you have a T-Rig, Jig tied on and work it as so. I drag, swim, and hop Shakeyheads and have good results. It seems that a bulkier bait will deter Sunfish pecking at times. A slimmer bait will most always get bites. Don't discount creature baits, Senkos,and other plastics not commonly used for Shakeyheads.I use 1/4oz heads and bigger-and usually stay away from finnese-type presentations but they can catch you fish when other things fail.

Don't over complicate it. Start with 12# Invisx and a 1/8 oz head. Get yourself a good medium action rod with a fast tip so you can throw it. I use a Shimano MG 50 reel cuz I can throw it a long way even with the 1/8 oz head. I fish the 1/8 oz head all the way down to 15' deep.

I like the KVD heads by Strike King but there are lots of good ones. Start with a Zoom Trick worm in watermelon red or green pumpkin. Fish it slow.

Don't overwork the bait. You will get many of your bites when it is sitting dead on the bottom.

Thanks guys.
I was using the right equipment,from your comments. I was probably overworking the shaky head (shaking too much). I have a lot of stand up jig heads that I use with Chigger Craws, that I will try with the shaky worms and other baits mentioned.