Shakey Head

What size shakey head do you use when fishing with a Bait Caster? Spinning Rod?

I only use spinning. 1/8-1/4 ounce. With 1/8 being my go to and the 1/4 for when I need more distance.

Spinning with 1/8 and 3/16 heads. Use heavier when its windy go as finesse as I can 80% of the time like Grasshopper said.

1/2 oz baitcaster w/ 10" worm

1/4 oz lower w/ spinning rod...which is so rare when it does happen you know I'm grasping at straws for bites

Throw a 1/4 ounce Owner Ultra and use a heavy/fast 7’ Falcon rod and a Steez CTSV. I don’t use a spinning rod. At least not for that.

A lot of the weight thing is how you're going to be casting. Are you going to spiral it, sending it low next to a target? Maybe a simple pitch. Using a Japanese style. Or are you going to be sending it by overhead cast?

Then what are you going be doing with it after it hits the water?


1/4 ounce is heavy. Really heavy. My perferance is 1/8 to 3/8, jig, in whatever configuration. The weight needs to be matched to the set up. I fish soft baits more then anything else. As light as you can go has had the best results for me.

No…your preference of 3/8 is heavy! Haha. 1/4 is normal. I have some owner ultra 1 ounce for deep water / windy conditions. That is really heavy.

I fish shakey heads on baitcasters alot. I usually use 3/16 or 1/4. Line makes a huge difference as well. 80% of the time I use 12# Invizx. I'll bump to 15 if needed.

Right now I'm throwing a 1/4 ounce Picasso Shak-E-Football on 17 lb. Berkley 100% Fluorocarbon. 7 foot medium heavy rod, Curado baitcaster. I loosen and tighten the spool based on whether I am going to be pitching or casting. Actually I usually keep it really loose for both and use my thumb when casting.

99.9% it is a spinning rod 7’3” Med/hvy fast. 8 lb invizx 1/8 oz and ALWAYS a Zoom trick worm. Only time I use a bait caster with a shaky head is at Squaw Creek in the timber and it’s a 3/16 oz 7’3” Med Fast and 14 lb flouro.

Owner shakey head 3/16 baitcaster.

I'm all about the 3/16 on a baitcaster. It's pretty much my all around weight and I'll throw it in 3ft to 15ft all day.

I fish a shakyhead almost all the time. I have at least 2 tied on at all times, as its my go to bait.
Both of my setups are on baitcaster reels. One is set up with a 1/4oz and one is 3/8oz. I will use my 1/4oz in 0-10' and my 3/8oz in 10-22'.
But, if there is major current or its some real deep water, I'll throw on a 1/2 or 5/8oz and fish that. All depends on the situation.

Me too.

I fish them in 10' to 24'. Depending on depth, current and ability to control the boat (wind and wakes) I use 1/4 as the lightest and 3/8 as the heaviest.
Baitcast w/ 14# or 17# fluro. Typically with a large straight worm. I like the "spot remover" heads.

3/16 on a nice calm day, 1/4 on everything else spinning rod stella/exist 3000 size with 8lb flouro.

Me three. 12 lb invizx.

What gear ratio on the baitcaster?

I do a 6:1

Bait-caster-12 lb fluoro/ML fast action 7’ rod

8-1 with the 3/16 oz shaky head.

I throw larger baits (worms and craws) on a Strike King wobble head also. 3/8 -3/4 oz

1/4 oz. - 5/16 oz.

Most of the time a 3/16 on a bait caster, 20 lb braid with leaders anywhere from 8 lb to 15 lb flouro. About the only time i will use a spinning set up is with 1/8 ounce around docks, easier to skip.

Anything over a 1/4, I will use bait caster. Also depends on the fish as well. If they are a real light bite I prefer the fairy wand.

I go more by the size of the bait... If I'm throwing something small like a Zoom Finesse Worm it goes on a spinning reel rig... If I'm throwing a trick worm or a 6" worm/ lizard I'll go baitcaster... Reason being is the weight of the bait allows me to cast the bait no matter which weight head the shakey head is on the baitcasting rig... Dan

I have 2 techniques I used shakey, I either fish it slow as I can and then slow it down which I want braid and a spinning setup.
In the summer I fish a 3/16 or heavier football shakey and I fish it like you would a football jig. This is when I use bait cast and I will go as big as a 10 inch worm with this. When this bite is on, the key is never come to a stop, but never leave the bottom. The football shakey shines here.