Shakey Head

I have not had any luck with a Shakey Head. Lately I have been fishing it for about 30 minutes everytime I go out, but have had no luck. Yesterday evening I was fishing it out at Stillhouse, got it hung up, snapped it free, but when I snapped it free, I could feel that the base of the worm had come off of the jighead, so I cranked it in really fast to fix it, and I caught a 2 pounder! The fish hit while I was reeling it in to re-attach the base of the worm. I threw the fish back, fixed my worm, and fished the Shakey Head for about 30 more mintues without a bite. Then I threw on Texas rigged green pumpkin worm, and caught two more bass. The fish are out there, but what gives?

guess they werent wanting it?

Ive just recently started throwing a shakey head more often this year, but typically I will throw it if Im not getting bit on a TX or C-rig.

Ive enjoyed more success fishing it near visible cover vs underwater structure, but I know it can be utilized in both circumstances.

Some suggestions

1) Vary the action on the bottom, drag more shake less or shake the donkey out of it then lift and drop then dead stick count to ten and repeat.

2) Use a lighter shaky and slow the fall rate, suspended fish will follow it down or get it on the fall.

3) Dye the head and tail of the bait about 1/4 inch

I use shaky heads in deep stuff only usually

I been using it more than anything the last 3 months and been doing real good.....In fact we won 2 tournaments with my shakey head and my partner didn't boat a fish....I honestly don't think there isn't a time where they dont want it....I think it all depends on what size head your using, what kind of worm and your line.....I use 8lb flouro XPS, 1/8 or 3/16 strike king head with the strike king 3X worms....I've caught fish everytime I've been out....it's become my favorite way to fish

Usually the first rod in my hand after a swimbait. I don't limit the use to just deep water that's a seasonal issue if the fish are deep. The other is to broaden the thought on baits.

Here's two, a saltless stick and a 4 inch swimbait with no salt. The swimbait is nose down so it looks like it's feeding on the bottom and unsuspecting.

"1) Vary the action on the bottom, drag more shake less or shake the donkey out of it then lift and drop then dead stick count to ten and repeat."

Very good suggestion. If they are hitting the trig then drag the shaky head instead of shaking it. Usually the smaller heads will get the bites. I always use 1/8 oz only only move to a 3/16 oz if it's really windy.

Try a 1/8 oz. green pumpkin Strike King jighead. I like a floating worm like a 6" Berkley hand-poured worm. But I've also caught a lot of bass on a 4 3/4" green pumpkin Zoom finese worm with the tail dyed chartreuse. I fish it just like a Texas rig. Sometimes a bass is watching it and when you start a fast retrieve it nails it - not uncommon at all.

I know this wont help improve your shakey head fishing, but if a slow moving bait was not getting bit and I caught a 2lb fish cranking back quickly, my first thought would have been the fish apeared to be activley chasing and follow up quickly with a crankbait or fluke fished the same speed. Now that is if you were looking to catch, now if you were making yourself stick with the head to gain confidence then I would have tried shaking more aggresivly and throw in a quick snap to get more attention.


Respectfully,

Jc Gwynne

Don't fish the 'shakey head' by the book. There are no right answers with this set up. I basically fish it like a light t-rig and have been knockin them out the last two weeks. Mostly little ones, but the biggun's will be coming up to feed any day now.

If you caught one reeling it in, why didn't you just do that again and see if there was a pattern? Maybe a swim jig would have been the ticket?

Hummmmmmm I've never thought about throwing a swimbait on a shaky head.

It's the bomb, I leave just a little bow of slack, dead stick and then just jig the slack like a DS. I try to pull it towards me as little as possible. I'm just try to get the tail to move just a little. No real trick just trying to make a meal real easy to eat.

Swimbait on shakey head...awesome I will have to try that! Caught them on shaky head this morn. Shakin it. Draggin it. Short hoppin it. With just about every diff worm. Floating, paddle tail, finesse. Was my first time to fish with it. However couldn't get a bite on anything else. I'm sure rigs and drops were catching fish, but no flipping jigs or swimbaits or the combination. Wish I woulda thought of tht though can't wait to try it! This website rocks thx guys