Shakyhead Beaver Baits

[War Eagle 44]

I've had good luck using smallie beavers on shakyheads but I always wanted to be able to fish the bigger size beavers with heavier tackle but really didn't for fear of bending the light wire hooks that come on most shakyheads. Well while just messing around with some tackle I came up with something that works almost exactly like a shakyhead but, this one you can pitch with your flipping rod. I used a 5132 5/0 Owner twistlock hook and a 1/16th crimp on weight. It sits on the bottom just like a shakyhead so therefore it presents the bait in the same way as a shakyhead. 

I think it is going to work out good as a pitching bait that presents like a shakyhead but allows the use of much heavier tackle. Do any of you guys use beaver style baits on shakyheads, or any other interesting heads? Hows it working out for you? Thanks fellas!

 

 

[Sam]

Nope. I sick with worms almost all the time.

But if it works keep it going and thanks for the information.

Bass fishing is open to any presentation especially those that we have not thought of before.

[whitwolf]

I use this shakeyhead all the time with beaver baits.....  http://www.siebertoutdoors.com/index.php/zenith-shakey

[ww2farmer]

War Eagle 44, check out the Falcon lures "K shaky" heads. They slip through grass better than any other shaky head I have used, and they have stout EWG hooks.

[War Eagle 44]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll look them up.

[Crestliner2008]

Have you tried those Beavers on a weighted (1/8 oz.) swimbait hook? The kind with the spring keeper. You can fish it like a shakey head, but it falls more horizontally. Has boosted my catch ration last season for sure.

[Hanover_Yakker]

I use a different style head altogether although with the same end result. I use a Confidence Baits Draggin' Head - it is a keel weighted hook like a swimbait hook, but the weight is flattened and runs flush with the hook along the bottom and has a small keeper pin. Requires almost no hookset at all. So easy to use that I rig my wife's and son's fishing rods with them almost excelusively and they have never missed a fish due to a poor hookset.

For me, all I give is a quick snap of the wrist and the fish is hooked. The thin wire gauge of the hook is also a huge factor in getting a good hookset as it penetrates the fish's mouth with relative ease. Also lends itself to less likelihood of a fish throwing the hook. I've never lost a fish due to the fish throwing the hook when I use these.

For smaller profile or lightweight soft plastics, I prefer the 1/8oz long shank version, and for medium soft plastics, I bump up to the 1/4oz version. If I'm throwing a large beaver style bait, I can go all the way up to a 3/8oz if needed.

The hook design ensures a presentation that keeps the lure elevated for an easy take by the predator, yet still weedless to allow fishing heavy structure and rocks if you desire. I use mine to pitch to heavy cover all the time and is a presentation that is always tied on when I head out.

[War Eagle 44]

Crestliner2008, I haven't tried them on a swimbait hook because I wanted them to sit "tail down" on the bottom like a shakyhead does but I will give it a try sometime, thanks.

 

Hanover_Yakker, thanks for taking the time to write such a thorough answer. I don't think your hook will work for me because of the light wire. That was my main reason for looking for alternatives to a regular shakyhead, I want to be able to pitch these in and around heavy brush and wood on my flipping gear. I'm pretty excited to try my hook, I think it's going to be just what I've been looking for, slow fall, tail down presentation when on the bottom, and strong hook.   

[kylek]

What about the Yum Pumpkin Ed stand up jighead?  It is made to fish the yum mightee 10" worms.

 

they have them available at TW.  search by brand. Yum

[Smallieslayer2234]

I know this is your thread but would it work to shaky head a berkley havoc pit boss to throw to the bank or light cover?

[Shane J]

Unless I'm missing something, it's just like a plain old skirtless, weedguard-less football jig, right? Plenty of those around with heavy wire hooks to do the same thing. I use 'em all the time with Lobsters. My standard shakey head jig, though, is the Moaner Stiffy jig.

[CPBassFishing]

I have not had any success with a shaky head beaver, but I actually rage rig my sweet beavers. I use a 3/0 keel-weighted gamakatsu hook. The weight is 1/16 of an oz and it is at the back of the shank, almost at the end. This gives the flappers a really nice subtle flapping action, and it falls really slowly. I get bit on this as much as a wacky senko in the summer. Let it fall, hop it back a couple feet, pull it up a few feet, let it fall, repeat.

[War Eagle 44]

kylek, I hadn't thought about the Yum hook, if the one I have doesn't work out I'll give this hook a look.

 

Smallieslayer2234, I don't see any reason a Pit Boss wouldn't work on a shakyhead. Give it a try, like I said I've had super good luck with the smallie beavers on an Owner shakyhead with these Coosa River spots.

 

Shane J, thanks for your tips as well. Like I said to kylek if my hook doesn't work out the way I think it will I'll look into your suggestions.

 

CPBassFishing, you're the second person to bring up the keel weighted swimbait style hooks with these baits, I will have to give this a try. The weight I added to the nose of the twistlock I'm using was 1/16th so I'm hoping to have similar results as you just with a slightly different fall. 

[iabass8]

Have you tried using the jika rig? The beaver will stand straight up using heavy gauge hooks.

[War Eagle 44]

iabass8, no I haven't tried that method either. I really like the idea I came up with so until I can get some on the water time with that to see if it works how I want it to or not I'm not looking for other hooks. I was more looking for info on guys fishing beavers on different rigs besides the ones everyone already knows, texas, carolina, punch, jig trailer, etc. 

[iabass8]

The jika rig isnt a very talked about rigging method and excells at fishing heavier beaver style baits in a stand up manner. You can use the same hook with your method and just attatch a bell sinker on a split ring to the hook eye.

[CPBassFishing]

kylek, I hadn't thought about the Yum hook, if the one I have doesn't work out I'll give this hook a look.

 

Smallieslayer2234, I don't see any reason a Pit Boss wouldn't work on a shakyhead. Give it a try, like I said I've had super good luck with the smallie beavers on an Owner shakyhead with these Coosa River spots.

 

Shane J, thanks for your tips as well. Like I said to kylek if my hook doesn't work out the way I think it will I'll look into your suggestions.

 

CPBassFishing, you're the second person to bring up the keel weighted swimbait style hooks with these baits, I will have to give this a try. The weight I added to the nose of the twistlock I'm using was 1/16th so I'm hoping to have similar results as you just with a slightly different fall. 

run some water in a bathtub and slowly let the bait sink on your weighted hook with a tight line. Don't let the bait drop, just slowly lower it. You with be impressed with the action of the appendages.

[War Eagle 44]

iabass8, I hadn't though to use the same hook that I'm already using. Thanks for the idea.

 

CPBassFishing, I have a pond not to far from my house that's clear, I'll try that out next time I'm there.