Braid For Shakyheads?

[Bluebasser86]

I've noticed that braid seems to be popular for shakyheads anymore. I bought some cheaper Spiderwire and tried it and hated everything about it except how solid the hooksets were. I think my issues with sensitivity might just be the line I chose. I can't feel anything until I'm starting to hang on a rock or a fish already has my bait right now. So what braids are working for those of you using it for shakyheads? That is what I'll be doing with it 100% of the time as it's going on my dedicated shakyhead rod. 

[Oregon Native]

15 # Power Pro (yellow) and a six foot leader of Silver Thread flurocaron in ten or 12.  Have fished an 8# leader with no troubles too.  I use a double uni.  Five wraps on the braid side and four on the fluro....tight lines

[smalljaw67]

For me braid is a no-no for that technique, I learned how to tie a uni to uni knot and the modified Albright knot but I was told you need to be close to the same diameter to keep from slipping. That said, 4 and even 6lb line is too light for my shaky head fishing and using heavier braid just isn't going to work unless you use a heavy wire hook on the shaky head.

[Arv]

832

[aavery2]

spinning or casting?   Spinning, the braid to FC leader option works fantastic for me.

[OkobojiEagle]

Spinning rod... 8lb original fused Fireline direct to the bait

 

 

oe

[Hogsticker]

Braid is braid and will not provide much if any slack line feedback. However, if your keeping that line tight braid can't be beat. That's why you feel it when you snag a rock or a fish has already picked up your bait and moved away with it. The line became tight. If a person struggles with keeping a tight line I reccomend fluoro for its better slack line sensitivity.

[Felix77]

I use 8lb Invizx FC on 15lb Smackdown.   Works great.

 

 

[Christian M]

I agree with smalljaw in regards to braid not really being the best choice for shakey head fishing. I do A LOT of shakey head fishing and have tried many different rods, reels, and lines. 8lb Flouro is your best bet, I use Vanish or Spiderwire Flourocast most of the time.

[The Fisher]

20 lb Power Pro to 8 lb Invizix leader. I use it with a Falcon Shaky Head Specail spinning rod. LFS-4-1610. Shaky Head Special - Since Shaky Head jigs are increasingly popular because of their effectiveness, Falcon designed this rod with a light tip to handle finesse baits and light line but enough backbone to set the hook.

Very sensitive. I like the Fluoro leader for its invisibility and no stretch.

[JayKumar]

Can be hard to get used to braid when you're used to mono or fluoro for a technique.  I don't like brand for shakey-heads, but if you do use it make sure you have a fluoro or mono leader on there....

[Mike L]

I use a Phenix M1 m/xf spinning rod with a 2500 symtere for both wacky and shaky presentations.

20# pp with 12 # floro leader tied with a uni-uni.

I really like that setup unless it's unusually windy, then not so much.

Mike

[craww]

Ive gotten to where I use straight up 15lb PP super slick as I throw shakeyheads in shallow areas with lots of wood cover. I love it. Leaders limit you. Too thin diameter mono\flouro and you're toast in cover. Too thick and it kills the action. I did some experimenting in a pool and the difference of action between #6 and #12 mono was very dramatic.

The best habit you can have is be a line watcher. I keep a keen eye on where the line enters the water after each little hop.

[bassguytom]

I use 10 lb. PP super slick with an 8 lb. flouro leader for my shakey head setup. This works great for me.

[Brian Needham]

there seems to be a movement towards braid for finesse fishing....... Amart, Kriet and others say they love it. most guys going that route are look to be using 15#

 

I don't get it, but each his own.

[jonnyblazex]

  You would be surprised how much more sensitivity you will get from a good fluorocarbon line.  I used to use 20lb power pro braid in the past with 8lb fluoro leader, I caught fish, but like stated before, I  couldn't feel the bite until I slowly started reeling to pick up all the slack, if a fish bit on the slack, I wouldn't feel it always, but I could usually see the line move, then set the hook.  Slowly dragging a shaky head works ok on braid, as you keep the line fairly tight, but to correctly shake a shaky head worm, it is done on fairly slack line, where braid is not top of its game.

  I now switched to straight fluoro, and let me tell you, its like the line is made for shaky head, and any slack line presentation for that matter.  You have incredible sensitivity compared to braid, I can feel the tail of the worm shaking when im doing it on slack line.  Bump a rock, transmits great, so good you almost think it felt like a bite, I can even tell soggy leaves in the water.  Problem is though, you have to use a high quality fluoro, generally a little more expensive than braid.  I would recommend Seaguar Invizix or Seaguar Tatsu, you deffinatly get what you pay for when it comes to fluorocarbon.  Skimp out, and it might be the worst line ever.  Hope this helps

[Bluebasser86]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm fishing my shakyheads on a 6' 10" LTB "shakyhead" spinning rod with a 2500 Stradic C14. I've always used 8-10lb fluoro for shakyheads and I fish shakyheads a lot, but I keep hearing guys talking about how much they love braid for shakyheads so I thought I'd give it a try. I love how solid the hooksets are but even when I'm keeping the line pretty tight I can't feel anything unless I'm using a heavy head, the bait is starting to snag, or there's a fish on my bait. I believe I may just need to drop down in size and go with a higher end braid to give it a true test. I think one of the biggest challenges is going to be the wind. It's always blowing in the midwest and it can cause serious problems with the line bowing.

[Jason Penn]

i just don't get along with braid on any kind of bottom contact baits.  i'm wanting to try some of the tuf line hevicore to see how the sink rate is on it.  if it works, it could definitely be a great spinning line

[gripnrip]

there seems to be a movement towards braid for finesse fishing....... Amart, Kriet and others say they love it. most guys going that route are look to be using 15#

 

I don't get it, but each his own.

I went to braid for manageability. Sometimes the memory would drive me absolutely bonkers!  

 

So now it is braid and a flouro leader.