Favorite Shaky Head & Weight ?

[ChrisD46]

As he title suggests - what is your favorite shaky head and weight for shallow bass (i.e. less than 12 ft. deep) ?

[Bluebasser86]

I use my own in 1/8oz. I like the football head with a screwlock keeper. 

[Sam]

I use Provider jig heads for my shaky head presentations. These are used by the pros and Art was selling them on his web site, only, until two years ago when he went national with them. You can see them via his web site http://www.providertackle.com/store/ or go to Tackle Warehouse.

 

I use the lightest weight I can as long as it keeps the jig on the bottom. Usually use the 1/16 size for90% of my flipping and pitching and then will go up to the 3/16 size for deeper water and heavier current.

 

The 1/16 size does a great job, especially on light line (8 pound braid with a fluorocarbon leader) on spinning tackle. I use a medium heavy fast action rod.

 

My other option are the MegaStrike jig heads which are excellent, too, http://www.megastrike.com/shakey

 

These MegaStrike jig heads make sure your trick worm or creature bait stands straight up all the time.

 

Just remember you want the lightest possible jig head to keep your bait on the bottom.

 

Good luck and post some pics of what you catch on your shaky head setup this year.

[smalljaw67]

Like Bluebasser, I make my own and 1/8oz is my main weight but in cold water under 5o degrees I'll go to a 1/16oz.

[NoahWatts]

Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury shaky head 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4 oz

[roadwarrior]

MegaStrike Shake2/ MegaStrike MegaTube Craw or GYCB Kut-Tail

 

http://www.megastrike.com/

 

[whitwolf]

Siebert Outdoors 3/16 Zenith shakeyhead. 

 

http://www.siebertoutdoors.com/Zenith-Shake-Head-436.htm

[amstack18]

The Gamakatsu Skipgap Head in 1/8 or 1/4. Size depends on depth,wind,water temp, etc. I like just enough to get to the bottom and keep contact. This shaky head has a thin wire skip gap hook on it which makes it easier to thread the bait on straight and does a great job keeping your bait. 

[.ghoti.]

Another vote for the Gammy skipgap jighead, 1/8oz. I also use the Shaky2.

[ww2farmer]

VMC Rugby Head, 1/8th ounce for slick calm days, I bump it up to 3/16 if the wind picks up.

[WRB]

3/16 oz same for T-rig weight with worms to 7".

Tom

PS, Picasso Shakedown tungsten 4/0, bought a dozen a few years ago on close out @ $1.50 each!

[ChrisD46]

6 hours ago, Sam said:

I use Provider jig heads for my shaky head presentations. These are used by the pros and Art was selling them on his web site, only, until two years ago when he went national with them. You can see them via his web site http://www.providertackle.com/store/ or go to Tackle Warehouse.

 

I use the lightest weight I can as long as it keeps the jig on the bottom. Usually use the 1/16 size for90% of my flipping and pitching and then will go up to the 3/16 size for deeper water and heavier current.

 

The 1/16 size does a great job, especially on light line (8 pound braid with a fluorocarbon leader) on spinning tackle. I use a medium heavy fast action rod.

 

My other option are the MegaStrike jig heads which are excellent, too, http://www.megastrike.com/shakey

 

These MegaStrike jig heads make sure your trick worm or creature bait stands straight up all the time.

 

Just remember you want the lightest possible jig head to keep your bait on the bottom.

 

Good luck and post some pics of what you catch on your shaky head setup this year.

Sam : Good reply - I would have predicted most shaky head users would be in the 1/8th oz. or 3/32nd oz. weight camp in 12 ft. of water or less ? With 8 lb. braid and I'm guessing a 6 lb. to 8 lb. FC leader a 1/16th oz. shaky head weight would give you a adequate fall rate as well as a lively action when working on the bottom ? My set up confidence would be in the 10 lb. ~ 15 lb. braid + 8 lb. FC leader ...

[ChrisD46]

So , depending on wind and water temp - most users are going to be keeping 1/16th oz. to 3/16th oz. shaky heads (12 ft. or less water depth)  in their tackle box . Next I need a shaky head that is designed more for highland reservoirs with gravel , assorted rock and rip rap  and sparse vegetation versus  lakes  with grass / weeds as predominant cover . Shaky head designs which assist in getting the worm up and come through rock well (or at least better) would be ideal ! ... I'll start investigating reviews for some of the suggestions mentioned so far for reviews in highland reservoirs - any other recommendations are appreciated as I'm sure there are always new shaky heads designs being introduced as the tactic evolves !

[Sam]

17 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

So , depending on wind and water temp - most users are going to be keeping 1/16th oz. to 3/16th oz. shaky heads (12 ft. or less water depth)  in their tackle box . Next I need a shaky head that is designed more for highland reservoirs with gravel , assorted rock and rip rap  and sparse vegetation versus  lakes  with grass / weeds as predominant cover . Shaky head designs which assist in getting the worm up and come through rock well (or at least better) would be ideal ! ... I'll start investigating reviews for some of the suggestions mentioned so far for reviews in highland reservoirs - any other recommendations are appreciated as I'm sure there are always new shaky heads designs being introduced as the tactic evolves !

 

Chris, we fish the shaky head all over  Virginia waters, both lakes and rivers, in all types of structure.

 

We usually throw it along the bank and then "drag it on the bottom, with small hops" back to us.

 

And yes, we lose a certain amount of jig heads each trip which is expected and not unusual.

[clh121787]

Vmc pretty good. However I've gotten to where I'd rather fish a swing head jig almost always. Mostly quarter ounce. I'll go up to half and down to 1/8. Depending on the wind cover bait and rod/line setup I'm using

[Big Bait Fishing]

Owner Shakey Ultra Head in 3/32 .....

[Rich in Co]

I use Owner, siebert, and Picasso. siebert for when i'm using a bigger 6"+ bait and either Owner or Picasso for the smaller stuff just depends on what I grab for those

[RoLo]

In my opinion at least, the buoyancy of the worm is more important than the shape of the jighead.

Nearly any jighead will breathe life into a buoyant worm, but that cannot be said

of a worm made of sinking plastic. I prefer a 1/8 oz "ballhead jig", which is the same jig configuration

used for the original shaky worm. A 'spherical' head exerts no offsetting resistance

that might interfere with the natural rocking action of a buoyant worm.

 

Roger

[papajoe222]

I agree with Rolo when it comes to a bouant worm, especially if you'll be pausing, or dead sticking it.  For the conditions you mention, the MegaStrike or a football head design will likely work best.   I like the MegaStrike for the sole reason that 99% of the time it will land standing upright and I like to pause for at least ten seconds after the bait hits bottom. It adds a lot to my confidence knowing that jig isn't on its side sitting there.

[Mark888]

I use the owner ultra head shakey heads - favourite shake head i have used so far!

as for the weight, go with the lightest you can getaway with - depending on wind and depth etc. I tend to use the 1/4 the most. 

[Dan_the_fisher]

The good ole 3/16 spot remover with a fat roboworm is all I keep, I've went to using slider heads for any smaller applications 

[ChrisD46]

Regarding buoyant worms : Obviously the Z-Man and Strike King ElaZtec worms are buoyant - what about Zoom Trick & Finesse Worms (or your favorite buoyant worm) ? 

[IndianaFinesse]

2 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

Regarding buoyant worms : Obviously the Z-Man and Strike King ElaZtec worms are buoyant - what about Zoom Trick & Finesse Worms (or your favorite buoyant worm) ? 

Despite being advertised as a floating worm, the trick worm does not float.  It is still one of my favorite baits for shaky heads, whether it floats or not is unimportant.  The fish don't care.