Different Head types

[JigMaster4]

Hi all, I have been wanting to try out swinging jig heads, so I picked some of the VMC rugby heads up in 5/16.My question is what is the difference between these and a shaky head and a football jig(minus the skirt)? Also, should I try a more finesse approach and get like 1/8 oz sizes or get 1/2oz+ to maintain bottom contact? 

 

Thanks!

[dsqui]

Rugby heads are kind of a cross between a football and a ball head.you get great front to back motion like with a football but still get side to side motion like a ball head with less odds of dragging your bait on its side.  I really like my one approved finesse rugby shaky heads in 1/8 &1/4 oz havnt really messed with anything heavier or swinging.  Ild say determine your weight by the depth you are fishing I really don't go over 12' with what I have

[smalljaw67]

There doesn't seem to be a wrong way to fish a swing jig but it is a little different than a regular football jig or shaky head. The one thing that is different is how it is used in the most common way, and that is like a crankbait, it is reeled at a moderate pace along the bottom so the free swinging soft plastic jumps and darts very erratically. A shaky head doesn't have as much movement and is normally used in deeper water and fished slower, while a football jig is most often used in deeper water and also doen't have the erratic action of a swing jig. I know there are some who do fish it like a shaky head and it isn't technically wrong but it really was meant to be fished like a crankbait and if you look you can find articles and videos showing how it is used most often. Davey Hite use it in replace of a Carolina Rig, he said he can cover more water and it is just as effective at finding fish as the C-Rig. The one big difference in how it is fished is in the depth, a football jig in heavy weights is usually fished in deep water, the swing jig, even in 1oz sizes, is rarely used past 15' and is most often used in 1/2oz and 3/4oz in water less than 10' deep but again, this is the most common method but there are other ways to fish the swing jig and still have it be effective.