New To the Shaky Head Worm

[Staff Sergeant--USMC]

Alright folks; I will be, for the first time, fishing with a shaky head worm. I know (I think) how to properly rig it up; I was wondering though if any of you folks could kinda guide me through the proper rigging of and proper presentation of this bait? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Gatorbassman]

What kind of shaky head will you be using?

[Staff Sergeant--USMC]

What kind of shaky head will you be using?

UHHHHH...... let me dig in my tackle box...... OK, I've got Finesse Football Head w/ spiral Lock hooks from Bass Pro and I'm using ZOOM Super Salt Plus Finesse worms that are 5".

[Gatorbassman]

Screw the worm on and then put the hook in. Don't put the hook all the way through the worm. Just stick the point in and give a tug on the tail of the worm and that should do it. There is no need to tex-spose the hook.

[smlbass]

I catch 90% of my fish with a shaky head worm.  

For the worm, I use anything that is watermelon colored.  The most successful worm I have used is the Zoom Watermelon Candy Finesse worm on the 3/16 oz shaky head Picasso jig head.  

As for technique, I will cast and let the lure settle and reel in the slack.   After the slack is taken up, I will shake the rod tip in a couple short, quick motions and wind up the slack again.  I will let it sit for about a couple seconds before shaking the rod tip again and repeat.  When I do this I can feel the jig coming up off the bottom bumping to structure and falling back again.

It will take a bit of practice to get the "feel" of a bite and when to set the hook versus when the jig is bumping up against the structure.

I hope I have helped.  Good luck with learning and getting to love the shaky head.    With a bit of practice, it can quickly become the go-to presentation when the bass seem to be not be hitting anything else.

[Staff Sergeant--USMC]

Thanks smlbass!!! I'll let you gents know how it worked out for me after I hit the lake this weekend!!!

[NinjaFishin]

I catch 90% of my fish with a shaky head worm.  

For the worm, I use anything that is watermelon colored.  The most successful worm I have used is the Zoom Watermelon Candy Finesse worm on the 3/16 oz shaky head Picasso jig head.  

As for technique, I will cast and let the lure settle and reel in the slack.   After the slack is taken up, I will shake the rod tip in a couple short, quick motions and wind up the slack again.  I will let it sit for about a couple seconds before shaking the rod tip again and repeat.  When I do this I can feel the jig coming up off the bottom bumping to structure and falling back again.

It will take a bit of practice to get the "feel" of a bite and when to set the hook versus when the jig is bumping up against the structure.

I hope I have helped.  Good luck with learning and getting to love the shaky head.    With a bit of practice, it can quickly become the go-to presentation when the bass seem to be not be hitting anything else.

You are right on target!  I agree w/ everything you said. I also agree w/ the importance of knowing a strike from a bounce or snag on structures.  I will usually wait until I feel that wiggle from a fish or see my line start moving on its own.  A lot of time w/ jigging it is easy to confuse a bounce off the bottom w/ a strike.

Also watermelon is a very very reliable color.  It is always my first choice, with pumpkin seed not far behind.

[jhoffman]

If you fish lakes with a high population of panfish dont be surprised if they hit it a lot!

[LifeintheBASSlane]

what are some other good colors for lets say pre-spawn , post- spawn, and would you say a shaky head is good to use after a cold front pushes through  or when the fish are being very lathargic ?

[hawgchaser]

what are some other good colors for lets say pre-spawn , post- spawn, and would you say a shaky head is good to use after a cold front pushes through or when the fish are being very lathargic ?

Jighead worm is THE go to bait for shutdown bass. I usually start off fishing a more aggressive bait like a jerkbait, crankbait, spinner, .etc... If the bite isn't there, the first thing I pick up is a jighead worm. They also work well in the summer months after the early morning bite shutsdown.

[Staff Sergeant--USMC]

Now this is what I'm talking about!!!!!! This site is the @#$%!!!! Heck, in only 2 days of me being here, I have to admitt that this is the best fishing; heck outdoors forum on the NET!!!!! Thank you to all!!!!

[Jake.]

With the shakey head, alot of bass will just suck it in and swim off with it when they eat it. When they do this, you usually don't even feel the actual bite. There might be a slight line twitch, but that is usually it. If you lift your rod and it feels like there is nothing on the end of your line, reel the slack and set the hook; a bass has probably sucked in your shakey head and is swimming towards you.