Shackey Head or Drop Shot

[BuzzBait25]

I am not sure if this has been brought up, sorry if it has.

I was just courious as to which you guys prefer. :-/

[Tin]

They both have their time and place.

[J Francho]

Give me a the situation, and I can answer.  Otherwise, its the same as asking jig or t-rig, or whatever.  I use them both, and both are sure fire fish catchers.

[brgbassmaster]

definitely the shakey head all the time. love that bait.

[BuzzBait25]

Can you help me with right situation to use either?

I hate to sound stupid but i would rather do it right. :'(

[BirdNestBen]

DROPSHOT........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shakey head I've yet to get a strike............

[bigfruits]

2 totally different rigs.

[tyrius.]

Well, I'd prefer the shakey rig.  Only because it's easier to tie and I have more experience with it.  However, the two options are two differing techniques and as a well rounded angler one should be able to determine when to use each technique.

[J Francho]

Can you help me with right situation to use either?

I hate to sound stupid but i would rather do it right. :'(

In general terms, I'll use the DS to either get the bait in the zone and keep it there.  That means either fishing deep and vertical, or casting out, and keeping the bait in place while adding some action.

The shaky head is a slow, horizontal approach, and the bait stays closely related to the bottom, in contrast to the DS, where the bait is anywhere you want it.  I generally use this when fish are scattered on a flat or ledge, and aren't taking larger offerings.

And just so you're clear, you can fish a DS horizontally, slowly bringing it back to the boat, and you can fish a shaky rig vertically, popping below the boat in deeper water.

As with any rig, each is a solution to the problem of how to get the bait to the fish, and entice them to bite.  Try to imagine all the variables of where you are fishing, and determine what bait will be the best for the job.  

[fishizzle]

ds baby

as a finess bait and search bait

[ptomacbass]

none.  I love using big jigs big cranks and big spinnerbaits.

[Munkin]

DS, I do not like shakey head jigs > The round ones fall over and I think the cork screw and small hook interferes with hooking fish.

Allen

[J Francho]

If you use a floating worm, the shaky head doesn't fall over.  I like Berkley Power Shaky Worms, and Roboworm Straight Worms.

[BigBrotherThunda]

I like to combint both for the "shakey-shot"! 1/8 oz shakey 18-24 inches below a wacky rigged stick bait or nose hooked minnow bait. When the deep water bite is on this rig is just plain nasty!

[JF1]

depends on situation....

However I'm a big fan of DS for sight fishing bedding bass.....  So yes it can be fished horizontally!

[TournyFish001]

I never leave home without at least two rods having each tied on.  Totally schooled a dude in a tournament using DS, he was anti-drop shot for whatever reason sticking with a shakey head, probably a macho thing which is rediculous- they are both great I can't choose one over the other so BOTH sometimes the fish choose one over the other in a matter of hours! These tactics are right up there with my favorite ways to catch fish!!!!!!!! It's not 'OR' its 'AND' lol this thread makes me want to go fishing!!!!!!!!!!! ahhhhhh help me im sick

[senko_77]

DROPSHOT........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shakey head I've yet to get a strike............

That's shocking.  They both mop up for me.  Keep throwing that shaky head and you'll catch fish.

[Bassboss]

DROPSHOT........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shakey head I've yet to get a strike............

x 2

[Ky_Lake_Dude]

Shakey Head all day every day  

[JKay]

Shaky head rocks  Got 3 smallies last night at Split Rock reservoir in northern NJ using shaky head.  One of my favorite ways to fish provided I keep it out of heavy weeds.

[Brian_Reeves]

I fish the shakey head a lot more.  I just have more confidence in the lure.  If I want a lure off of the bottem, I go with a floating tube and a carolina rig.  

The dropshot has a different place for me.  I use heavy tackle/line, a 1oz pyramid sinker about 1ft below a 4/0 hook and a rage tail lobster for punching grass.  I don't fish it like most people, to say the least.  Getting the bait off of the bottom in the tunnels below matted grass is an awesome technique.  Putting a high action lure on it makes it irresistable to big bass.  

[Joel W]

Between the two presentations, I fish a Drop Shot rig 10 to 1 over a Shaky head rig. Why? Because most of the reservoirs I fish, especially in the summer are very weedy, and a Shaky Head rig will just continually get snagged in the weeds being worked along the bottom. Now this also restricts how I work a drop shot rig. Most of the time I fish it nearly vertically along the outside weed edge. Yes, it still gets snagged every now and then, but it does produce fish.

I've tried working a 1/4 oz bullet wt'd tx-rigged 6 inch Shaky worm along the bottom in sparce weeds when I really slow down my presentation with long pauses, as the worm tail does float. I've caught fish this way, but really no more then with a traditional 7 inch worm.

[Marc]

Both are good tools, but the shakey head is much more limited in its use than the drop shot.  To me the drop shot is way more versatile, and can be fished in many different situations and conditions. I fish a dropshot with as little as 1/16 oz weights, and as heavy as 1 ounce weights.  Dropshotting works great on the bottom or suspended anywhere between the surface and the bottom.  It is both a horizontal or a vertical technique, and can be used in open water or in various cover and structure situations.

But hey, I'm glad all the competition prefers the shakey head over the dropshot... ;D

ciao,

Marc

[bugman]

Here on Lake Erie we use the Drop Shot rig with Goby baits for Smallies about 75% of the time.

[Matt 825]

I prefer the drop shot rig.  I have yet to become a fan of the Shaky Head.