Pointer 78
Well-known member
The shakey headis a technique I've begun using more and morethe past couple ofyears. It's been called the Co-Angler's best friend for those that fish tournaments from the back of the boat. But it's not just for back seat fisherman, it's great for anyoneto catchan early limit before searching for that kicker. Butdon't get the ideathat it catches only small fish. Many fish in the 5lb+ classhave been boated using the it.</p>
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Although the shakey head is normally a light line technique, it can be used on baitcasting equipment. Using a spinning reel and light line however,makes this lure shine. Setup is very easy. Although there are numerous plastics on the market, Ilike the Zoom Finesse Worms because they're inexpensive, easy to find, and come in an array of colors. Don't get hung up on colors though. 5 or 6 are all you'll need. Green pumpkin, watermelon, watermelon/red, watermelon/candy and green pumpkin/red are the colors I rely on 95% of the time in warmer water. Dipping the tail in chartreuse dye isgreat in stained water. During the months where the water temps are cooler, I really like the smokin blue color that Zoom makes.</p>
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There are dozens of jighead makers. Spot Remover, Spotsticker, and Picasso, are some of the bigger outfits. Our own RangerRob makes a killer jighead too. Check him out at Dixie Jig Works. 1/8th oz heads are the standard. I like using them in water 10 feet or less. I will go to a 3/16th oz in water 20 feet or less. Remember, the heavier the weight, the less action the lure is going to have.If I'm fishing water deeeper than 20 feet, other lures are a better choice. I've found thatpaintedheads are no better than unpainted ones. In fact, the little flash that unpainted heads have are often the key.</p>
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I primarily use 10lb Pline Fluoroclear mono. In my mind, the best spinning reel mono on the market. Nothing comes close. However, 30 lb braid has a diameter of 8lb mono and has the benefit of having no line twist. Plus, it's very sensitive andyou can use the braid for up to a year or two without respooling because braid doesn't deteriorate like mono does. Although I use alot of fluorocarbon on my baitcasters, 10lb fluoro on a spinning reel can be problematic. If you decide to use braid for this technique, a 6-8 footmono or fluorocarbon leader is highly recommended. Braid is easily seen underwater and can greatly diminish the bite. Learn to tie a uni to uni or a triple surgeon's knot to join both lines.</p>
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Rod action is a personal choice. I use a 6 1/2 foot rod for close quarter casting and a 7 foot rod for open water. Both in medium action. The majority of jigheads have a light wire hook that penetrates much easier so a stiff rod is not really needed. There are alot of people that swear by a medium heavy rod though. especially if you're using a jighead with a heavier hook.,</p>
A shakey head can be fished in a variety of ways. When I finished second on the Co-Angler side in a BFL Tournament on Wheelerback in May, my Boater caught his first 5 keepers by jigging a shakey head up and down in the water column. Hopping the lure off the bottomin short quick jerks of the line is another effective way to work it. The most effective way for me to fish the shakey head is to sloooooowly drag it along the bottom. I let the lure hit the bottom, take up the slack, position my rod at the 10 o'clock position, and slowly raise my rod tip to the 12 o'clock position, taking 6-8 seconds to accomplish this, all the timekeeping it in contact with the bottom. Although it's called a shakey head, I know very few who shake it. </p>
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I'm one of those fisherman that sets the hook hard when I detect the slightest bite. I don't wait to see if he has it like some do. However, I had to learn a different way to set the hook when fishing a shakey head which resulted in a large increase in my hookup ratio. I do not set the hook until I actually see the line swimming away. The lure is very light. Unlike jigs and heavier weighted worms, the shakey head is very light and the fish will pick it up and carry it away. I've let fish time after time swim away with it for 10-15 seconds before setting the hook. They just don't drop it once its in their mouth. When setting the hook, a sudden eye crossing hookset isn't necessary. A sweeping hookset is all you need. Remember, these are generally light wire hooks that need very little pressure to penetrate a fish's jaw.</p>
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Fish the shakey head beside docks, points, roadbeds, and any other structure you'd fish a jig or Texas rigged worm.. Be prepared to lose some though. They can hang up so have a good supply.</p>
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Don't just use small worms on the shakey head. Experiment. I knowguysthat usesmall craws, creature baits, and tubes .</p>
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Lastly, because the shakey head is fished slowly, it is a great lure to have tied on in the winter, Fish are not going to chase anything that expends alot of energy when their metabolism is at its lowest.. The shakey head is an easy meal and they'll readily take it.</p>
</p>
This post was moved from the Contributor's Board.</p>
</p>
</p>
</p>
Although the shakey head is normally a light line technique, it can be used on baitcasting equipment. Using a spinning reel and light line however,makes this lure shine. Setup is very easy. Although there are numerous plastics on the market, Ilike the Zoom Finesse Worms because they're inexpensive, easy to find, and come in an array of colors. Don't get hung up on colors though. 5 or 6 are all you'll need. Green pumpkin, watermelon, watermelon/red, watermelon/candy and green pumpkin/red are the colors I rely on 95% of the time in warmer water. Dipping the tail in chartreuse dye isgreat in stained water. During the months where the water temps are cooler, I really like the smokin blue color that Zoom makes.</p>
</p>
There are dozens of jighead makers. Spot Remover, Spotsticker, and Picasso, are some of the bigger outfits. Our own RangerRob makes a killer jighead too. Check him out at Dixie Jig Works. 1/8th oz heads are the standard. I like using them in water 10 feet or less. I will go to a 3/16th oz in water 20 feet or less. Remember, the heavier the weight, the less action the lure is going to have.If I'm fishing water deeeper than 20 feet, other lures are a better choice. I've found thatpaintedheads are no better than unpainted ones. In fact, the little flash that unpainted heads have are often the key.</p>
</p>
I primarily use 10lb Pline Fluoroclear mono. In my mind, the best spinning reel mono on the market. Nothing comes close. However, 30 lb braid has a diameter of 8lb mono and has the benefit of having no line twist. Plus, it's very sensitive andyou can use the braid for up to a year or two without respooling because braid doesn't deteriorate like mono does. Although I use alot of fluorocarbon on my baitcasters, 10lb fluoro on a spinning reel can be problematic. If you decide to use braid for this technique, a 6-8 footmono or fluorocarbon leader is highly recommended. Braid is easily seen underwater and can greatly diminish the bite. Learn to tie a uni to uni or a triple surgeon's knot to join both lines.</p>
</p>
Rod action is a personal choice. I use a 6 1/2 foot rod for close quarter casting and a 7 foot rod for open water. Both in medium action. The majority of jigheads have a light wire hook that penetrates much easier so a stiff rod is not really needed. There are alot of people that swear by a medium heavy rod though. especially if you're using a jighead with a heavier hook.,</p>
A shakey head can be fished in a variety of ways. When I finished second on the Co-Angler side in a BFL Tournament on Wheelerback in May, my Boater caught his first 5 keepers by jigging a shakey head up and down in the water column. Hopping the lure off the bottomin short quick jerks of the line is another effective way to work it. The most effective way for me to fish the shakey head is to sloooooowly drag it along the bottom. I let the lure hit the bottom, take up the slack, position my rod at the 10 o'clock position, and slowly raise my rod tip to the 12 o'clock position, taking 6-8 seconds to accomplish this, all the timekeeping it in contact with the bottom. Although it's called a shakey head, I know very few who shake it. </p>
</p>
I'm one of those fisherman that sets the hook hard when I detect the slightest bite. I don't wait to see if he has it like some do. However, I had to learn a different way to set the hook when fishing a shakey head which resulted in a large increase in my hookup ratio. I do not set the hook until I actually see the line swimming away. The lure is very light. Unlike jigs and heavier weighted worms, the shakey head is very light and the fish will pick it up and carry it away. I've let fish time after time swim away with it for 10-15 seconds before setting the hook. They just don't drop it once its in their mouth. When setting the hook, a sudden eye crossing hookset isn't necessary. A sweeping hookset is all you need. Remember, these are generally light wire hooks that need very little pressure to penetrate a fish's jaw.</p>
</p>
Fish the shakey head beside docks, points, roadbeds, and any other structure you'd fish a jig or Texas rigged worm.. Be prepared to lose some though. They can hang up so have a good supply.</p>
</p>
Don't just use small worms on the shakey head. Experiment. I knowguysthat usesmall craws, creature baits, and tubes .</p>
</p>
Lastly, because the shakey head is fished slowly, it is a great lure to have tied on in the winter, Fish are not going to chase anything that expends alot of energy when their metabolism is at its lowest.. The shakey head is an easy meal and they'll readily take it.</p>
</p>
This post was moved from the Contributor's Board.</p>
</p>
</p>
