I have been fishing shakey heads enough recently that I am considering buying a dedicted outfit for this technique.

Preliminary research show that spinning rods from 6-6 to 7-2 is recommended in medium or ML power and fast or extra fast action.

I am leaning towards a Crucial 7-2 M in XF action. I know this rod will balance well with my Stradic FJ 2500 but will it be a good combo for shakey heads.

I feel as if my one problem with this technique is getting a decent hookset with the softer rods and lighter lines used. I am hoping that a new combo will in addition to improving my feel good factor, actually improve my landing ratio.

Please dont hesitate to tell me if I am totally on the wrong track in going for the longer rod. I am fishing from a boat.

The crucial 7'1" MF is the Shaky Head rod.... Some use the ML as it makes a great Drop Shot rod as well.

I use a 7 footer, but a 7'2 would be nice.

I use a 6' 10" M/F LTB "shakyhead" rod. It's a very sensitive rod but it has enough backbone to stick a fish on a long cast. For smaller shakyheads or lighter lines I use a 6' 10" ML/F LTB "drop shot/finesse" rod.

I use a 7'7" most of the time. It gives me great control and casting.

My dedicated finesse shakyhead rod is a 6'3" Team Diawa finesse spinning rod. It is an older model, 8 pr 9 years old, I've never had a problem getting whatever distance I need or sticking any bites with it. I've tried some longer rods from time to time but the shorter rod just stores better in the boat for me.

I think a lot of it is personal preference. I've got a 6'10" Loomis Shakyhead rod that is very nice, and is probabaly about as long as I'd personally want to fish with on my waters, but I've also caught a heck of a lot of fish using the technique with the previously mentioned 6'3" Daiwa length. In clearer waters where longer casts might be necessary, the longer rod might have the advantage. In more stained waters or where you might be making shorter casts around cover options or just shorter casts in general since the fish might not be as spooky, the shorter rod seems to work fine.

-T9

i use a 7 foot medium/fast. it has good enough back bone to smack it to them on long casts. i normally reel up all the slack and let the rod load up and really lean into it. i have been using 6lb yozuri hyrbid with decent success. i use the same rod for drop shot. i normally dont go higher than 1/8 on my shakey head weights.

I have two 6 foot 9 inch rods I like for this technique. One is a medium and the other a medium light. Tips are fast and extra fast. Since most shakeyheads are in the 1/8-3/16 class I wouldn't go much heavier than a medium powered rod. Some guys have started fishing magnum shakey head setups. Talking 1/4-1/2 oz weights... for this medium heavy would be the best choice.

I also use my dropshot rod for shakey head presentations. It's a Loomis DSR820S GLX 6'8".

Ronnie

I prefer a fast over x-fast for this. Length is a matter of taste, and doesn't make that much difference to me. The size of the bait will determine what power.