hey...  i began fishing worms last november, and since then, i basically quit using anything else... i had tried using them before but couldnt get one bite... however after reading a lot in here and watching videos, i began getting a better idea of how to use them, and now its almost the only bait i use... i have always tied them Texas rigged, changing the weight depending on the conditions but trying to get as light as possible...

 

some time ago, while talking with my uncle, he told me he uses worms almost exclusively... however, he uses a big jig head, 3/8 or 1/2 oz, with a worm, and baitcasting gear... i read on here thats a shakey head, however i see you normally use lighter spinning gear for it... the way he fishes it is throwing it far away, and hopping it or crawling it back to the boat...

 

so, whats the difference between this, and a T rig?? i know the texas rig has a sliding weight, but i read (have never tried it) that sometimes you can peg it with a thootpick... isnt this the same as using a skirtless jig head with a worm??

 

i already got me some big jig head to try them next time im out, but i want to know what would be the difference, as i have developed a lot of faith in the  t rigged worm, specially 6" senkos... should i fish them the same way?? 

For me, the main difference between T-rig and Shaky Head is the worm I use. I'll use just about any worm on a T-rig, however on shaky heads I use trick/finesse worms that float. It allows the worm to "stand up" on the bottom so any slight jiggle of the rod tip will cause it to shake which drives bass nuts. That being said, you can use any type worm on either rig and probably be successful. This is just how I use the two rigs.

Hope this helps!

T.Rig works through branches, brush, and other junk more snag free than a shakey head does. I like the shakey head better in more open areas of sand or gravel or thin grass.

thanx!!

 

for T rig i have been using Senkos almost exclusively, even though i have lots of bags of Yum, Ochos, and several others i cant remember, i always tend to pick a Senko in any watermelon color....

 

for shakey head, my uncle uses the same Yum Ribbontails or similar... i bought some Squirrel tail or something like that, which supposedly float, that i think i may try with those heads and my baitcasting setup and see what happens...

T.Rig works through branches, brush, and other junk more snag free than a shakey head does. I like the shakey head better in more open areas of sand or gravel or thin grass.

 

Definitely right on that. I want to do more shakey, but I lost all my spot removers due to snags. Didn't catch a fish of that pack.

 

I've been using weighted/weedless wacky rigs lately and have had a lot of success.

 

Most of what I fish is full of downed trees, etc., so maybe shakey isn't going to be my thing.

Almost anything you fish on a T-rig you can fish on a shakyhead. A tube would be about the only exception, mainly because they're hollow and don't stay on a shakyhead very well. I've done really well with baits like craws, baby brush hogs, grubs, swimming tail worms, and skirted twin tail grubs. The shape of the head versus the shape of a bullet weight to me is what makes the T-rig better for heavier cover. The more direct contact with the shakyhead because the weight is connected to the head allows you to impart more action on the bait without moving it like you have to with a T-rig, the head shape also effects this. Like the others have said, I like shakyheads in more open areas like rocks, sand, or gravel, and T-rigs in areas with heavier cover. 

I mainly use a texas rig for almost every worm. I only use a shakey head if ive already tried working the t-rig in every possible way and i feel like i need that worm to stand up to really get a good bite. 

Shakey head is often thought of a finesse technique, very light line, small jig heads 1/8 -3/16 oz and smaller baits 4.5 to 6.0" worms and other smaller, thinner baits.    The shakey head is often fished in more of an open water setting, not much grass, not much wood, you get the idea.   T-rigged plastics can be most anything, but often they are larger worms 7.5-12"  or beaver/craw style baits fished with heavier line often braid or FC, heavier bullet weights 1/4 to 1 oz and on up.   The T-rig is a throw it the middle of some trash, wood, rock, weeds, grass whatever is there and drag em out..  The weights on the T-rig can be pegged or not, just depends on the fishing situation.   All of this IMO.

I throw a shakeyhead(3/16 0z.)  in many of the same places I throw a TX rig and most always with a baitcaster. The reasoning behind this Is I feel like the sound might be different than a bullet weight as It's hitting whatever I'm throwing to. It might be nonsense but I have a lot of confidence fishing either.

The shaky head jig is a specific style; stand up ball head and variations of that design. Most shaky heads use a spring keeper to hold the head of a worm. These are not you standard "jig".

The stand up head is designed to "standup" the hook off the bottom, hence the name. These are casting jigs.

The Texas rig is a sliding bullet haed sinker and worm hook. When you peg the weight it becomes a Florida rig that for some reason has lost it's identity.

Tom