I was fishing the pond behind my house just the other day and I was using a Zoom finesse worm on a 1/8 oz. ballhead jig, shakey head style. My first cast was to a pocket in a tree that is layed down in shallow water. After a good minute and a half of twitching and shaking the worm, I had no strikes. As I start to reel it in though I got a small bite, not enough for a hookset. I tried that spot a few more times but nothing. I started moving down and casting towards breaks in the brush and weeds on the shore. No bites while fishing shakey style, but 5 fish and multiple hits in 45 minutes swimming the worm back to where I was at. I know this technique used to be very popular and have heard it mentioned but can't find anything. I tried searching the forums but nothing. Can anybody help?

Ive had a few fish hit my worm as I was reeling it in but I havent ever tried it on purpose.  

After re-reading my post I'll try and focus my question. For those who fish this technique, should I stick with a ball head or should I switch to a darter head? From experience, which worms work best? Are there any seasonal or locational points that this technique shines in? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

It works well in small farm ponds, but not in big heavy pressured lakes, IMO. That shakey head rig will work reeling it in, but try it texas rigged with a bullet wieght, and curly tail worm.... ;D

The bass were telling you how they wanted the bait, I suggest you listen  

When I was a non-boater, I kicked some serious boater tail with a 4" Berkley power worm on a darter head swam over rip rap banks, clay banks and gravel banks.

For swimming a small 4" finesse worm in or near cover, I would Texpose rig it with an 2/0 EWG hook and the smallest pegged weight I could get away with OR I would put it on a small jighead with a weedguard.

Brad