I'm learning the shaky head. I saw a Tom Redington video podcast the other day that had a guest, I forget who, that basically said that shaky heads aren't really popular anymore.

It does seem that it either flies under most folks radar, or they have moved on to a drop shot, or just do a ned rig.

 

So how popular is the shaky head?

It does seem like the popularity has faded some.  I agree with what you said.  Many have moved to the Ned.  The ned in my opinion has also in some ways turned into a shaky head with some of the styles offered.  I still use both and will continue to use both.  They both have a place.

Sure popular in my and my friend's boat...we always have one tied on and usually in our hands. Always incredibility productive for me, despite the apparent dissatisfaction of the podcasters. 😉

I throw 4-5" worms and craw imitations on Shaky head on steep banks with  bottom contact.

Not afraid to throw it in cover.

It's still popular in my boat.

My 3 main baits are Shaky, Ned, and jig.  I have at least 2 of each tied on all the time.

I still doddle (shake) T-rig worms, it works.

Tom

I have a dedicated shakey head rod.  If fish are relating to a hard bottom, it’s an effective and efficient technique.

I fish the Shakey Head year round. 

I appreciate all the replies. I haven't a clue as to how to properly shake a worm, nor a texas rig. I would like very much to hear how everyone does. And if anyone knows of a video showing the correct motion, I'd appreciate you sharing.

I fish one occasionally but not as often as I use to. The main reason is zebra mussels. I can’t drag a shaky head on the bottom because my line will get cut as soon as I try to set the hook. They didn’t use to be everywhere like they are now.

The shaky head rig, IMHO, is just a finesse bait on a light jighead, which has been around for decades.  It was the introduction of a specific style of jighead that shoved it into the spotlight under the name of said jighead that made it popular.  Before that, we just used ballhead and darter jig heads for the same technique.

 

Don't be misled by the name.  While "shaking" the bait is one method, it certainly isn't the only one.  Dragging, hopping, swimming, etc are all on the table.   There's really no wrong way to fish it.  You just have to experiment to find out what the fish want that day.

 

Remember, too, bait selection varies.  It's not just a finesse worm, but can be almost any downsized plastic bait, or finesse bait, although I'd exclude minnow baits.  

Thanks Glenn. It's funny you said except minnow baits. I heard somewhere that a fluke does well on one. Hmmm. I can't remember where. I am pretty sure it was one of the videos I've watched recently.

I always have at least 2 on the deck. Speed craws, finesse worm, trick worms and even the 10 inch ol' monster.Just have to get the right weight and hook size .

I seldom t-rig anything anymore. I don't see any advantage to it and if you use a head with a good keeper they don't ball the plastic up in the hook gap like a t-rig.

I don't know if jig man will agree with me, but I don't think they bite old Ned like they used to .

2 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

 I don't think they bite old Ned like they used to .

In clear water Ned was probably my top bait this year.

Do agree with the T-rig, take a Shaky head over it.

My best worm rig is a shakey head on a Zoom Trick worm. Not using it finesse, fish it on 16# line.

My two best catchers this past year were a 1/16oz shaky with Zoom Finesse Worm, or a 1/8oz shaky with a Zoom Trick Worm.

You shaky head guys must all have hard bottom lakes with no grass.  Being away from bas fishing for a while there were a few techniques that got popular from 2005-2020 that I had to get acquainted with when i picked it back up again.  A shaky was one.  I picked up a pack or two of heads and there is no chance i could get them through the grass in lots of my lakes.  I can completely see it for grass less lakes, but not in grass.

I have fished them through light grass, but not heavy stuff. I don't fish any places that are heavy grass lakes... yet.

3 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

You shaky head guys must all have hard bottom lakes with no grass.  Being away from bas fishing for a while there were a few techniques that got popular from 2005-2020 that I had to get acquainted with when i picked it back up again.  A shaky was one.  I picked up a pack or two of heads and there is no chance i could get them through the grass in lots of my lakes.  I can completely see it for grass less lakes, but not in grass.

 

I'm with you. I have to use lures that work in weeds, like the underspin you see here:

 

There are plenty of weedless shakeyheads on the market and they work well.  I have some excessively large ones I take to Florida.  I transitioned from a shakeyhead to a football head on St Clair because as you drag a football head, it walks like an upside down kite.  Smallmouth can’t resist it.  Judy Wong popularized it when fishing a discharge from a dam with heavy current.  Few picked up on it….I did. 😉

I didnt know the term shaky head.  About twenty years ago I came upon  some interesting jigheads with screw-in bait keepers and bought them. Used them on a river with a Trick worm and caught a lot of smallies. I use them occasionally but still rely on a Texas rig for the majority of snagless soft bait presentations.

@TOXIC - I picked up some buckeye heads and rigged them Texas rigged so the hook was perfectly fine.  The head was a flat bottom so I’m sure that doesn’t help but even still getting it through weeds wasn’t happening.  And throwing spinning rod level line into the heavier stuff doesn’t bode well for getting them back out in some places.  There are some screw lock shaky heads with pointy noses that would be better, but at that point I don’t see the benefit of having another rigging option to carry when a Texas rig or Ned head would do the same in that situation.  Not saying I can’t be convinced, but I’m just not seeing it for me yet.

 

Now on the 2 rocky lakes around here, I need to do a better job with them.  

I’d definitely agree with his guest - we’re long past the point of peak popularity, especially on tour. That said, it still works, just not as popular. Guys have moved on to dice, minnows, Ned and Neko.

Throw a lot of craw imatations on em 

I don’t drop, ned, wack or shake 

 

 

 

 

Mike