So yeah I have all the stuff- shakey head jig heads- netbait straight tail worms.  Help me out- what has worked for you guys? I fish for LM and SM bass- What type of water do you fish them; shallow, grass, rocks, deep, ect?  So yeah I would like some ideas- thanx

I have limited experience with them as well. But like I said in other treads. I pulled a nice 4lb PB smallmouth out using the technique. Still learning though.

I used a gulp shakey worm in watermelon color on a 3/16th giggy head.

Mainly been using this in my local creek in about 7 foot of water with shale and rocks on the bottom.

I'm cautious on using this in the small ponds and lakes that I fish. The bottoms are pretty grassy and weedy. Not sure how well it would work in that junk. Probably not that great. But I'm going to give it a whirl at some point.

AH!  You have crankbait experience....I have shakey head experience!

Technique 1:

I like to use them around structure.  Basically, fish it like a jig.  Throw it up next to a tree and let it sit for 10 seconds or so.  Then slowly start pulling it off the tree or jig it a bit to give it some action.  If the fish doesn't hit it within 5ft of the tree, chances are they won't or nothing is there.

Technique 2:

Find a brush pile or laydown in shallow water.  Cast it just past the brush pile and work it slowly in front or along side the brush pile.  If you're brave, drop it in the brush pile but chanced are, it will get hung-up pretty quick even if it's rigged weedless.  Work from out to in and then try to stick it in side the brush pile.  You can't get the boat right on top of the brush pile though.  Try to stay 30ft or so back and flip it in like a jig.

Technique 3:

Boat docks!  These things can work well on docks that are shallow or have piers.  Same as tech. 1, fish it around vertical structure that holds fish.  You just have to fish it slow.  Slower than a t-rigged worm sometimes.  The fish will tell you what they want, fast or slow.

Technique 4: (search bait)

Most don't use this as a search bait but you can.  If you put a curly tail worm or a senko on it, you can fish it faster and just keep it above the bottom and somewhat swim it.    You can fish it where transitions occur.  Like chuck rock to rip-rap or weedbeds to sand flats, etc.  Fish it fast to give it action and fish it like you do a crankbait....anything but slow and steady.  Flick it, rip it, jig it, pop it, etc.  My favorite plastic worm is the Renegade worms you can find on the bottom shelf at your local Wal-Mart.  They smell like candy and hold up well.  Plus, for a $1.50 a bag they are great!  Motor oil is a good color.  The black with hot pink tail is an awesome muddy water color.

I've used Tiki Sticks on spot removers in the middle of winter and caught bass in 20ft of water or less on Technique 1.  Shakey head is basically a t-rig with a vertical presentation for the worm instead of laying flatter.  You just have to play with it and find what works.  Unfortunately, that requires a lot of hours on the water.  Don't stick with something that is not working.  Try different things and experiment.  Use your go to plastic on a shakey head and fish it the way you normally fish plastics.  That might be a better method.

Just for the record, I like Spot Removers but there are better hooks.  I like the screw in kind because they hold the plastic so much better.  Just haven't gotten around to buying any yet.

Good luck! 8-)

Hey jb_adams, very nice write up. I learned a lot.

Me too! I finally tried it for the first time earlier this week and I really like the potential I see with this technique.

I dragged it, and hopped it and dead stuck it. I tried spot removers and some other brand and believe the spot removers were much better. I also used a roboworm.

Thanks for the write up, jb! 8-)

Thanks!  Sometimes....I even suprise myself on what I learned.

I'm debating on going fishing right now.  The weather is cloudy, 52 degrees due to a recent cold front, pressure at 30.31, a lot of gear to load up, a 30 min. drive, and I have to take my 6 year old.  I'm thinking of going back to bed and gettng a later start.  The poor kid will just complain about being cold and I don't want to turn him off to fishing.

I use the shakey mostly on rocky lakes and I sometimes fish them around docks. Keep it simple though just like everything else, basic colors-watermelons and green pumpkins, depending on depth and wind basic head sizes 1/16, 1/8, and 1/4 only if you have to. Then find some brushpiles, docks, rock walls, or rip rap and go at it. The hardest part is getting confidence in it.