I see a lot of threads on rod/reel matchings but not many on lead/plastics matchings. I'd like to explore this technique a bit more than I already have. I've limited myself to trick worms and 1/16 - 1/8 oz. heads. I usually swim the baits more than shake on the bottom due to the amount of vegetation in most of the places I fish. Have to admit to not having much confidence in this setup so I don't throw it much. I know a lot of you guys do so I'd like to hear about what weight heads, even brands, and what are some of the best plastics you use also. Bottom shaking, swimming, maybe even a little vertical jigging. Let's get a good thread going on these options here. Thanks in advance for all the great advice that I know is going to show up here now.

8-)

I use a whole lot of different baits and even jig head styles and weights for various purposes. The best all around producer for me though is a 3/32 Picasso shake down head(in between 1/16 and 1/8) with a plain ol zoom trickworm.If it is windy I like to step up to a 3/16 size. I don't use the finesse worms much since you can just keep clipping down the trickworm a little after a few fish.Colors can vary, but I fish a lot of dirty water so black,junebug,and green pumkin usually get the job done. I either try to shake in place with long pauses or drag a little then pop the bait sharply to cause reactions. If your around bottom vegetation then use a popping retrieve then swim a little.If you shake it too much I have found that it tends to bury nose down in the stuff too much.

3/8 oz MegaStrike Shake2 jig head.

Rage Tail Lobster, GYCB 6 1/2" Kut Tail Kahuna, Flappin' Hog,

Roboworm 6" Shakin' Zipper Worms.

http://www.megastrikefishingproducts.com/shop/cart.php?target=category&category_id=107

I fish them slow, on the bottom with an occasional shake

or short pull. I do not swim or hop a Shake2, I fish it like

I fish any other jig presentation.

The Shake2 has a stand-up hook that keeps the bait above

bottom clutter. Hook-sets are good, hang-ups are few. This

is a high quality jig head.

8-)

American Rodsmiths 6'9" Med/fast

Shimano Ci4 2500 w/8lb Trilene sensation

Picasso shakedown 3/16oz

ZOOM Trick worm

I use the Picasso Shakedown Head in 1/8 oz. (either in Junebug or Watermelon Seed) and match it with 4.5" Big Bite Bait Squirrel Tail Worm (either in Junebug, Watermelon Red Flake, or Tilapia).  I have had really good success with this assembly.

Concentrate on the worm more than the jig

If you're using a high-floating soft-plastic worm, any jig may successfully be used.

If you're using a neutrally buoyant or sinking plastic worm, no jighead will provide an outstanding shaky worm delivery.

Find a pond with crystal-clear water and you will witness this for yourself.

Roger

Bassin_Fin@tic

Good response, thanks for the advice on dark water too.

RW

I actually have some stand up shaky heads that I used one time over a semi rocky bottom and fished just like you said. Thanks for confirmation from a seasoned angler that I was on the right track.

donbeatya

Thanks to you too, looks like the Picasso heads are getting plenty of free advertising here.

Lucky Craft Man

I'm gonna check out the Big Bite Squirrel Tails. The local Academy Sports carries their whole line of baits and they're very reasonably priced.

RoLo

I actually did the "kitchen sink test" on several straight and paddle tail worms to see which floated the tails and which didn't before I ever tried any on the water. The Trick Worms were the best, but I have some Mann's Jelly worms that worked well and some old Creme paddle tails that floated tail up also. I also tried a few different craws and even a Baby Brush Hog then too, only one style craw I had worked. Thanks for your advice too.

Let's keep this thread going guys. I know there has to be more of you who fish the shaky than have posted.

Bassin_Fin@tic

RoLo

I actually did the "kitchen sink test" on several straight and paddle tail worms to see which floated the tails and which didn't before I ever tried any on the water. The Trick Worms were the best, but I have some Mann's Jelly worms that worked well and some old Creme paddle tails that floated tail up also. I also tried a few different craws and even a Baby Brush Hog then too, only one style craw I had worked. Thanks for your advice too.

Despite their claim, Zoom Trick worms SINK and Mann's jelly worms are Neutrally Buoyant (I still have about 20 lbs left).

Now test the following three Floating worms, and enjoy their enhanced shaky-worm action:

Strike King 7" finesse 3x worm (Elaztech / Cyberflexxx)

Roboworm Shak'n Zipper worm

Gambler 7" Big Stick. <DYE-KNOW-MIGHT>

Roger

Despite their claim, Zoom Trick worms SINK and Mann's jelly worms are Neutrally Buoyant (I still have about 20 lbs left).

Now test the following three Floating worms, and enjoy their enhanced shaky-worm action:

Strike King 7" finesse 3x worm (Elaztech / Cyberflexxx)

Roboworm Shak'n Zipper worm

Gambler 7" Big Stick. <DYE-KNOW-MIGHT>

Roger

Thanks for the info. I guess the Trick Worms are soaking in water over time? Forgot about the 3X series, definitely will be checking those out and the others also. Thanks again.

Thanks for the info. I guess the Trick Worms are soaking in water over time? Forgot about the 3X series, definitely will be checking those out and the others also. Thanks again.

The Strike King 3x series definitely is a good bait, but I wouldn't use it with any screw component that locks the lure in place.  That plastic is so elastic that it is very hard to get it to screw it.

Right now my favorite combo is the Pro Model 1/8 oz or 3/16 oz stand up type shaky head with a Rage Tail Craw or really any crawfish imitators that are not really thick in diameter. But the pond I fish in has a lot of rocks on the bottom so crawfish have to be living there too. I've had a lot of success just slow jigging these and dragging them along the bottom. Zoom finesse worms work good on them too. Just experiment with different baits and you will figure it out. Awesome technique to catch some big bass!!

7ft GLoomis with a Johnny Morris reel. 8lb berkley trilene XL. All Terrain 1/8 oz jig head with a zoom trick worm or berkley hand poured finesse worm.

ShakE2 jig head, various weights, with a Strike King four inch coppertruese finesse worm.

Rigged weedless, using the angled post, in vegetation, and rigged not weedless along the shank of the hook, in the rocks.  Can fish it weedless in the rocks as well,

http://www.shake2jigs.com/

The worm will last until you lose the rig.

Ike's Spike jighead from TruTungsten; 1/8, 3/16 or 1/4oz.

Strike King 3X worm. One of these pairings is tied on all the time.

Very productive shaken, swam or hopped.

Shake2 jighead and Rage Tail Space Monkey. Certainly not what you'd think of as a shaky bait, but, it's hard to beat sometimes. Other times a more traditional jig retrieve is the ticket.

1/8oz Spot Stalker jighead with a 4" or 5" Senko.

These are my three main jigheads. I'll fish any plastics on one or all of these.

X2 on the Shakee2 heads and 3X plastics.

Look up Z-Man also. His baits are the same ElazTech as Strike King's.

I've done real well with a 3/16 Shakee2 and a Rage Lizard.

If I need to go lighter, I use Strike Kings football or regular shakee heads with 3X or Z-Man plastics. The plastics float up nicely on the lighter heads. 1/16 regular or 1/8 football.

Are you guys using skirts with these jig heads? The reason I ask is a local retailer cleared out some shake2 jigs with skirts on them and I bought them at a real good price. I have had little or no luck with them and am wondering if the skirts are changing the action? I use trick worms, robo worms and netbait craws with these heads. I work them real slow on the bottom of the local rivers or try to drop them in the holes in the vegetation.

Not trying to steal the thread just want some clarification.

mort

Anything that has a trickworm as the plastic.  

Are you guys using skirts with these jig heads? The reason I ask is a local retailer cleared out some shake2 jigs with skirts on them and I bought them at a real good price. I have had little or no luck with them and am wondering if the skirts are changing the action? I use trick worms, robo worms and netbait craws with these heads. I work them real slow on the bottom of the local rivers or try to drop them in the holes in the vegetation.

Not trying to steal the thread just want some clarification.

mort

Don't quote me on this, but I thought you could only get shake2 jigs from online.

I may be corrected though. Check out his ads on the forum, same ones?

The BPS and Yamamoto Cut Tail worms are great shaky head worms, as are the Luck E Strike Razor Worm and the Zoom Shaky tail.

My mistake these are megastrike finesse jigs.  Look similar and seem to work the same.  Maybe I am using them wrong?

Mort