Shakyhead Baits 2025
TxHawgs reply :
What's your go to bait on a Shakyhead or a Swinging Jighead if you fish that more? Is there a certain depth you normally don't fish it over ex 15ft or less? And what weight if it's not windy? Curious of the last 2 questions if you want to answer them but if not mostly interested in which you fish more the standard or swinging and the bait you use most. Thanks guys.
NorthwestBasser reply :
Shakey head over swinghead for me, only because, well... I don't own any swingheads. Any way, 1/4 ounce 10 FOE or less, I'll bump up to 3/8oz when I go deeper. I like a classic 5" stick worm. Sometimes it's a GYB senko, sometimes a Yum dinger... but mostly I use a locally poured Dirty Burd Lures THUMPER. They are super soft yet durable, and float well compared to a senko, which makes for some awesome action and they stand up well on the bottom. I'll even cut one in half and throw it on a ned rig in place of a TRD. I know, I know... should be elaztech, but these work great and it's a good way to get more use out of them when they get some significant tears.
roadwarrior reply :
MegaStrike 3/8 oz ShakE2/ Megastrike MegaTube Craw
http://www.megastrike.com/megatubes
smalljaw67 reply :
Shaky head and swing jig are two totally different presentations, one is retrieved like a crankbait while the other is fished slow. Form me a Shaky head consists of 2 baits, a 4.5" straight tail finesse worm and a 6" straight tail finesse worm, I once used a lot of different baits for that but narrowed it down as those seem to produce in all situations for me. In the waters I fish I don't go past 20' except for 1 lake and only in mid fall, the times the shaky head works best for me is in the summer and the fall, beginning post spawn. I try to use the lightest weight possible, 1/8oz is my main weight but I will use 3/16 if there is a breeze or 1/16oz if the water is cold or I'm shallower than 8'.
ww2farmer reply :
Like mentioned above...two different presentations, for various different situations.
That being said, there isn't a soft plastic made that won't work, and work well on either.
Everyone has their favorites. For me, my go-to on shaky heads are usally 4"-6" straight tailed worms, and on swinging jig heads I like 3"-4" craw or beaver style baits.
Choporoz reply :
In case the horse aint dead....I approach shaky and swinging very differently, also.
Unlike @smalljaw67, however, I would have suggested that I fish the swinging jig more like I fish a jig (than a crank.) 9/10 times, I have a Rage Tail on there (Structure Bug, Menace or Cut-R.)
Shaky head, to me, is much finesse-y-er....more slow drag and wiggle....less flip and hop
ethan-333 reply :
i mainly fish shakey heads in 8 feet or more of water. i like to use a 3/16 oz head with a zoom trick worm or something similar (i bite the first 1/4 inch of the bait off to get it to thread on easier. if its to windy ill bump up to a 1/4 oz. green pumpkin purple in zoom trick worm is my go to color
whitwolf reply :
There's a lot of variables when choosing a bait for a shakeyhead. I'm of the same opinion as @ww2farmer in that there isn't a soft plastic made that won't work.
My three baits that I throw most often on a shakeyhead Is a R.I. smallie beaver, a Zoom finesse worm, and when the bite Is tough I go with a Zoom 4" dead ringer. The dead ringer combo has saved many a day.
Big Bait Fishing reply :
On 3/9/2017 at 7:46 PM, smalljaw67 said:Shaky head and swing jig are two totally different presentations, one is retrieved like a crankbait while the other is fished slow. Form me a Shaky head consists of 2 baits, a 4.5" straight tail finesse worm and a 6" straight tail finesse worm, I once used a lot of different baits for that but narrowed it down as those seem to produce in all situations for me. In the waters I fish I don't go past 20' except for 1 lake and only in mid fall, the times the shaky head works best for me is in the summer and the fall, beginning post spawn. I try to use the lightest weight possible, 1/8oz is my main weight but I will use 3/16 if there is a breeze or 1/16oz if the water is cold or I'm shallower than 8'.
i think you are thinking '' swim jig'' when you say retrieved like a crank bait , to me a swing jig or jointed shakey head rig as i think of them are fished the same way as a shakey head . some get a little more action as the joint let's the bait articulate more . i fish GrandeBass AirTail Wiggler in 6 1/2'' ( the tail is hollow and the tail stands up always ! ) , best shakey head worm i've tried , done searching !!
smalljaw67 reply :
On 3/10/2017 at 10:31 AM, Big Bait Fishing said:i think you are thinking '' swim jig'' when you say retrieved like a crank bait , to me a swing jig or jointed shakey head rig as i think of them are fished the same way as a shakey head . some get a little more action as the joint let's the bait articulate more . i fish GrandeBass AirTail Wiggler in 6 1/2'' ( the tail is hollow and the tail stands up always ! ) , best shakey head worm i've tried , done searching !!
Look up Tommy Biffle, he is the one credited with starting the swing jig with the Gene Larew Biffle Hard Head. The technique is to make a long cast with a heavy enough head to keep contact with the bottom as you give a steady retrieve. If you go to you tube there are videos showing the way swing jigs are designed to be fished. *** has a good video with Davey Hite fishing one and explaining that he uses the swing jig as a replacement for the Carolina Rig. While you may be using the swing jig in a different manner that is working for you, I believe you may be missing the boat on how it is most commonly used. A few seasons ago the entire top 12 of the elite series at Toledo bend caught fished that they weighed in on a swing jig, Mark Davis said when the water was dead calm and you couldn't get bit on a crankbait or any other moving bait the swing jig just had them turn on. The fish were scattered so covering water was a key, and that is what makes the swing jig such a weapon, it gets fish to react when they aren't actively chasing like when the water is dead calm. I've been using it in mid summer to cover rock flats and it is faster than a C-rig but still gets fish to react, and much better to fish than a C-rig.
1201vilbig reply :
Another vote for the Air Tail Wiggler. You can also put a rattle in the tail. The MegaStrike head is my go to in 3/8 oz.
Bluebasser86 reply :
I usually fish a Trick worm, magnum finesse worm, or rib snake on a shakyhead. I fish about everything on a swinghead but a beaver or brush hog are my favorites.
primetime reply :
Almost any finesse worm will work but I have always done really well with those Big Bite Squirel tail worms for some reason, they just seem to always work really well.
I also like the Powerbait rib snake worms, But the Zoom Curly tail shaky worms or any ribbon tail worm sometimes is a great choice. Really no wrong answer, you just want a straight tail worm and then something with a bit of action. The Jig head is the most important part of the rig, I have purchased many that have awful hook sets but if you stick with good ones like the Megastrike, or any that is not the Luck E Strike Jigheads. Use those and you will get frustrated really quick.
The Swing/pivot jig heads have become my favorite for shaky heads on hard bottoms, or I like the line tie in same angle as the megastrike which are the best imo.
LOZSteve reply :
Agree with a Blue here, shaky head is generally a senko or trick worm and a swinghead is a Biffle Bug, Strike King Rodent or Structure Bug.
CTBassin860 reply :
check out the yum genie worm
Team9nine reply :
On 3/12/2017 at 12:40 AM, MassBassin508 said:check out the yum genie worm
Funny you bring that worm up. Kind of feel sorry for Jason Christie having to do those videos talking about their "new" worm and how different/special it is 
It's OK though, I'm sure he's paid good...
-T9
CTBassin860 reply :
On 3/12/2017 at 1:27 AM, Team9nine said:
Funny you bring that worm up. Kind of feel sorry for Jason Christie having to do those videos talking about their "new" worm and how different/special it is
-T9
Its just a 3.00 bag of spade tails lol.
Team9nine reply :
So here's the scoop. About the same year Jason was born, Al and Ron introduced the Lindy's Tail worm (1974-75). The Genie is just the Lindy's worm brought back.
On top, the new/amazing YUM Genie...
and on bottom, the 1975 Lindy catalog featuring the YUM Genie Lindy's Worm (aka "Tail worm")...in particular, look and compare the 7.25" Lindy Tail at the bottom of the pic (several sizes were available). Nearly identical down to the overall size, enlarged head segment, number and spacing of body "nubs" and spade tail. The new colors are probably better though 
Big Bait Fishing reply :
On 3/11/2017 at 9:35 AM, 1201vilbig said:Another vote for the Air Tail Wiggler. You can also put a rattle in the tail. The MegaStrike head is my go to in 3/8 oz.
this worm flies under the radar , big time !! which is cool because they are usually in stock when i want to get more as i throw them a lot !
CTBassin860 reply :
On 3/11/2017 at 9:35 AM, 1201vilbig said:Another vote for the Air Tail Wiggler. You can also put a rattle in the tail. The MegaStrike head is my go to in 3/8 oz.
Regular,Pro or EWG on the head?
BaitFinesse reply :
BPS Flicker worm. The floating tail keeps the worm upright and the slender body translates motion to the tail nub well.
1201vilbig reply :
On 3/12/2017 at 7:39 AM, MassBassin508 said:Regular,Pro or EWG on the head?
I like the EWG.
Chance_Taker4 reply :
I throw the Keitech Easy Shaker 90% of the time. But I also like the Havoc Bottom Hopper and Zoom Mag Shakey Worm
Mokujon reply :
My go to on a shakyhead is a strike king 3x elaztech finesse worm or the z man finesse wormz. It's basically the same worm. The tail always sticks straight up with great action and they are super durable.
ChrisD46 reply :
On 3/9/2017 at 7:46 PM, smalljaw67 said:Shaky head and swing jig are two totally different presentations, one is retrieved like a crankbait while the other is fished slow. Form me a Shaky head consists of 2 baits, a 4.5" straight tail finesse worm and a 6" straight tail finesse worm, I once used a lot of different baits for that but narrowed it down as those seem to produce in all situations for me. In the waters I fish I don't go past 20' except for 1 lake and only in mid fall, the times the shaky head works best for me is in the summer and the fall, beginning post spawn. I try to use the lightest weight possible, 1/8oz is my main weight but I will use 3/16 if there is a breeze or 1/16oz if the water is cold or I'm shallower than 8'.
What dictates using the smaller 4.5" finesse worm vs. the 6' variety ?
IndianaFinesse reply :
On 3/20/2017 at 1:41 AM, ChrisD46 said:What dictates using the smaller 4.5" finesse worm vs. the 6' variety ?
I usually reach for the smaller worm when the fish are less active, such as early and late in the year in cold water, and while I tend to a stick with the smaller worms in the summer anyways, a larger worm will sometimes be e ticket in warm water. I will sometimes put a ten inch worm on a shaky head during the summer to, giant worms on a shaky head do work at times.
A-Jay reply :
My Shakeyheads are dragging around either a 6.5" BioSpawn PlasmaTail, or a 5" or 7" Reins Bubbling Shaker, or a 4" Erie Darter.(think Goby)
Rarely fish a swing jig but when I do there's some kind of craw on it 99% of the time - the other 1% it's a fermented pickle.
A-Jay
MisplacedTexan99 reply :
I'm still working on my confidence with a shakey head, I've had some success and find I go to it more often now more and more. I've just been using trick worms and zoom finnese worms, but I've got an order coming with some plasma tails and fat robo worms that I think are going to be great.
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