fished a tournament today and for the last three weeks i cannot seem to hold a fish on the shakey head. i had 4 come off today and three last weekend. never had this problem all last year, but i didnt winter fish either.
my setup is a spot remover pro model, kut tail, shimano citica e, and a mojo bass, 7', med.
i dont know if they are not getting in their mouth good or not, but when i feel the tap i give it a sec before i set the hook.
what makes it bad today is 1 FISH won the tournament! the lake was still half froze and options were limited, but i am just disappointed because i fishing against a good group of guys and just couldnt get em the boat.
1 freaking fish, the guy won 400 dollars!
How are you setting the hook? (To the side or over your head)
What weight Spot Remover are you using?
Nothing really to say WHY? Check you hooks against you fingernail to make sure its as sharp as you can get it and try to muscle them in fast. Ive had this happen to me at specific places I've fished or at specific conditions, (cold or muddy). I've always chalked it up to fish short striking or fish that are more attune to finding there food in extremely low viability. I may be wrong but I think in these scenarios they lightly suck in the bait to check it out or even bump the bait in low viability. The only way I was able to get some success was to do the same as you and pause before hook set with a very sharp hook just in case It was penetration that was my problem. I'm hoping someone here my enlighten us both. :-/
Did you miss the fish ON the hookset or did you get the fish on the hook and then have it come off as you were fighting it?
If the water was that cold could it be possible that you needed to pull harder to get the worm out of the hook and penetrate the basses mouth ? Could the soft plastic gotter tougher from the cold temps ?
Quotemy setup is a spot remover pro model
can't believe you missed this
Quotei dont know if they are not getting in their mouth good or not,
This is a common occurence in cold water, especially on a non-reaction strike type of bait and could have very well been your problem.
Oh I didn't miss it I was just hoping he'd answer my first questions first. But since he didn't I'll tell you why the Pro Model is probably the problem.
On the Pro Model there is a little wire screw that holds the worm on the jig. When you set the hook the head of the worm stays attached to the screw and the body slides along the shank of the hook. This caused the space between the point and the shank to be filled with worm and many times will keep you from hooking the fish.
Now with the original Spot Remover there is a little peg. When you set the hook the head of the worm slides off of this peg and the body slides down the shank of the hook. This leaves the space between the point and the shank open for a good hookset.
No matter which one you are using you must remember to always set over your head and not off to the side. A Med/Hvy rod is best and a low stretch line is even better.
QuoteOh I didn't miss it I was just hoping he'd answer my first questions first. But since he didn't I'll tell you why the Pro Model is probably the problem.On the Pro Model there is a little wire screw that holds the worm on the jig. When you set the hook the head of the worm stays attached to the screw and the body slides along the shank of the hook. This caused the space between the point and the shank to be filled with worm and many times will keep you from hooking the fish.
Now with the original Spot Remover there is a little peg. When you set the hook the head of the worm slides off of this peg and the body slides down the shank of the hook. This leaves the space between the point and the shank open for a good hookset.
No matter which one you are using you must remember to always set over your head and not off to the side. A Med/Hvy rod is best and a low stretch line is even better.
Amen Bro....
Big O
www.ragetail.com
Try the Shakey2 Jig Heads from MegaStrike.
Just a suggestion.
i was using a 1/4 oz head and flouro line. i set the hook kinda in the 10 and 2 position. all the fished were actually hooked for about 5-7 secs before coming off.
that is a very interesting point. which head to you recommend? i have used the regular spot heads but the dern worm just wont stay attached to well.
I use chompers aint had a problem yet and use brush hogs on um
I recommend the Original Spot Remover. I have never had problems keeping the worm on it. There is a little trick to it. I don't think I can explain it without showing it to you. I might have to make a video on how to do it. But once it's done the right way you can make a worm last for three or four fish.
I just wish Buckeye would increase the size of the hooks on all their Spot Removers.
QuoteI just wish Buckeye would increase the size of the hooks on all their Spot Removers.
....and stop painting the pegs while they're at it.
maybe try the owner shakey heads they have a much bigger gap, they're very sharp, and maybe a smaller or shorter bait..
One more time....... SPOT REMOVERS ARE NOT SHAKEY HEADS AND WEREN'T DESIGNED TO BE LIKE ONE!!!!!!
They are a stand-up jig head. If you want to shake your worm then by all means get some shaky head. And Spot Removers have Owner hooks.
I've never liked the shakey heads with the screwlock feature.
I prefer the Strike King, Bite Me or Bagley's. It's more like you are texas rigging the bait and I believe as FM stated, you get a better hookup.
I use Bagley's and Bite Me, along with the original Spot Remover. I find I have to trim the bottom bait holder tab on the Bite Me jigs. I never understood why its there.
QuoteOne more time....... SPOT REMOVERS ARE NOT SHAKEY HEADS AND WEREN'T DESIGNED TO BE LIKE ONE!!!!!!They are a stand-up jig head. If you want to shake your worm then by all means get some shaky head. And Spot Removers have Owner hooks.
Agreed, totally different looking bait in the water. I had been using Spot Removers for a long time, and all of a sudden there was a buzz about shaky head. I mistakenly assumed it was the same thing, until I tried a real shaky head jig.
what exactly is the difference between a spot remover and a shakey head. my spot removers dont stand up with kut tails or zoom trick worms. when the head runs into something it will pop the rear end up, but it does fall over due to the weight. what does a shakey head allow the worm to do if it doesnt stand up? i am a little confused here. the shakey heads i have seen fall over as well but if using a floating worm i guess it might stand up?
i would love to see or have you explain how you hook the original spot remover. i really like the heads but you are right the hooks are too small.
QuoteOne more time....... SPOT REMOVERS ARE NOT SHAKEY HEADS AND WEREN'T DESIGNED TO BE LIKE ONE!!!!!!They are a stand-up jig head. If you want to shake your worm then by all means get some shaky head. And Spot Removers have Owner hooks.
Didn't the company that makes Spot Remover have an issue with the guys at spotsticker way back when all this shakey head craze started and involve lawyers and such? Why would they go to all that trouble if the bait is not a shakey head like the spotsticker in the first place? ;D I do see your point though and agree since it stinks as a shakey head.
My simple solution to the problem is to get another good standup shakey head if it must stand up without a screwlock or peg to put the worm at a bad angle and get in the way and start catching fish. If you get in my boat with a spot remover the first thing I am going to tell you is you are going to miss fish and offer you another brand. Also I have tried the over the head hookset at Ryan's advice just to try it when someone had some Spot Removers in my boat and it still misses fish although it does work better.
QuoteOne more time....... SPOT REMOVERS ARE NOT SHAKEY HEADS AND WEREN'T DESIGNED TO BE LIKE ONE!!!!!!They are a stand-up jig head. If you want to shake your worm then by all means get some shaky head. And Spot Removers have Owner hooks.
WOW! really!?! gee did i say that they were the same??? ...nope! i was just giving a recommendation for trying something different, so don't get you panties in a wad.
Quotewhat exactly is the difference between a spot remover and a shakey head. my spot removers dont stand up with kut tails or zoom trick worms. when the head runs into something it will pop the rear end up, but it does fall over due to the weight. what does a shakey head allow the worm to do if it doesnt stand up? i am a little confused here. the shakey heads i have seen fall over as well but if using a floating worm i guess it might stand up?i would love to see or have you explain how you hook the original spot remover. i really like the heads but you are right the hooks are too small.
The reason they don't stand up is because those two baits sink. Try something that floats, like a Roboworm or Berkley Shaky worm, and you'll see a BIG difference in both the shaky heads and Spot Removers. BTW, those cut tails and trick worms are deadly on a DS .
i still dont understand. if i use a robo or another floating worm, they will float both on the spot remover and the shakey head. so what is the difference? they would float on both rigs.
btw, yes the smaller kuttail i have done real well on a DP!
On the spot remover, the worm will be standing straight on end. On a shaky head, it will be more horizontal with a bend upwards. If you use a heavy, sinking worm, it will droop over, or just fall over. I "pop" the spot removers, and they usually land upright. I shake or nod (pulse your grip on the rod, gently) the shaky head, which makes the tail wiggle.
Good video of a shaky head in action, though not the ONLY way to fish it:
gotcha. the more i thought about it i thought thats where you might be going. can you suggest some good "skaky heads"?
gotcha. the more i thought about it i thought thats where you might be going. can you suggest some good "skaky heads"?
Bagley's and Bite Me and some locally grown jigheads are what I primarily used for past few years.