How to Fish the Shaky Head Jig
by Ted Thurman

If you follow pro bass fishing at all, or have read any recent fishing magazines, you have probably heard the term “shaky head” thrown around. Shaky head jigs have become very popular in tournaments in the last two years or so, and have been gaining popularity with the public since.  You might be wondering, “What is a shaky head and why is it so popular?” That's great because that’s exactly what I’m about to explain.

The simple description of a shaky head would be: a lead jig with a worm or some other flexible lure on it. When the lead jig head sinks to the bottom, the tail of the worm floats upwards. You jiggle the bait gently and the end with the lead jig head sinker hops around, landing in crevices, while the tail end bobs through the water twitching, jiggling and generally attracting the attention of some really nice bass. If you don’t get a bite in a minute or two, then you move the lure a little and repeat.

It’s so popular because it works... period. It’ll work when other stuff just won’t. The weather has less influence on shaky head fishing than topwater and other types of lures. You’re going to have a lot more luck in heavily pressured fishing areas with this as well. Other reasons for the growing popularity of the shaky head include the fact that it’s simple to understand, easy to use and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to get started. No wonder it’s becoming such a popular bait!

        
Now for the technical stuff. You want a lead jig head that has the tie on at an angle to the hook. The rig shown here has about a 45 degree angle from the hook to the tie on. A 90 degree angle is fine,  or anywhere in between. You just don't want it straight with the hook. You want a little distance between the tie on and the ball head (about 1/8 of  an inch or so should be fine). This helps you get a more natural movement when you move your rod. Of course, the tail of the worm has to float upward. That's a very important point. You also want a worm with a tail long and flexible enough to move a little with the undulation of the water currents.

So your strategy would be something like this: cast, let it sink, shake your rod a little, wait a few, repeat. Then, if you don't get a response in a minute or two, move your lure just a little and try again...

Please feel free to email me with comments or questions: shaky@shakyheadjig.com

That's it! You're on your way to be best bass fishing of your life!  -Fish On-

Back to Shaky Head Jig

Fishing the Shaky Head Jig  Part 2