Sooner or later there comes a time when you have to settle down
and fish slow, just as slow as you can go. One of the hottest presentations for
working down to a crawl is slowly bumping a shaky head jig and plastic worm
across the bottom. It takes time, patience, and plenty of concentration to be
effective, but it’s also a great way to hook up with pressured fish (or those
that simply aren’t all that active).
A basic rig consists of a roundhead jig in the 1/8 to 3/8 oz range threaded
through a short straight tailed (floating) plastic worm. It can be rigged weed
less by turning the hook back into the worm or left exposed, which can be
extremely effective. An exposed hook will mean more fish hooked, but whether or
not you use it will depend on just how many snags you have to deal with. A clean
sand bottom is perfect for using an exposed hook, while a lot of heavy
vegetation or timber is not. Smaller finesse worms in the four to six inch range
are perfect for rigging on a jig head and the floaters will help the bait stand
straight up and down, even when it’s sitting perfectly still.
Fishing the shaky head is all about finesse and feel. The key is concentrating
and trying to envision just exactly what is going on while you work the bait in.
It starts with a short cast from a lighter action rod and reel loaded with six
or eight pound test line, followed by letting the bait fall to the bottom. From
there you can pick up your rod tip and try moving the bait with a slight bump,
followed by another bump, and so on, and so on. Use only the rod tip to move the
bait and not the reel. Use the reel to pick up the slack you’ve created by
dragging the bait in. What you’re trying to do is move the bait just a few
inches each time while making the worm shake, which can be more than a big ol’
bass can stand. As you work the bait ever so slowly try to feel what’s happening
and keep an eye on your line. If you see your line twitch; it could be that a
fish has picked it up and it’s time to set the hook. Same thing if the line is
moving off to the side, or if you can’t feel the jig anymore. In either case, a
quick snap and sweep of the rod is about all you’ll probably need to set the
hook. The key is reeling down until you start to feel the weight of the fish
before you set the hook. Set too soon and you might end up with nothing but air
which will give the fish a chance to spit the bait. Shaky head jigs have light
wire extremely sharp hooks once you have hooked up simply reel the fish in with
light but constant pressure, let the rod do the work!
A good place to fish a shaky head rig includes underwater points and shelves,
along the edges of a grass bed, around and under docks, and along the edges of
standing timber.
Besides all of the largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass that
you’ll catch, the shaky head will also attract crappies, pike, and even
walleyes. So you better be prepared and have a Fujifilm QuickSnap camera along,
and don’t forget to practice CPR (Catch, Photograph and Release).
Scott Bonnema
classicbass.com Pro Staff
Editor’s note: Scott Bonnema is a touring bass professional who fishes
tournaments and offers instructional seminars throughout the Midwest. He’s a
member of the Rapala Team, and Pro Staffs of Fuji Film,
Northland Fishing Tackle, Ranger
Boats and Mercury.
