Shaky Head Rig

This is probably one of my favorite rigs to tie on when things get tough. This bait will always produce fish. I can’t remember a time when I haven’t caught a bass on this bait. Here is what you need to do to get set up with a Shaky Head Rig.

 What you need to fish a Shaky Head Rig

Here is a list of the few items you need to fish a shaky head.

1. Shaky Jig Head – I like to use the 3/16 oz. or lighter shaky jig heads. I feel like anything over a 1/4 oz. is too heavy. Pretty much any tackle shop like Sportsman’s Warehouse has a row of these jig heads. The picture to the left is what they look like without a bait on. You can get them in a variety of colors. I like green pumpkin, although I’ve used black and done really well too.

2. Soft plastic – I like to use a 4-inch green pumpkin & watermelon senko, or sometimes I’ll use the natural shad color. I’ve also caught fish on the Strike King Finesse Worm. It floats, so it has some extra stellar action on this jig head. Once again, I go with green pumpkin.

How to Use a Shaky Head Rig

First thing you need to do is attach your bait to the jig head by screwing the bait on. Some guys like to glue them down but I think that is a little too much work. Next, you bury the hook into the bait making it weedless. Check out the shaky head illustration to see what it should look like when it is all rigged up.

Second, start fishing it. This bait is designed to imitate the way a bait fish forages on the bottom. Bait fish usually feed tail up and head down in the mud. You want this bait on the bottom, pulling it along making the tail stand up and fall down. The bass love it. You can also hop it along and it works great. I like to use it in deep and shallow water. If the bottom is super rocky, be prepared to lose a few baits. I like to use this bait on flat areas with good cover situated over those soft, silty lake bottoms.

When to Use the Shaky Head Rig

The best time to use this bait is when conditions are tough. This bait produces bites on zero-bite days. It also produces high numbers of fish on good days. It’s a great bait to tie on to your child’s line to help them catch their first bass. This is a good all-around bait; just make sure to fish it on the bottom, imitating a foraging bait fish. Those bass will eat it up! If you are visiting a lake for the first time and hear that the bass are few and far between, this is the bait to use.

Shaky Head Rig Video

Here is a video of me demonstrating how to rig up and fish a shaky head rig. This video has solid insight on the best way to rig this bait up. I think you can get the jest of all you need from reading this post, but if you want more, here you go!

Let me know if you have any questions about this technique. I know if you add it to your tackle box, you can’t go wrong. The Shaky Head Rig is going to release the “Kraken” on some awesome bass for you!

As Always,

Stay Stoked!

Gear Used:

Here are some of my affiliate links for you to pick up some of the gear I like to use for throwing a shaky head rig.

INSTYNCT RINGS – Silicon ring (Use Promo Code: KRAKENBASS for 20% discount)

Spinning Setup-
Abu Garcia Spinning Reel
Shimano Convergence 7’2″ Medium Heavy Spinning Worm Rod
6-Pound Test Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
Spiderwire Stealth Braid 300-Yard Spool Moss Green 15lbs.

Shaky Head Hooks:
Owner Ultrahead Shaky Type Hook (Brown, Size 4/0, 1/4Oz)

Shaky Head Baits:
Shaky Head Worms
Yamamoto Senko Bait, Baby Bass, 5-Inch
Roboworm Straight Tail Worm Bait (Martens Madness, 6-Inch)
TriggerX Probe Worm 5.5″: Emererald Oil