Shaky head

 Over the last two years, I have learned so much from my fishing excursions. The more I learn the more I realize how little I actually know when it comes to fishing. From soaking baits and waiting for fish to find your hooks, to actively hunting fish by presenting them with an irresistible lure. I have learned that there are millions of baits and lures and combinations to try to catch fish. One lure that has surprised me, and is fast becoming a favorite of mine, is the shaky head.

As is so often the case when talking about fishing, it gets complicated really quickly. The shaky head is not a true lure but a combination of different lures, meaning it can have many forms. But, in essence, it is a weighted hook with some form of soft plastic lure attached. The weight on the hook is designed to force the shaft of the hook in an upright position. Thus, any movement from the rod gives a jumping or shaking movement to the lure.

 Anglers then have the freedom to customize their lure by adding any soft plastic to the hook. I have seen people using crawfish imitations, or even using it as a normal jig head to swim fish imitations in the water column. I myself have tried some different ideas but often found that the lures work best when using them the way they were designed. That is, the way they are depicted in the picture; in this case, with a small five-inch Roboworm. I have tried many plastic worms, but something about how this profile looks in the water just works.

As the lure sinks down towards the bottom, the little worm has a side-to-side swimming action. Oftentimes, fish will dart out from cover to grab this lure as it falls. If the lure manages to reach the bottom, it surely already grabbed the attention of some fish. This is where this lure shines. The upright plastic worm is just standing there, and a small twitch or movement of the rod just makes it bounce. This is the moment that always catches me of guard. A sudden pull on the rod indicates that it is time to set the hook. It is a slower, more finesse style of fishing, and I for one, am hooked on it.