The 3 Best Shaky Head Jigs

Shaky head fishing is one of the best finesse techniques that excels at getting bites when fishing is really tough.

And there are a ton of different styles and models of shaky head jigs on the market that can be a bit difficult to choose which one.

From out testing and experience, these are the 3 best shaky head jigs.

What to Look for in a Shaky Head Jig

There are a few different characteristics that we look for when picking the right shaky head jig. As long as the jighead has these characteristics, it is going to be a great choice.

• Straight Shank Hook: A good shaky head jig always has a straight shank. There are some out there with worm hook style bends at the front and are meant to be rigged essentially like a Texas rig. We have found that these don’t work super well.
• Wire Bait Keeper: The wire bait keepers are much thinner and less intrusive to the soft plastics. A lot of jigheads out there will have the more traditional lead bait keeper. Lead keepers are very thick and bulky, which makes it difficult to slide the thin, finesse worms over the bait keeper without tearing them.
• Light Gauge Hook: The vast majority of shaky head jigs will indeed have a light gauge hook, but there are some heavier gauge ones out there. Shaky head fishing is a finesse technique which means light and light gear. If you have a heavy gauge hook, you won’t be able to get great hook sets and drive the thicker hook into the bass.

Top 3 Picks:

1. Z-Man SMH Jig Head

Developed with MLF pro Brian Latimer, the Z-Man SMH Shaking My Head Jigheads are engineered for superior finesse fishing.

Their unique, snag-resistant head design allows for effortless skipping and imparts irresistible action to your soft plastics.

Featuring a recessed hook eye for enhanced line protection and a razor-sharp, heavy-duty 4/0 black nickel hook with a secure wire keeper, these jigheads ensure solid hooksets and eliminate the need for glue.

• Snag-resistant, easy-to-skip head design with recessed hook eye
• Unique welded wire keeper is easy to rig and holds baits securely in place
• Custom round bend needle-point 4/0 black nickel hook
• Pairs perfectly with SMH WormZ and other popular ElaZtech baits
• Quantity per pack: 3

2. Epic Baits Shakey Head

Epic Baits Shakey Head Jig, developed with pro bass angler Scott Suggs, has a patent-pending hook shape that makes for straight and easy rigging for your soft plastics.

This hook shape also increase hook up ratios by angling the point of the hook more upwards. This helps the hook point to catch the roof of the bass’s mouth easier when you set the hook.

And with a nice compact, wire weed guard, you don’t have to worry about tearing your shaky head worms when rigging up.

And finally, the 90 degree line tie helps to kick the worm upward more as you pull or shake the bait around.

• Patent-pending hook shape
• Easy and straight rigging
• 90 degree line tie
• Bait keeper
• Quantity per pack: 3

3. Reaction Tackle Tungsten Shaky Head

The Reaction Tackle Tungsten Shaky Head has a screw lock design that makes rigging super quick and easy.

The tungsten head helps downsize the profile and give you more sensitivity as you drag the bait along the bottom.

With a variety of natural colors, you can really dial in your shaky head presentation depending on water clarity, forage, and other conditions.

• Tungsten Head
• Fixed Screw Lock
• Rounded Hook Shape
• Quantity per pack: 5

What Weight Jig Head to Use:

The weight you use will depend a little bit on water depth and/or wind. But for the most part, I recommend using a 1/8 oz shaky head jig.

Occasionally I will go up to a 3/16 oz if I’m fishing a bit deeper, but that is honestly not that common. I pretty much only fish with the 1/8 oz.

Remember, shaky head fishing is a finesse technique. So you really want to be using the lightest possible gear and tackle that you can get away with.

And the 1/8 oz size is almost always the perfect choice.

What Color Jig Head to Use:

I really only use two colors. Those two are black and green pumpkin. I use black jig heads when fishing in stained or muddy water.

And then I use green pumpkin if I’m fishing super clear water. But either of those colors will work great in all water clarities.

You can get creative and experiment with a bunch of different colors, but I have found that it doesn’t really get any better than the basic black or green pumpkin.

Reeling this In

The right jig head can make a bid difference. By prioritizing features like a straight shank hook, a wire bait keeper, and a light gauge hook, you can weed out the bad ones and narrow down your search.

Among the numerous options available, the Z-Man SMH, Epic Baits Shakey Head, and Reaction Tackle Tungsten stand out due to their innovative designs and proven effectiveness.

Coupled with the optimal 1/8 oz weight and simple color choices of black or green pumpkin, these jigs provide a reliable foundation for catching fish even under the toughest conditions.

Ultimately, experimentation and personal preference play a role, but these recommendations offer a solid starting point for any angler looking to excel with the shaky head technique.