The 3 Best Shaky Head Worms For Winter Bass Fishing

There’s no question – the shaky head worm is a great, medium-speed search bait for cold water bass. It provides a bite-size snack when a jig or a crank just isn’t on the menu. What’s more, shaky head fishing comes with a ton of versatility. If you’re new to the shaky head worm, some of the following baits are a great place to start. If you aren’t familiar at all with the concept, let’s break it down a little:

What is Shaky Head Fishing?

Shaky Head Fishing is a technique that involves a jig-head hook and finesse approach – very similar to a Texas Rigged worm.

You can use a few types of shaky head hooks that’ll give the worm a bit more action, some allow it to stand up straight, some are built for more rugged terrain, you get the idea. The technique often is used on a spinning rod and it involves lightly hopping, dragging, or shaking the worm across the bottom. The shaking action is what separates the shaky head from a standard Texas-rigged worm.

If you’re unsure what worms to start with, grab the following in three colors – pumpkin green, June bug, and black. These three colors will get you through most scenarios. This is a technique you can use year-round on ledges, along flats, and in the hot of summer and cold of winter.

Best Shaky Head Worms: Zoom Trick Worm

Zoom trick worms are the starting place for most anglers when it comes to finesse worm fishing. This is the kind of worm you can dead stick, float, twitch, whatever comes to mind. The 6.5-inch straight tail in back/blue, June bug, and pumpkin green (in ultra-clear water), are all perfect for a shaky head presentation. The  6.5 is a great size for winter. In summer when you’re around aggressive fish, the Zoom Magnum adds bulk to your bait.

Robo Worm

The Robo Worm is easily one of the best finesse baits for drop-shotting. But the 6-inch-straight tail worm in margarita mutilator color on a shaky head is a deadly combination around active fish and especially around small mouths. The Robo worm is a slightly smaller profile worm that can entice colder water bass.

Best Shaky Head Worms: Strike King Bull Worm

When it’s time to size up and target giants, the Strike King Bullworm is a perfect straight-tail beast to get the job done. Rigged on a 1/4 oz with a screw lock and a horizontal line tie, you can reach the perfect depth. Late winter/ early pre-spawn may see some hungry giants and what better time to intercept their migration path than with a giant meal? It’s got a perfect twitch action as you shake it. If you’re targeting offshore giants, or covering the bottom in dingy water, try leveling up with the Bull Worm.