SMH - Is This Really The Future Of Shaky Head Fishing?

Major League Fishing pro-Brian Latimer can sniff out a fish in nearly any lake, river, or pond he casts a line. One straightforward way he generates more bites is by pairing his proven finesse techniques with the fish-catching power of Z-Man soft plastics.

Z-Man and Brian are shaking things up again with the launch of the all-new SMH Wormz & Jighead, a two-part finesse combo that meets the standards of someone who pays their bills by catching bass.

Everything from the jigs wire keeper to the recessed line tie serves a purpose, and we wanted the man with the plan to explain the details behind the design.

1) How did you come up with the name SMH?

Being that tournament fishing is my deepest passion as a fisherman, I have a specific set of simple tools that I use a lot. One of those high rotation tools is a shakey head and good straight tail plastic worm. I never really found a good option for this technique on the shelves. The hooks were always too big, the head shapes were weird, and the wire keepers sucked were all around just too fancy. The Z-Man SMH shaky head is simplistic yet purposeful.

2) What are your top three baits for rigging on the SMH jig head?

1) Z-Man Big TRD
2) Z-Man SMH WormZ
3) Z-Man FattyZ

3) How did you select the worm size and color?

Generally speaking, I use a 4-5in plastic anytime the fish are in the prespawn or spawning. After the spawn, I like bigger baits, so I use baits 6" and larger more often after the spawn into the summer and fall. I primarily like greens such as Hot Snakes, Sprayed Grass, Green Pumpkin goby when fishing soft plastics as long as the water clarity has at least 12' of visibility. I always use June Bug, Plum, and Smoke Purple in darker, more stained water.

4) What weight jighead do you use the most?

I use a 3/16oz head the most when using the SMH.

5) Can you explain the wire keeper and what's unique about it?

The wire keeper is essential on this jig head. Being efficient while tournament fishing is a must. A good keeper also creates a better hook-up ratio on jig head. The keeper's success prevents the plastic from sliding down and creating a ball around the hook point, hindering penetration. The SMH head has a wire keeper that staples Elaztech to the jig head and makes it nearly impossible to move.

6) Do you mainly fish it as an offshore bait?

Absolutely! It can be dragged on the bottom across brush, rocks, and sandy spots to catch largemouth, spotted bass, and smallmouth.

7) What tips do you have for bank anglers fishing the shaky heads?

Use a longer rod, use braid to fluorocarbon setups for better hook up ratio, texas rig the plastic, so you snag less and lose fewer lures.

8) What rod, reel, and line do you pair with the SMH?

I use my 7'1" signature series BLat Sick Stick From Favorite with a 2500 spinning reel 10lb braid and 10lb fluorocarbon most of the time. This head can be used on a baitcaster with up to 15lb test as well but i prefer a spinning reel because the drag system is better for large fish.

What speeds do you like to fish the SMH, and how do you work the rod tip?

The best way to work the smh is the way you're getting bit! While there's truly no wrong way to work the bait, I prefer to maintain bottom contact and give the rod tip subtle lifts to make the plastic move much like a crawfish scurrying across the bottom of the lake.

9) What features help the SMH stand out from other shaky heads?

Head shape design is the most unique part about the SMH. The head shape does two things. The flatter sides allow the bait to skip really well under docks and overhanging trees. The narrow head design also allows for extremely effortless hook penetration. Having a head that slips through a bass's lips effortlessly increases hook penetration. The head is the only thing between hook points is the jig head. It's extremely important for the head to have a slim shape to prevent hook-up failures.

10) What are your favorite soft plastic colors when shaky head fishing?

Black and Green

11) When do you pick up a shaky head put down the ned rig?

I use both in rotation and really rely on my gut feeling as to which one to use rather than making a black and white use.

12) What seasons or situations scream "shaky head" to you?

Spring spawning bass

13) Does the ElaZtech material play a role in the action?

Absolutely. Many jig heads are made with a flat head so that the worm stands upright while resting. With Elaztech the buoyancy of the plastic allows the bait to stand up any jig head regardless of its geometry. Elaztech floats. That makes the plastic more lifelike. The bait will undulate without any rod manipulation.