How to Rig a Shakey Head Stinger

Originally employed by MLF pro angler Cody Meyer on the spotted bass fisheries of Northern California, the Shakey Head Stinger Rig is designed to improve your hook-up ratios by converting more short strikes when the bass are pressured or lethargic. Contrary to what we often write off as just a 'little fish' on the water, in many situations, a seasoned or spooky bass will test your worm by just nipping the tail, completely avoiding the main hook. To capitalize on these investigative bites and improve success when the bite gets scarce, check out the video and read along to learn how Cody prefers to add stinger hooks to his shaky heads and fill the livewell on gameday!

Tie a Palomar knot to your shakey head line tie and leave a long tag end. You will use this tag end to tie on your stinger hook, so give yourself enough room to tie a small finesse hook and long enough to insert the hook through the end of your worm. Watch our instructional breakdown of how to tie a Palomar knot here so you have it down before making your stinger hook rig.

Select a small finesse hook that matches the profile of the worm, using the smallest hook can get away with to help create a more natural presentation. For a standard 6" finesse worm, Cody prefers to use a size #4 Owner Mosquito hook and secures it to the tag end using another Palomar knot. Again, do your best to ensure that the tag end of line attached to the stinger hook is about as long as your worm to maximize the profile of your bait and not have excess line hanging off your worm.

Skin hook the end of your worm like you would weedlessly hook a Texas rig and make sure your hook point is barely stuck through the plastic so that it will penetrate when a fish bites down. Before casting out your rig, make sure it visually has a streamline profile and natural on the surface of the water. While you're fishing you may need to fine-tune how your stinger hook is placed in the plastic to give the worm the best possible action.

Whether you’re dealing with pressured fish or tired of getting short-bit, adding a stinger hook to your shakey head is a phenomenal way to put more fish in the boat and capitalize on fewer bites when it gets tough. Stop debating over the size of the fish that short-bit your worm and tie up the shakey-head stinger rig, a deadly way to overcome tough bites.

How-To Rig a Weedless Ned Rig
How-To Sharpen Fishing Hooks
How-To Rig a Drop Shot
How-To Rig a Carolina Rig