Now for the 3rd part of this 7 part series, we’re going to go over fishing the Sick Stick on a Shakey head so you have something else new to play with in 2014. Some of you might already use this technique but you’d be surprised at the number of people out there that only think of wacky rigging when stick baits come to mind (which is the main reason for this 7 part series).
The Sick Stick is extremely versatile but many people get “one track minded” and overlook the other multiple rigging options. We want to make sure everyone is taking full advantage of every fish catching opportunity the 
Sick Stick offers and make sure everyone knows how to present the bait to the fish according to the conditions at hand. The more you know, the more successful you will be.
By now, pretty much everyone that wets a line knows how effective Shakey head fishing can be. And those who have heard of it but have yet to apply it are definitely missing the boat (and a bunch of fish). When bass are relating tight to the bottom or just in the mood for a nose down/tail up presentation (hmmm…that even just sounds intriguing), dragging the Sick Stick on a Tick Shake is an excellent way to give them exactly what they’re looking for. Bass are already big fans of Sick Sticks so showing it to them Shakey style can definitely be the ticket when the time is right.
The weight of the Tick Shake you’ll use will vary depending on the depth you’re fishing and the wind speeds you’re dealing with that day. But it can be fished in 2 feet of water on an 1/8 oz head, 20 feet of water on a 1/4 oz head, 50 feet of water on a 5/8 oz head, or any weight and depth variation in between. As long as the weight is heavy enough so you can feel bottom, you’re golden. And don’t forget that the Tick Shakes have that sweet 5/0 hook on them so feel free to lean back on those bass as hard as you want when they pick it up (that’s my favorite part)!
Shakey head fishing with the Sick Stick is easy. Just cast it out, let it hit the bottom, and work it back slowly with a combination of shakes, little hops and of course pauses (a lot of hits happen during the pause so make sure you don’t forget that part). There’s no rules here so just experiment with the cadence of your retrieve and let the bass tell you how they want it that day. And if the bass are feeding on the bottom, they’re gonna eat it!
