Jenko Booty Shaker (7" & 8") rigging & thoughts

[PRZ93]

A thread a few weeks ago informed me about the low price TackleWarehouse has the larger Jenko Booty Shaker soft plastics at currently. The 4" and 5" have produced for me and have a nice action and build quality, so I figured I'd give the largest sizes a shot at their current prices (2pk/7" for $4.97, 1pk/8" for $3.97).

 

I picked up two packs of the 7" and a single one of the 8" and wanted to share my initial thoughts as well as the raw weight of each bait as not a lot of information was available here or elsewhere.

 

7" raw weight: 67g / 2.36oz

• Good build quality, durable, nothing too exciting
• Very similar in size and profile to the Rising Son 6.75".
• 10/0 weighted 1/2oz Beast: these guys look and swim killer; lifelike kick and swimming action, slightly preferred to jig head
• 3/4oz 9/0 long shank jighead by Jenko: tricky to rig, needs a bit more speed vs Beast to get action started, but great body wobble & nice tracking up to full burn
• Plastic is very soft, TONS of action on a slow to fast retrieve (head, mid, tail wobble); little to no action on a crawl with either rigging method, no action on slack line

8" raw weight: 105g / 3.7oz

• Fine build quality, durable, nothing too exciting
• Huge amount of plastic, this thing is massive
• 3/4oz 9/0 jighead: this bait is enormous & a pain in the ass to rig, took more than a few tries to get it right; massive tail swing & body roll/wobble, solid tracking
• Similar quality plastic & slightly bigger action vs the 7", needs a bit more speed to get it going; little to no action on a crawl, no action on slack line

Final thoughts:

To call back to the inspiration thread, these ain't Battle Shad alternatives. However, I think these are definitely worth a shot at the price I paid ($13.91). Very soft plastic, at least as soft as a Hudd... they have some serious action when you get them going. They honestly look enticing and I'll be spending some time on the water throwing the 7" rigged both ways. The 8" will be thrown when the time is right; might figure out a way to rig it line-through top hook. I'd give the 12/0 Beast a shot with them. Will see if boiling the tail end on one of them gives some better action on a slow rolling bottom retrieve. Now to see if they catch fish...

 

Size Comparions

(6.5" RS for scale)

 

[Seahaecker]

Nice review man! Picked some up too have had a chance to to throw them yet... hopefully will tomorrow will update you if i do

[chevro1et]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and to-date experiences.  I have a pack of the 6" and 7" en route, along with the Jenko 3/4oz 9/0 jig heads, Owner weighted 8/0 and 10/0 hooks.

[MaineBassin]

Great review. Nice to see the weights, as that info was not anywhere online. i picked up 2 of the 8" along with a pair of their long shank jig heads. My plan was to use them crawling on the bottom at ice out a la hudd...kinda stinks to hear that they dont move much crawling along. But at a price of under $16 for 2 quality 8" soft baits with 2 jigheads, cannot beat that. I would agree that once i saw the bait and the jig head, i knew it would be a challenge to rig them. 

[timcauliffe]

Their faces look so sad. Poor guys.

[Loganodum38]

Im glad my post was able to influence you in a good way. thats what this whole forum is about, good to hear im not crazy and other people enjoy it too lol

[Loganodum38]

Great review. Nice to see the weights, as that info was not anywhere online. i picked up 2 of the 8" along with a pair of their long shank jig heads. My plan was to use them crawling on the bottom at ice out a la hudd...kinda stinks to hear that they dont move much crawling along. But at a price of under $16 for 2 quality 8" soft baits with 2 jigheads, cannot beat that. I would agree that once i saw the bait and the jig head, i knew it would be a challenge to rig them. 

boil the tails, ive learned this with night fishing, you can take a very inexpensive bait and if you boil it right you can get it to kick at very low speeds like a hudd.  takes a little trial and error, but matt allen is the man with all the information. 

[chevro1et]

kinda stinks to hear that they dont move much crawling along.

I was under the impression that this is pretty standard for boot tail style swimbaits, and that low speed action was one of the hallmarks of the wedge / vortex style tail on Hudds, Mags, and Real Prey baits.

[PRZ93]

After a few rounds of boiling, they have a bit more action at low speeds but nothing extraordinary. Still have faith in these guys, just need the right conditions for them to shine.

 

I'd agree that the wedge/vortex style tail is definitely what gives larger swimbaits that slow-roll kick. 

[NCCNC]

I have been fishing the 7" with a 1.5oz jig head, and bounce it around in the brush next to banks with sharp drop offs (trying to make it look like a fish using sticks for cover). When I can keep the muskie off of them, they have produced some decent bass. And the price is impossible to beat! There is a brown and yellow pattern that has done very well. I also put a vertical cut on each side, Midway down the body, about an eighth inch deep, and push a piece of .04 wire through the center from head to tail. It still swims well, but looks far more "wounded". I will post some pics later.