Shake or break
Shakey heads dominant for top 10 pros at Norman
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – When the National Guard Open began on Lake Norman Thursday morning, many pros had pinned their fishing hopes on jigs, big swimbaits and topwater lures.
But as the week progressed, the good old shakey head has prevailed as the number one lure on Norman.
This morning, as the top-10 pros set out on Lake Norman for the third day of FLW Tour competition, every one of their boats had a shakey head of some kind strapped to the deck.
The following is a quick summary of what kind of shakey head some of these pros are using this week and their comments about its effectiveness at Norman.
Sean Hoernke (1st): 1/16-ounce Hoern-Toad Tackle Corky’s Revenge head with a Zoom Trick Worm. “A shaky head is all a man needs on this lake. I caught every one of my fish on it yesterday.”
Brent Ehrler (2nd): Picasso Shakedown head with a 4-inch Senko and a Berkley Power Shakey Worm. “I’ve caught a couple of key fish on a swimbait, but probably the other 90 percent of my fish have come on the shakey head.”
Glenn Browne (5th): 1/8- and 3/16-ounce Gambler Gigi Head with a Berkley Fat Dover 
Crawler. “I’m sight-fishing with a shaky head and I’ve probably caught 90 percent of my fish on it.”
Mike Surman (7th): 3/16-ounce Gambler Gigi Head with a 7-inch Gambler Sweebo worm. “Everything I’ve weighed in has been on shakey head. I’m throwing it at anything dark in the water – dark spots on the bottom and shade on the bank.”
Scott Canterbury (8th): 1/8- or 1/4-ounce home-made head with a Berkley Hand Poured Finesse worm or a Net Bait Finesse worm. “I actually have not thrown a shakey head all week, but things got tough on me yesterday so I’m probably going to throw one a little bit today.”
Greg Pugh (9th): PJ’s 3/16-ounce head with a 7-inch Berkley Shakey Worm. “I normally sight-fish with a jig and I have hardly picked it up because these fish bite that shakey head so well.”
Two other pros, Jim Moynagh (3rd) and Chris Baumgardner (4th), have caught a few fish on shakey heads, but their primary lures have actually been wacky-rigged weightless worms.
The day three and four weigh-ins (Saturday and Sunday) of the National Guard Open will be held at the Charlotte Convention Center, located at 501 S. College St. in Charlotte, beginning at 4 p.m.
Prior to the weigh-ins both days, FLW Outdoors® will host a free Family Fun Zone and outdoor show at the Charlotte Convention Center from noon to 6 p.m. each day.
The Family Fun Zone offers fans a chance to meet their Fantasy Fishing team anglers face-to-face and review the latest products from Berkley, Lowrance, Ranger, Evinrude, Yamaha and other sponsors 
while children are treated to giveaways, fishing themed games and rides like the Ranger Boat simulator.
Saturday and Sunday children 14 and under visiting the Family Fun Zone will also receive a free rod and reel combo while supplies last.
On Sunday, April 27 during the final 4 p.m. weigh-in, one lucky member of the audience will win a new Ranger boat. Admission is free and you must be present to win.
Saturday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:37 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 57 degrees
Expected high temperature: 78 degrees
Water temperature: 68 degrees
Wind: SW 5 to 10 mph
Day’s outlook: Cloudy, chance of afternoon thundershowers