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Last week end I finally got to try your shrimp bait idea. I bought salad shrimp, soak them 24 hrs in very strong salt water. But I really didn't have much luck keeping the hook baited. I was fishing a crystal clear lake and could actually see the fish taking the bait. I Fished from shore. One or 2 nibbles and the bait was gone. Anyone else have this problem?
Deep, clear lakes are tough. If you could see the fish coming to take the bait, sounds like the shrimp scent was working. If they are taking the bait, but you aren't catching them, well, that gets into hooking ability.
Maybe the shrimp right on the hook barb, and a hard set.
Don
I am 51 yr old and have fished since knee high to an ant hill...I know how to make a hookset. Simple fact is the shrimp was easily striped off if I missed the strike. Since these were small gills, 8" or less I was using a small hook, size 8. The reason for my post was because in other post they made it sound like the shrimp was tuff and stayed on the hook even when bitten. Maybe cooking them some more would help, but the package said fully cooked. They where frozen, if that makes a differance.
One other post did say to lay them out and put a fan on them with some heat to make them tuffer. Think maybe puting them outdoors on a sunny breezy day may dry them up a little. Or maybe I'll just go back to drift worms or beemoth, they stay on the hook pretty good. But I did like the idea of the shrimp smell, more of a fishy smell attractant....
I let mine soak for two days in the saltwater, you may not have had enough
salt in your water. I then let them dry for two days, didn't have any problems
with them staying on the hook, but I didn't catch many bluegill on them.
they just didnt seem to like them, gona try again.
regards
chef
Croppy, I asked if you ever trim your Slater's jigs for bluegill. I should have been more discriptive. What I ment was if you ever shorten the long tinsle trailers. BUT, I will find out for myself shortly. lol :D
I start with raw shrimp and pack them in salt after soaking I think that it makes them tougher.
Also I always trim all jigs for bream right behind the hook (my dad always leaves them long) Never used the slaters though.
Rod
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Brower
I put so much salt in that it all would not desolve, so there was plenty of salt. Left them soaking in fridge for over 24hrs. But I did not let them dry, that was not in the instructions on first post. But i will try that.
Where and how did you dry them John? Outside, indoors, in fridge, in warm place?
Also, I cut each shrimp into 3-4 peices. Was u fishing with whole pieces or cut up pieces? Maybe that makes a differance?
Charley,
Sounds like the shrimp is working. The fish are readily taking it. Try cutting down on the size. Or, drying them a little. I use a small heater (a small one) with a fan. Slow and easy. This really toughens them, like dehydrated shrimp. But don't dry them that much. They gills will have a hard time pulling it off, and will take more of it.
And don't use shrimp bits too large, as I said. I wish I could think of a size to compare it to. Maybe the size of two large match heads. If that big. You're not trying to feed them, but trying to entice them with scent. Too easy for the gills to nibble the edge of large shrimp bits, and they can get the bait without touching the hook. You know how that goes.
Sounds like the fish are coming to take it, but change your size/drying strategy a little. It works.
Also, another gill chaser earlier asked if gills would take shrimp where shrimp are not naturally available. Absolutely. Shrimp are not commonly available, or even native, to the ponds and small lakes I fish. And don't forget. Shrimp will super charge a crappie jig as well.
Don
If I ever learn how to post pictures here, I will post pictures of some of my jigs and the shrimp. In the meantime, I'm going gill fishing!
Maybe shrimp bits about the size of a crappie nibble? The brim really seem to like the nibbles too, but they come off the hook too easy. I'm going have to try the shrimp once I'm out of nibbles.
The size of a crappie nibble, or 2-3 times larger.
And remember fishing pals...I never said shrimp bits were the only tipping to use. I will say, any jig, under almost any conditions, is better than a bare jig. (When the fish are jumping in the boat you don't need it. Wastes too much time putting them on.)
Shrimp is just a good, basic one, not a magic one. Wax worms are good, real worms are good, crappie nibbles, corn in a grain fed pond, and any real food with real scent and flavor. Minnows, crickets, all of it. I assure you that we all will do better with a tipped jig, on the whole, than a bare jig. At least that's the way I feel about it.
Shrimp seems to me to be as good as any, and it is cheap, easy and quick to make, easy to keep, and easy to carry and use. On the whole, all things considered along these lines, I find it the best. But the others will work too...if you have the patience to feed it and take care of it. :)
Again, just my .02 worth.
Don