Thread: Shrimp bits for panfishing

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

Originally Posted by John Brower

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 ith them staying on the hook, but I didn't catch many bluegill on them. they just didnt seem to like them, gona try again.

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.