A cheap and efficient way to secure the shrimp to the hook is by using bait bands, but don't spend money buying the expensive pre-made stuff.
Just take half a foot of surgical tubing (the white, soft one), and with a pair of thin sharp scissors, you can cut out literally several dozen bands - enough for the whole season, and then some.
Just make sure the shrimp goes on the hook head first - that way once you are finished threading the shrimp, the tail will dangle below the hook point, which is what you want to accomplish. at that point you slide two elastic bands on - one for the head (or top portion of the shrimp near the eye of the hook) and another for the tail (at the beginning of the hook's bend. And while it might take all of one minute to set it up properly, the reward is that you won't have to change the shrimp until a fish rips it apart. (Resulting in fewer shrimp used).
Also, make sure the shrimp's tail bend matches the hook's bend, as this will ensure an even, drag free drift. A poorly hooked shrimp will start turning in the current, causing drag and twisting your leader. Not to mention that your shrimp will be laughing stock for any fish in the run.
Author
Topic: Hooking up a shrimp (Read 5713 times)