My Go-To Lure For Giant Summer Redfish (3 Ways To Rig It)

Summer can be a great time of year to target big reds.

And if you’re using artificial lures, one continues to earn a permanent spot in my tackle bag…

The Prawn USA Original.

The key isn’t necessarily the lure itself.

It’s rigging it correctly for the type of water you’re fishing.

In this video, I’ll show you the three ways I rig a Prawn USA for redfish and when to use each.

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Featured Gear:

• Rod 1: Slot Machine Medium Heavy Power
• Rod 2: Slot Machine Medium
• Reel 1: 3000 Diawa BG MQ
• Reel 2: Otis 2500
• Lure: Prawn USA Original
• Hook 1: Hoss Helix Hook 3/0 1/16oz
• Hook 2: Hoss Football Jighead
• Hook 3: Hoss Weedless Round Eye Jighead
• Rattles: Battle Rattles
• Scent: Pro Cure Shrimp & Inshore Saltwater
• Mainline: Diawa J-Braid 10lb
• Leader: Ande 15lb – 40lb Mono Leader

Free Rigging Guide Cheat Sheet

Depth control with soft plastic lures is extremely important, so we created a helpful single-page guide that shows you exactly which jighead to pair with the given lure for certain depth ranges.

Click here to see the Rigging Guide

When To Use A Football Jighead?

If I’m fishing deeper water with a relatively clean bottom, I’ll usually rig the Prawn USA on a HOSS Football Jighead.

This setup excels in:

• Channels
• Drop-offs
• Deep potholes
• Current-swept areas

The football head helps keep the lure near the bottom where redfish often feed, while also allowing you to feel the lure better as it moves across the structure.

As a general rule, this is my preferred setup anytime I’m fishing water deeper than about four feet and I’m not worried about getting snagged.

When To Use A Weedless Jighead?

Many of the best redfish spots often include oysters, rocks, dock pilings, and other structure that can quickly eat up traditional jigheads.

That’s where the HOSS Weedless Round Eye Jighead shines.

This setup allows me to fish the same deeper water while greatly reducing the chances of hanging up on structure.

I typically choose this option when:

• Fishing oyster bars
• Working rocky shorelines
• Targeting fish around docks
• Fishing areas with scattered debris

You still get the benefit of a weighted presentation, but with much better snag resistance.

My Favorite Shallow Water Setup

When I’m fishing shallow flats, grass, potholes, or shallow oyster bars, I usually switch to a HOSS Helix Weedless Hook.

This setup allows the Prawn USA to move naturally through areas where redfish commonly feed while helping avoid grass and other obstacles.

For water four feet deep or less, this is often my go-to choice.

I’ll adjust the weight depending on the current and depth, but the weedless design helps keep the lure fishing clean throughout the retrieve.

Should You Add Rattles And Scent?

Sometimes.

When I’m fishing deeper water or dealing with dirty water conditions, I like adding a few extra attractors.

Battle Rattles can be inserted directly into the body of the Prawn USA.

These rattles create additional sound that can help fish locate the lure when visibility is limited.

I’ll also frequently add Pro-Cure Shrimp Scent.

Redfish already expect shrimp to smell like shrimp, so adding scent can help make the presentation even more convincing.

Neither of these additions are mandatory, but they can absolutely help in tougher conditions.

Rod, Reel, And Line Setup

My tackle setup changes slightly depending on where I’m fishing.

For deeper water and heavier structure, I prefer a medium-heavy rod like the Slot Machine Rod.

The additional power helps:

• Feel the lure better
• Maintain bottom contact
• Pull fish away from structure

For open flats and less demanding situations, I’ll often use a medium-power rod.

As for line, I typically use:

• 10-15 lb braid in open water
• 20-30 lb braid around structure
• 15-25 lb leader in open water
• 30-40 lb leader around heavy cover

A 2500 to 3000 size spinning reel handles most redfish situations perfectly.

Finding The Right Spot Still Matters Most

The Prawn USA is a proven redfish lure.

The rigging matters.

The tackle matters.

But none of it matters if you’re fishing in the wrong place.

Big redfish are often surprisingly predictable when you understand where they position based on tides, depth, bait, and structure.

That’s why spending time learning fish behavior and finding productive areas will usually make a bigger difference than switching lures.

Final Thoughts

The Prawn USA is one of the most versatile redfish lures I use. By matching your rigging to the depth and structure you’re fishing, you’ll spend more time presenting the lure effectively and less time dealing with snags. If you’re looking for a reliable artificial shrimp presentation for redfish, this setup is hard to beat.