How To Rig A Shrimp Weedless (Quick & Easy Way)
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
- Found In: Fishing Secrets, Fishing Tips, Inshore Fishing, Live Bait Fishing Tips
It’s shrimp rigging time!
Nearly every species of fish will eat a live shrimp…
And nearly every species of fish likes to ambush prey from the cover of structure…
But when you try to freeline a live shrimp in heavy structure like trees or docks, they often get snagged, causing you to lose your hook and shrimp, plus all the time it takes for you to re-tie.
Has this happened to you?
Check out the video below where I’ll teach you how to rig a weedless shrimp, and share some tips and tactics on fishing with them in heavy structure.
Enjoy!
Weedless Shrimp Rig [VIDEO]
- Get the Weedless Hooks Here
- Check out how to rig shrimp on a popping cork here
- Download the Inshore Manifesto here
Weedless Shrimp Fishing
Fishing a shrimp weedless is great for fishing structure such as:
- Trees
- Oyster bars
- Docks
- Jetties
- Rocks
- Bridges
- Grass flats
You can catch snook, redfish, trout, flounder and more on live shrimp in these areas.
To rig shrimp weedless, follow these steps:
Step #1: Pinch off the tail (to release more scent and attract more fish)
Step #2: Insert the hook up through the bottom of the tail
Step #3: Pull the weed guard under the hook point
Step #4: Pinch the weed guard to give the hook an angle to rest in
What To Avoid
Although this can be a very effective way to catch fish, there are two big things to avoid:
- When retrieving, don’t yank on the shrimp. This can pop the weed guard out and lead to snagging.
- If you’re caught in the trees, just give a little pop to help the shrimp come out. Again, don’t yank it, as that will likely lead to popping the weed guard and snagging.
Conclusion
Have you had issues with getting snagged while fishing shrimp in heavy structure?
These weedless hooks have been so helpful in decreasing the number of times I get snagged, allowing me to keep my bait in the strike zone longer and catch more fish.
Have any questions about rigging weedless shrimp?
Let me know in the comments below!
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So do you lock the weed guard in behind the hook barb? Or does it just ride along the point ahead of the barb?
Hey Ronnie!
The weed guard rests under the barb of the hook. This can be good and bad, as sometimes the weed guard may not pop free if a fish strikes short. But the guard is like a coated monofilament, so it flexes pretty good.
What kind of gloves do you use?
Hey Steve,
Here are the ones I use:
https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/cordova-consumer-products-half-finger-guide-gloves#repChildCatid=6438003
mike@mmmedicalsupply.com
Smart tip very useful. Thanks
No problem Rick!
Nice tip Tony !
Thanks Robert!
The weedless hooks are definitely nice to have in structure. I do use smaller hooks when free lining live shrimp however. #1 or #2 and hook them just under the horn for live shrimp. Try it. You’re gonna like it. As mentioned in the video, cutting the tail and tail hooking is best for skipping bait. Thanks for the info.
Thank you for the great feedback Marcus!
Nice job…great tips!
Thanks Jacinda!
I sometimes hook my shrimp from the bottom up through the back of the carapace and attach the weedguard. This way there is a balance to the rig. Have you ever tried it this way. I would appreciate a yea or nay on this. Thanks and great fishin.
Yep you can definitely run a hook up through the bottom and out of the top of the carapace (head) of the shrimp. Just be sure you don’t poke any vital organs. You want to go through that clear area between the eyes and brain/organs. That way of rigging is great for drifting.
Thanks for the video, when hooking through the head, do you also remove the tail, I guess if you want the shrimp to swim you probably wont want to remove the tail…
No problem Sergio! You could remove the tail either way. You will also notice on a shrimp’s tail, there is a pointy end to it right in the middle. Breaking that point off can also help release scent into the water without completely removing the fan portion of the tail.