Shrimp can make excellent bait for catching bass, but many anglers wonder – will bass really eat shrimp? The short answer is yes, bass will readily eat shrimp under the right conditions. In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about using shrimp to catch bass, including the best techniques, tips, and gear.
An Overview of Bass Diets
As opportunistic predators, bass will eat just about anything they can capture and swallow. Though they primarily target small fish and crayfish, shrimp make up a sizable portion of bass diets in many fisheries. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass will eat shrimp.
Bass rely heavily on their excellent senses of sight smell and vibration detection to locate prey. Bright, lively shrimp that give off scent and movement in the water are irresistible targets for hungry bass.
Why Bass Love to Eat Shrimp
There are a few key reasons shrimp work so well as bass bait:
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High-Protein Content – Shrimp provide bass with a protein-dense meal that helps them grow and maintain strength,
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Bright Color – The reddish-orange hue of shrimp contrasts nicely against aquatic backgrounds, making them easy for bass to spot.
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Strong Scent – Shrimp give off a potent, fishy odor that attracts bass from a distance.
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Life-Like Action – When shrimp are hooked properly, they swim in an erratic, vulnerable way that triggers bass to strike.
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Ideal Size – Shrimp are a perfect mouthful for bass of all sizes to ingest.
Best Techniques for Fishing Shrimp for Bass
Shrimp work well for bass when fished using a variety of techniques:
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Bottom Rigs – Carolina rigs and drop shot rigs drifting along the bottom allow shrimp access to bottom-hugging bass.
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Wacky and Texas Rigs – Impaled on offset hooks, shrimp appear injured and induce reflex strikes from bass.
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Jig Heads – Lead-headed jigs give shrimp action and can be bounced off bottom structure.
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Under a Bobber – Free-lining shrimp under a float keeps them toward the surface within easy striking distance.
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Freshwater Streamers – Shrimp patterns make excellent streamer fly options for fly fishing bass.
Preparing and Hooking Shrimp for Bass
To get the most out of shrimp for catching bass:
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Use fresh or thawed shrimp – stay away from canned or scented varieties.
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Hook shrimp through the tail leaving the legs and antennae free to move.
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Try breaking off the tail shell without crushing the body to expose scent.
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For wacky rigging, hook shrimp through the middle of the body.
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Consider adding a small split shot sinker 18″-24″ above the shrimp to control depth.
Best Bass Fishing Rigs and Gear for Shrimp
Basic bass fishing tackle and rigs like these work very well for shrimp:
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Casting rods with 10-20 lb braided line.
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3/0 to 5/0 extra wide gap (EWG) bass hooks.
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1/8 to 1/4 oz bullet weights for Texas rigs.
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1/16 to 1/8 oz finesse jig heads.
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Size 6-10 baitholder hooks for bottom rigs.
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Fixed or slip bobbers sized for casting distance.
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30-40 lb fluorocarbon leader material.
Tips for Using Shrimp to Catch More Bass
Follow these tips to improve your shrimp fishing success for bass:
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Fish shrimp around wood, docks, grass lines, and rocky structure.
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Target shady spots and areas with current during sunny conditions.
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Freeline shrimp along weed edges and let them drift naturally.
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Reel shrimp slowly along the bottom, shaking your rod tip to impart action.
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Downsize shrimp and hooks for finicky bass in clear water.
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Consider tipping jigs, soft plastics and spinnerbaits with shrimp chunks.
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Always keep shrimp on ice to prevent spoiling in warm temperatures.
Live or Dead Shrimp – Which is Best?
Both live and dead shrimp work for catching bass, but each has advantages:
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Live – More movement, scent, and natural behavior to trigger strikes. Requires proper aeration.
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Dead – Easier to obtain and transport. Can add attractant sauces and make special rigs. Stays on hook better.
Many experts recommend using live shrimp when possible, as the lively action is hard for bass to resist. However, freshly dead shrimp fished actively can produce well.
Shrimp are a fantastic bait for catching bass of all sizes and varieties under many situations. With the effectiveness of shrimp and the widespread availability of farm-raised options, every bass angler should keep shrimp in their arsenal of go-to bass baits. Follow the guidance above, and you’ll find shrimp a deadly weapon for filling your livewell with bass.
Will A Bass Eat A Shrimp?
Can largemouth bass eat shrimp?
As mentioned above, yes, largemouth bass will eat shrimp, and so will smallmouth bass. However, there is an important distinction to note here, and it has to do with the type of shrimp that you are using as bait. What you need to remember here is that bass are freshwater fish, and exclusively so. You won’t find any bass swimming in the ocean.
Can one eat raw shrimps?
While raw shrimp or shrimp sashimi can be consumed safely, raw shrimp is considered a high-risk food because it can harbour harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and various Vibrio bacteria. Although some people consider the seafood used in ceviche raw, it is actually cooked by immersing it in an acid rather than using heat. The acid from the citrus can reduce harmful bacteria but it is not as effective as using heat. The safest approach would be to consume only cooked shrimp from a reliable source. The US Food and Drug Administration(FDA) advises that pregnant women, those with weakened immunity, older adults, and young children are at higher risk of foodborne illness and its consequences and should avoid all raw seafood.
Can you catch a bass with shrimp?
Therefore, if you plan on catching a bass with shrimp, make sure that it is a freshwater shrimp. All of that said, freshwater shrimp is known as being some of the best largemouth bass bait around. Related: 2 reasons why bass jump. Cooked OR Raw Shrimp: Which is Better? You may also be wondering whether to use raw or cooked shrimp for fishing.
Do Bass eat other fish?
Yes, bass eats other fish. This is how they get most of their food. This means that you’ll want to use lures that mimic the appearance and movement of smaller fish to catch them more effectively. Bass are opportunistic feeders, which means that if something edible comes within reach, they will eat it.