Hey RT - Jigs with shrimp tails?

[drifter]

Hey RT and Chromers- would you take a moment and describe your technique for adding a shrimp tail to jigs? Do you prefer a certain type or make of jig? How do you keep the tail on? I have tried this before, but seems harder to keep the tail on a jig vs. a standard bait hook.

I am thinking that this method (bobbers and jigs) would be a great way to introduce my kids to steelheading? Drift fishing is still too much for them.

Thanks in advance! drifter

[First Bite]

drifter
First of all, start off with a medium to large size shrimp. Pinch off the tail from the rest of the body. Take your hook and push it through from the top of the shrimp tail about 1/2" from where you seperated the tail from the body. Turn the shrimp tail over and push the hook back through the underside of the tail to the top about 1/2-1" from where you first hooked it. Now rotate the shrimp body and again put your hook (from the top of the tail) about 1/2" from the shrimp tail itself. When you are done, the hook will be exposed and underneath the tail. If you were to hold the jig in your left hand with the hook going to the right, the shrimp tail should follow the contour of the hook. If done correctly, you will not lose the shrimp no matter how hard you cast. I use this set up every time I fish and it works great. Good luck.
Mark

Ya, what Mark said. He showed me this method. Previously I just fed the tail around the hook point/bend and fish it a little curled by the hook bend. It works too. I am going to try to cut a barb or 2 on the lower half of the hook shank, making it like a baithook, and just feed on the tail, leaving the back fantail hanging off the hook. Any ideas what to use to cut the barbs with guys? - RT