Hey there, fellow anglers! I’m Thomas and today I’m gonna share everything I know about catching those tiny but mighty grass shrimp. Trust me, once you master this skill your fishing game will level up big time!
Why Should You Care About Grass Shrimp?
Let me tell ya – these little transparent fellas are absolute fish magnets! Whether you’re after bass, trout, white perch, or panfish, grass shrimp are like underwater candy to them. Plus, catching your own bait saves you some serious cash compared to buying from bait shops.
Where to Find These Little Swimmers
Look for these spots:
- Shallow coves with plenty of vegetation (1-4 feet deep)
- Slow-moving creek edges
- Lake and pond areas with thick grass beds
- Backwater spots with sunken logs
- Dense beds of coontail and other aquatic plants
- Small feeder creeks
- Marsh edges
- Bulkheads covered with fouling
Pro tip These shy creatures love hanging out in cooler shaded areas. Water temps between 65-85°F are their sweet spot!
Best Times to Go Shrimping
- Late spring through summer
- Early morning hours
- Nighttime (my personal favorite!)
- Avoid hot afternoons – they hide deeper then
Essential Gear You’ll Need
-
The Right Net (super important!)
- Custom-made net with metal window screen (like Kleinpeter’s design)
- Frame should be flat-faced
- Strong handle for pushing through grass
- Fine mesh (1/8″ holes or smaller)
-
Additional Equipment
- Headlamp or flashlight for night fishing
- Cooler with ice
- Small bait container
- Cornmeal (makes ’em easier to handle)
- Spray bottle with water
- Aerator (optional)
Step-by-Step Catching Process
-
Prep Your Spot
- Find dense vegetation in shallow water
- Position yourself quietly – don’t spook ’em!
-
The Dipping Technique
1. Dip net under plant beds2. Lift straight up (net will be heavy!)3. Shake plants gently before discarding4. Scoop shrimp with smaller net5. Transfer to water container -
The Cornmeal Trick
- Put caught shrimp in container
- Add about 1/2 cup cornmeal
- This makes them easier to handle
- Perfect for quick re-baiting
Keeping Your Catch Alive
We wanna keep these little guys kicking! Here’s how:
- Store in insulated bucket with aerator
- OR use wet newspaper with ice packs underneath
- Add thin wet towel on top
- Spray periodically with water
- Don’t overcrowd the container
- Keep temp below 65°F but don’t freeze ’em!
Fishing Tips Using Grass Shrimp
Here’s my favorite ways to use ’em:
-
White Perch Setup
- Single hook bottom rig
- #4 hook
- Position 6-8″ off bottom
- Fish straight down near dock piers
-
Other Fish
- Small jig heads
- Thread shrimp on 1/0 live bait hook
- Cut into chunks for catfish
- Use under float for trout
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using store-bought nets with floppy mesh
- Forgetting to check local regulations
- Not having a strong enough handle
- Overcrowding storage containers
- Letting them get too warm
Final Tips from Experience
Y’all, I’ve been catching these little critters for years, and here’s what I’ve learned:
- Be patient – finding good grass beds might take time
- Make sure your net screen is smooth (no burrs!)
- Re-bait quickly when fish are biting
- Keep it simple when teaching kids
Remember, grass shrimp fishing ain’t rocket science, but it does need some practice. Get out there, try these tips, and don’t be afraid to get a little wet!
Need more tips or got questions? Drop ’em in the comments below. Tight lines, everyone!
Would you like me to explain or break down any part of this article further?
Notes[]
- If the player has multiple bait items in their inventory, they are used from the top-left slot of the inventory to the bottom-right. Therefore, the topmost/left-most bait item will be used first.
- Bait shares some traits with ammunition:
- All bait items can be placed in the ammunition slots of the inventory.
- The number of available bait items will be displayed next to fishing poles placed in the hotbar.
- Critters spawned by statues cannot be caught with any Bug Net, so statues do not aid in the collection of bait.
- When wearing Flower Boots, the chance that a critter will spawn after destroying flowers or grass is drastically decreased.
Trivia[]
- The names of the three bait types are based on the three ranks of craft guilds, Apprentice, Journeyman (or fellow), and Master (sometimes grandmaster).
- The Master Baits name is a double-entendre on the word “masturbate”. This is a common joke in the fishing industry, used by real-life fishermen, bait shops, and in numerous hook baiting tutorials.
- The reason Monarch butterflies have a low bait power is because in real life they are poisonous.
How to Catch Grass Shrimp
FAQ
What do grass shrimp feed on?
Grass shrimp feed on detritus, algae, and dead plant and animal material. In turn, grass shrimp are consumed in large quantities by commercially important fishes and forage species such as spotted seatrout, red drum, and mummichogs.
Do grass shrimp bite?
Are Lawn Shrimps Harmful? Lawn shrimp can be a nuisance but they don’t bite and are not harmful.
What is the best bait for catching shrimp?
Tuna, canned pet foods, and fish carcasses are all good choices, but for ease of use, effectiveness, and durability, pick up a bag of Bait Binder The ‘Original’. Happy Shrimping! Dip Netting for Shrimp: Dip netting for shrimp is popular in many areas, but perhaps nowhere more so than Florida.
How do you get lawn shrimp?
Lawn shrimp will usually be found in flower beds, lawns, and piles of decaying plant material, but they are driven from their habitats by heavy rain or overwatering. It is not uncommon for signs of the critters, or dead clusters of lawn shrimp, to be spotted around properties.
Do grass shrimp eat coontails?
Grass shrimp are tiny but lethal baits that are eaten by virtually every fish species. Coontails are a preferred habitat for grass shrimp. Leonard Kleinpeter stresses that a proper dip net is needed to effectively catch grass shrimp from their habitat in dense beds of coontail and other aquatic plants.
How to catch fresh water grass shrimp?
You can learn how to catch fresh water grass shrimp in a few steps. Know where to look. Grass shrimp are sensitive to heat and changes in temperature and tend to congregate in shady areas. You can find them near aquatic plants and near submerged or sunken objects like docks, fences or pipes.
Where do grass shrimp live?
Grass shrimp, or Palaemonetes, are a genus of freshwater and brackish water shrimp commonly found living among plants such as hydrilla and eelgrass. They make excellent live bait, especially for larger game fish. You can learn how to catch fresh water grass shrimp in a few steps. Know where to look. What do grass shrimp eat?
What is a grass shrimp?
Grass shrimp, also known as ghost shrimp or glass shrimp, are a popular type of freshwater shrimp found in lakes, ponds, rivers and streams across North America. Though small in size, averaging 1-2 inches, grass shrimp make excellent live bait for catching bigger game fish like bass, trout, and panfish.
How do you catch fish with grass shrimp?
Grass shrimp really shine when used alive on hooks or jigs to catch bigger gamefish: Trout – Spear a shrimp through the tail and fish under a float or small bobber. Bass – Thread the shrimp onto a 1/0 live bait hook and fish around structure. Panfish – Tip a small jig with a piece of shrimp and cast around lilypads.
Where can you find grass shrimp?
Grass shrimp can be found near aquatic plants and near submerged or sunken objects like docks, fences, or pipes. They are sensitive to heat and changes in temperature and tend to congregate in shady areas. Hunting at night by shining a flashlight into the water can be particularly effective to locate grass shrimp.