Using inexpensive homemade traps to catch river shrimp for bait
If you are looking for bait to catch freshwater catfish, locals will tell you to find some river shrimp. Found throughout the Mississippi River area, they are also known as Mississippi River shrimp. They can reach a length of up to 4 inches and are prolific in the Atchafalaya River.
Fish like the aforementioned catfish, as well as redfish, snapper, trout and flounder, all eat river shrimp regularly. We have experimented with several variations of traps before finally deciding upon the type of trap that we find works best.
History
The history of river shrimp is quite fascinating. The freshwater crustaceans migrated down from the northernmost area of the Mississippi River near Ohio. This 1,000 mile journey would eventually take them all the way down to the Gulf. Along the way, some eggs are hatched, while the female waits to lay others closer to the Gulf.
Immature river shrimp need the salinity of the Gulf waters to molt from stage one to stage two. Stage two is their first feeding stage. Then they begin to migrate upstream again.
Until the 1930’s, there was a small but vibrant river shrimp fishery that was used for human consumption as well as for bait in Louisiana. After that time period, river shrimp were mainly used as a bait source.
Upstream travel speed
University of Louisiana at Lafayette professor Raymond Bauer studied Atchafalaya populations of river shrimp with research scientist A. James “Jim” Delahoussaye. They calculated that an embryonic river shrimp hatched at the Atchafalaya Delta would take about 100 days to reach Butte La Rose, a distance of 91 river miles. During this time, the shrimp grew to about 2 inches. While the populations of river shrimp in Louisiana are still robust, the species has become rare in the northern sections of its range, the Missouri and Ohio rivers. Man-made items like dams and water control structures, along with changes in water quality, are all factors in the loss of upstream populations.
How to build a trap
There are various ways to catch river shrimp. The method that works best for us is a trap built using small wire mesh. It is constructed in much the same fashion as a crawfish trap.
The body of the trap measures 30 inches wide by 36 inches long. It is wrapped into a cylinder and overlapped by an inch. Zip ties are woven in to connect it. One end is then closed and crimped. Half of the crimped section is left to close with a woven zip tie for reuse.
The mouth of the trap is shaped into a funnel. The large end is approximately 36 inches and the small end tapers down to a ½ inch. The top half of the funnel is cut off into a U-shape.
Bait for the trap
We use a can of dog food for bait. Punch numerous holes in the can to allow for the odor to mix into the water. This bait can last up to two weeks, providing a low cost bait source for the traps.
When and where to place them
April is when we start using the traps, as river shrimp spawn from April through June. We continue fishing them up until November. The main area that we use the traps is in the Atchafalaya River and its subsidiaries. We set some of the traps on the bottom and suspend others right under the surface of the water. The most important thing is to set the trap with the mouth facing downstream. The shrimp will swim upstream to get into the trap to find the bait. You want to fish in the current, but not too far from the bank if it is really strong.
Uses for river shrimp
As previously stated, river shrimp are our prime bait for fishing catfish. We also use river shrimp for all of our brackish/saltwater fishing as well. Saltwater fish really love them. A huge factor is that they stay on the hook much better than large saltwater shrimp do.
Save some bucks
In our area, frozen river shrimp may be purchased for $5 to $6 for a pint from a few select locations. However, in the peak of the summertime, demand exceeds supply. Every summer, all of the local bait shops run out of river shrimp. Having the ability to have your own supply not only saves you money, it allows you to fish with river shrimp when most of the population can’t do so.
Conclusion
Catching river shrimp is not very difficult. All it takes is the effort to put a few traps together. The traps are very inexpensive to build and the reward is a freezer full of bait for whenever you may need it. Good luck and good fishing!
