I have never had luck with these rigs that come with the float/beads and gave up buying them a few years ago. I do have luck with live shrimp under a cork. I have recently acquired a few few white and root beer color DOA’s and would like to try again this weekend and am going to fish both methods and see what happens. Is there some trick to these besides every few seconds making the float chatter? I’m not even sure that doesn’t scare fish away. I would love it if I could catch fish with these.
Best way to fish a DOA shrimp is super slow. I have maybe fished them under a cork twice, and I’ve been fishing them for years. Check out any video with Mark Nichols (Owner DOA) and the key to the shrimp is slow, slow, slow. If fishing in current, cast up current and just keep up with the slack. If your fishing docks or oysters, cast out and let it sink. Then slowly pop it off the bottom. If I ever had to limit myself to one artificial, it would be the DOA shrimp.
Seriously though, Juice is spot on for the most part. Granted, I have seen his father catch trout on a DOA shrimp working it fast like a soft plastic jerkbait. That said, I have shared the boat with Juice many times and I have seen many a fish come over the rail with a DOA shrimp in its mouth after being worked as Juice described. I’m more of a “winder” and like baits that are steady moving or erratic but when the fish are in a neutral or negative mood, a slow DOA shrimp makes for an attractive (and effective) offering.
I’ve caught tons of trout with live shrimp under a popping cork. I feel the occasional popping actually works and increases my bites.
However, like original poster, I’ve had no luck with the DOA shrimp under a popping cork. I’ve heard people swear by it, so I’m pretty sure I’m doing it wrong.
Appreciate Juice and Bang’s thoughts on fishing it without a cork.
Anyone here have great luck with DOAs under the cork?
I think one thing that is overlooked when working a DOA shrimp (or anything) under a cork is the length of the leader. If fish are relating to higher parts of the water column, use a shorter leader. Conversely, if the fish relating to the bottom or deeper in the water column, use a longer leader. Too many people hit the water with preconceived notions and stick with their setup the way it was rigged before they even hit the water. We all have “seasonal patterns” in mind as we prepare for a fishing trip but being able to “read” the fish and adapt on the water is paramount to catching fish. I have my favorite techniques but if they’re not producing, I listen to the fish and change my approach.
I’ve had good success with a DOA under a popping cork. I have about 24" leader between the cork and the DOA. I pop the cork three quick times and let the DOA settle down, then repeat. They hit it as it’s settling down. That cork goes hauling under. Sometimes I put a split shot between the cork and the DOA. That makes the DOA kinda wobble on its descent.
I’ve had good success with DOA under a cork. Though, live shrimp under a cork is king.
With DOA under a cork I use 24" to 36" of leader, depending on water depth, with no extra weight, just DOA. Cast to the target area, reel in slack and rattle the cork a bit. Every 5 to 7 seconds I’ll pull the cork back towards the boat about 3-5 feet. This creates a rattle in the cork but more importantly it forces the DOA back to the surface. Once the cork settles DOA will begin to sink again. I believe this is the trick as the DOA usually get hit as it’s falling.
This past weekend used both live shrimp and DOA under a cork. The live shrimp was my go to but DOA was nice to have in areas where bait stealers were present. Instead of losing 20 shrimp I’d switch to DOA to see if any trout were in the area.
Today I tried the popping cork with a Vudu shrimp for the first time. Fishing from a dock on the Stono, and got a nice trout on my first cast. Got 3 more in 30 min. but the wind sent me home.