This is how I often rig my prawns while trolling in the Willamette. It's very easy and can be done pretty quick. Always start out with the highest quality prawns possible. Don't settle with bad or even ok bait!
I tie my hooks about 3 fingers width apart on about 4' of #20-#25 leader. in these photo's I used 4/0's, in reality I use 2/0's.
Later I will show how to rig them several other ways with different lengths between the hooks, but this is the method I use pretty often.
Start by taking the lower hook, and sticking it into the side of the carapace heading towards the eyes and then come out before you get there. Be very careful to not tear the carapace! You can put a bait band (dental rubberband) over the carapace and around the shank of the hook if you want to. With high quality prawns that isn't essential.
It should look similar to this:
Now take the upper hook and go in through the point at the round of their tail (while curled) heading towards the head. Again be very careful to not damage the prawn. You should come out with the hook point just before reaching the carapace.
Should look like this:
Next step is to place the bait loop around the tail of the prawn. I like to make sure I don't rip off the legs but I don't think it really matters. If you want more of a roll than you're getting, make a "figure 8" with the bait loop next to the prawn. put the lower loop around the tail a little bit further down the tail. this will pull it to the side a little bit and creates a nice spin.
Here it's pictured the regular way I do it:
Now comes the choice of hardware or no hardware. You can run the prawn just by itself and catch lots of fish, but some days a little more vibration and flash helps out. to do that just slide some beads down your leader followed by a blade.
For different blades you'll need more or less beads, for this blade -a #3 Cascade- I like 5x 6mm beads, and follow those with 2x 4mm beads and then a bearing bead. Then I use the plastic quick-change style clevis. The metal ones can nick the leader. The blade in the picture is called the Willamette special and is a great high contrast blade for the off colored Willamette water.
Finished rig ready to go swimming:
The bead chain in my hand is on the other end of the leader from the hooks, and is an important part. I like bead chains, some guys like bearing swivels. Use what you're comfortable and confident with. After the bead chain I run another 3' of #35-40 mono to a second bead chain. Above the upper bead chain onto the mainline I put 3x 8mm beads and then a 1/0 barrel swivel. That barrel swivel is the slider that I attach my dropper line and lead to.
Let me know if you want me to clarify anything or if you have any questions.
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