Updated: October 2026. Freshwater Shrimp Jig sizes and prices checked on the live product page Oct 20, 2026.

Shrimp jig, the short answer: for crappie and bluegill, tie on a Gapen Freshwater Shrimp Jig in 1/64 or 1/32 oz on 4 to 6 lb line. Cast or drop it, twitch the rod tip once to flash the tinsel, then follow the jig down on a slow fall with your rod tip. Most bites come on the drop, so watch for slack line or a light tap and set right away. Under a float, hang it 1 to 2 feet above the fish. From $2.00 in five sizes, 1/64 to 1/4 oz.

Below: what the Freshwater Shrimp is, which size to tie on, three ways to fish it, a fall-into-ice playbook, whether to tip it, and when to switch to something else.

What is a Gapen Freshwater Shrimp Jig?

The Gapen Freshwater Shrimp Jig is a small slow-fall jig with tinsel flash and a soft tail that parachutes down like a drifting freshwater shrimp. The two light sizes (1/64 and 1/32 oz) carry a glitter tail. The three heavier sizes (1/16, 1/8, and 1/4 oz) carry marabou plus glitter for a bigger profile. Heads are nickel-plated, so the jig handles freshwater and light saltwater.

It is one of the quiet workhorses in our jig bins. The product page notes that over 5 million of the smaller sizes sold in the first five years. Gapen jigs are made in the USA, and orders pack and ship from our shop in State Center, Iowa.

Which shrimp jig size should you use?

Size sets both the weight and the tail style. Go light for panfish and clear, calm water. Go heavier for wind, depth, current, or bigger fish like white bass and walleye.

Size	Price (Oct 20, 2026)	Tail style	Best use
1/64 oz	$2.00	Glitter tail	Bluegill and suspended crappie under a float; slowest fall
1/32 oz	$2.25	Glitter tail	All-around crappie and bluegill size, cast or float
1/16 oz	$2.50	Marabou + glitter	Perch, bigger crappie, light wind, 8 to 15 feet
1/8 oz	$2.75	Marabou + glitter	Deeper fall crappie, white bass, trout in current
1/4 oz	$3.00	Marabou + glitter	Walleye, bass, strong wind or river current

Our rule at the shop: start with the lightest size you can still feel and control. If you lose track of the jig on the fall, go up one size.

How do you fish a shrimp jig for crappie?

1. Find the fish first. In fall, crappie school on brush piles, creek channel edges, and deep weed lines. Count the jig down or use your electronics to find the depth they sit at.
2. Cast past the spot with a 1/32 or 1/16 oz shrimp and let it sink on a semi-tight line.
3. Twitch, then follow it down. One sharp twitch flashes the tinsel. Then lower the rod tip at the same speed the jig sinks, so the line stays just barely tight.
4. Watch the line, not the rod. A crappie bite on the fall often shows as line going slack early or a small jump. Set the hook on anything odd.
5. Repeat in short hops back to the boat or dock. Crappie rarely chase far in cold water, so keep the jig in the strike zone.

For more crappie detail, see how to fish a slip bobber for crappie and our TTS Papa Jig crappie guide for a bigger soft-plastic option.

How do you fish a shrimp jig under a float for bluegill?

A float is the easiest way to keep a 1/64 or 1/32 oz shrimp at one depth for slow, picky bluegill. Set a Gapen Panfish Float so the jig rides about 1 to 2 feet above the weeds or the fish. For deeper water, use a sliding setup with a Gapen Bobber Stop.

• Let the float sit still for 10 to 15 seconds after it lands. The shrimp is still parachuting down.
• Give the line a tiny pop. The float barely moves, but the tinsel and tail flare.
• Any float that tips, slides sideways, or lies flat is a bite. Reel tight and lift.

Our panfish float guide covers float sizing and how much weight each float carries.

Can you vertical jig a shrimp jig?

Yes. Vertical jigging works well over deep brush, off docks, and through the ice. Drop the jig straight down to the fish, lift the rod tip 6 to 12 inches, and follow the jig back down slowly. Pause a few seconds between lifts. For perch and walleye on the bottom, the 1/16 to 1/4 oz marabou sizes hold their depth better and still fall with that soft parachute.

Shrimp jig fall-to-ice playbook

Period	Where fish are	Shrimp size	Presentation
Early fall (water in the 60s)	Weed edges, docks, shallow brush	1/32 oz	Cast and slow fall, or float 2 to 4 feet down
Late fall (water in the 40s and 50s)	Deep brush, channel edges, basins	1/16 to 1/8 oz	Count down, short hops, long pauses
First ice	Weed edges and shallow flats close to deep water	1/64 to 1/32 oz	Vertical, tiny lifts, dead pauses

Water temperatures are rough guides. Each lake turns over and cools on its own schedule, so follow the fish, not the calendar.

Should you tip a shrimp jig?

Usually not. The tinsel and tail do the work, and a plain jig falls slower and more naturally. Tip it when the bite is tough or when fish nip and miss: a single waxworm, spike, or the tip of a crappie minnow on the hook adds scent and a little extra hold time. Keep the bait small so it does not spin the jig or speed up the fall.

What do anglers say about the Freshwater Shrimp?

The shrimp carries a 4.5 out of 5 average from 42 customer reviews on gapen.com. Mark Holzmer from Nevada, Iowa wrote, "Been using them for years the best jig ever always catch fish." Chuck M from Kansas City, Missouri called it "a marvelous artificial bait that I use for pan fish but larger fish will find it appealing also. My favorite jig in my tackle box."

One honest complaint from a Minnesota customer: a few jigs in a mixed order came in the wrong head size. If a pack ever comes in mixed up, call the shop at 1-877-623-2099.

When should you use something else?

• Fish want a tiny, plain profile. Try Gapen Jigets, our micro panfish jig.
• Aggressive fall crappie that chase. A soft plastic like the TTS Papa Jig covers water faster.
• Heavy current or deep river walleye. Go heavier than 1/4 oz with a bigger jig built for bottom contact.

What rod and line work best?

A light or ultralight spinning rod, 5 to 7 feet, with 4 to 6 lb line lets the light sizes cast and lets you feel a fall bite. The product page suggests pairing it with a sensitive Gapen spinning rod, such as the Wilderness Spinning Rod. Clear water calls for 4 lb line, while snag-heavy brush can handle 6 lb.

Shop the Freshwater Shrimp Jig

Gapen Freshwater Shrimp Jig, from $2.00. Sizes 1/64 oz ($2.00), 1/32 oz ($2.25), 1/16 oz ($2.50), 1/8 oz ($2.75), and 1/4 oz ($3.00). Pick your package quantity, color, and size on the product page. Stock a couple of sizes and colors so you can match depth and light.

Shrimp jig FAQ

What size shrimp jig is best for crappie?

Start with 1/32 oz. Drop to 1/64 oz for suspended or finicky crappie under a float, and go up to 1/16 or 1/8 oz for deep fall brush or wind. Gapen Freshwater Shrimp Jigs run from $2.00 for 1/64 oz to $3.00 for 1/4 oz.

What is the difference between the glitter tail and marabou shrimp?

The 1/64 and 1/32 oz sizes have a glitter tail for a small, light profile. The 1/16, 1/8, and 1/4 oz sizes have marabou plus glitter, which breathes more and gives a bigger profile for perch, white bass, trout, and walleye.

How do you work a shrimp jig?

Twitch the rod tip once to flash the tinsel, then lower the rod at the speed the jig sinks. Most strikes come on the drop, so set the hook on slack line or a light tap.

Can you fish a shrimp jig under a bobber?

Yes. Set a panfish float so the jig hangs 1 to 2 feet above the fish, let it settle, and give tiny pops. Use a slip float with a bobber stop for water deeper than your rod length.

Does a shrimp jig work through the ice?

Yes. Vertical jig the 1/64 or 1/32 oz sizes for bluegill and crappie at first ice, with small lifts and long pauses. Use 1/16 oz or heavier for perch on the bottom.

What fish will hit a Gapen Freshwater Shrimp?

Crappie, bluegill, perch, trout, white bass, walleye, and bass all hit it, according to the product page. The nickel-plated head also works in light saltwater.

Is the Gapen Freshwater Shrimp Jig made in the USA?

Yes. The product page lists the Freshwater Shrimp as made in the USA, and orders ship from our shop in State Center, Iowa.

Gapen Tackle Company, a family shop in State Center, Iowa. Gapen jigs made in the USA.