Prawns are definetly more economical versus spending 2$ everytime out for sandshrimp. However, ive found that steelhead find a sandshrimp tail harder to turn down than a tiny piece of prawn. Ive had days when prawns worked pretty good but the most consistent producer between prawns and sandies have been the sandshrimp. I think they can relate better to sandshrimp because it may be part of their ocean diet???

Prawns are the easiest to keep fresh, store, and the least messy. Eggs are great but this time of year every smolt in the river will be hammering...

Maybe if a guy was to add some sort of scent to the prawns, like shrimp scent/anise and let it soak for a few hours??
_________________________
"I have a fair idea of what to expect from the river, and usually, because I fish it that way, the river gives me approximately what I expect of it. But sooner or later something always comes up to change the set of my ways..."
- Roderick Haig-Brown