Thread: Trotline Placement Advice

Here are a few of my past catches. The big string was over 200lbs total caught one morning on Bass rods . Only one caught on a noodle (jug line was first) all the rest caught on rod and reel.

Originally Posted by NIMROD

I use no less than 5/0 forged stainless on 150 # test braid and never had one straighened. Those forged hooks are hard to bend but will break but the cheaper wire hooks will bend. My rig is swivel in line up about 18'' from hook so I can stop twist and place a heavy lead sinker to hold down bait in current. Helps to tie them on limber green limbs that work as shock absorbers . I have some regular stainless in 9/0 thinking about rigging up for bigger baits. I have caught big Flatheads after a 3# channel took the bait first then got swallowed by a Flathead. If your targeting bigger Flatheads bait size matters because Flatties will eat huge baits and helps keep off Channels .

Tip get a big dip net and don't get excited. Remain calm and never try to horse a biggun , but play him down. Too many folks pull to hard and something has to give and many times it will be the hook set or tackle.

Good advice right there.

CA, are you the skinny kid in #3?

On the white, just find a downed tree just downstream of the major bend. Tie off to a root ball ont he side, and strecth a line with 6-15 hooks 40 yards above the tree straight out int he river, perpindicular to the bank. Use 2x the weight you think you should ont he White, maybe 3x with the higher water. Slicks are the best over there on that part of the river. Hang on, there are some big ones. They don't start spwaning over there until end of june.

Good luck, send some pics. I want to see them.

If you look closely you can tell that this flathead is a slam dunk.

Originally Posted by DRPEPPER

CA, are you the skinny kid in #3?

I sure was thin back in the day. I caught that fish on the Arkansas River below Murry lock and dam before hydro plant was built.

First photo was my boy with one out of Nimrod on a noodle baited with big Slicks (Green Sunfish).

Second ones out of were from Conway on Bass rods baited with minnows as was the last one. My boy and I and last one included his birth mother's dad.

Originally Posted by Mac Daddy

If you look closely you can tell that this flathead is a slam dunk.

Thanks but it is quite a bit smaller than the 3rd photo. Basket Ball goal good spot to hang for a photo .

If they had a Flathead forum on c.c this thread should be a sticky. Tremendously good info given right here. I'm a crappie purest, but I have run some set lines with my son in law on lake Erling and wow did he catch some bigguns. There aren't any limbs left on any of the trees there so they would secure one end of a bungee strap to the trunk of a tree then tie the line to the other end and use a piece of pvc to stand it out from the trunk. This thread got me to thinking I might like to do that again sometime.