Thread: Trotline Placement Advice

Originally Posted by LowePro

In arkansas a 4inch bream is a big as you can use. Check your regs before slapping a big bait on there. Each limb line or trotline has to be labeled with first and last name and drivers licence number or ss number or the trucks license plate number or home address. I use truck license place number. Its shortest. If you can legally use a big bait, do it. Sounds like ur plan should be right on target as long as its 10 foot or less deep in my opinion. Spawn should only make your trip sweeter! Good luck and post piks!

Better read your regs again. Any size legal if caught on hook and line just stay within the limit (50 per person, but no limit under 4''). I have used Green Sunfish and Bream big enough to fillet. But you need to use big enough hooks for good hook ups with big bait. I favor steep banks and heavy cover on rivers for Flatheads. But as stated they will go on the nest most likely next month and will not move for awhile. The bite should be on right now most places.

We run Bluegill on ours in the Ohio river. Taper your lines straight from the bank out into deep water and sometimes you will catch them on the deep end and the next day on the other.

Another thing, you have to use cotton to tie off both ends of your lines. Bank and anchor. I am assuming you used nylon to make up your lines. Good luck.

Alright, leaning towards the limblines. There are quite a few logjams. It seems setting on the upriver side would be more effective, but lead to more hang ups. Thoughts?

Due to my little rugrat, fishing time is extremely limited. Will probably have to stick with goldfish from Pillows. Will the 6/0 circle hooks I bought work, or should I spend the money for something different?

Originally Posted by Goocher

Alright, leaning towards the limblines. There are quite a few logjams. It seems setting on the upriver side would be more effective, but lead to more hang ups. Thoughts?

Due to my little rugrat, fishing time is extremely limited. Will probably have to stick with goldfish from Pillows. Will the 6/0 circle hooks I bought work, or should I spend the money for something different?

I set down river from cover to hold bait away from snags and fish feed in eddies . I hunt for heavy cover close to a steep bank and set lines just down from the cover.

In Arkansas, you can use Bream over 4" as long as they were caught with hook and line. If you are looking for a big flathead you want Bluegill 4" or better. They will outfish goldfish 90% of the time. Also, a big flattie will straighten a 6/0 hook pretty easily on a limbline. Go with 9/0 or 10/0 for the biggins.

Gotcha on the bigger hooks. Thought they got rid of the cotton line reg?

Originally Posted by Goocher

Thought they got rid of the cotton line reg?

X2.

No go on the 6/0. Aside from them getting straightened out (problem number one), the "gap" in the hook is not wide enough to support a big bait, and go around the meaty part of a big cats lip. And you dont want a "skin hooked" fish on a limb line. Chances are he will be ripped off by morning.

Originally Posted by LowePro

No go on the 6/0. Aside from them getting straightened out (problem number one), the "gap" in the hook is not wide enough to support a big bait, and go around the meaty part of a big cats lip. And you dont want a "skin hooked" fish on a limb line. Chances are he will be ripped off by morning.

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.