how do you set up for it. like line how long and hook kind and size
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how do you set up for it. like line how long and hook kind and size
I use 3 to six feet of line and a 1 ounce weight. I also use 5/0 to 7/0 circle hooks. The spring and fall months seem to work better for me but I have never tried jug lines at night. Hope this helps.
First thing you need to check is if it's legal for you to do it!!!!!! Jimmy Houston did a show one time with jug lines and got a ticket with a good sized fine.
it is legal here saw some out at night in the campground slou [boy scout] with 2 liter jugs with light sticks in them to make it easy to see . had a couple camping next to me last month that was night jug fishing .Quote:
Originally Posted by Fatman
I don't normally do this, but check out Blue Catfish - Channel Catfish - Flathead Catfish. It has all the answers to your questions and more. It is a site specifically for catfishing like this site is geared towards crappie fishing. I love crappie and catfishing, any other fish is just trash fish :biggrin
Here we take small swim noodles (foam) , cut into 3 parts about 1.5' or so. Tie a stout cord 6 to 9' through hole and use 5/0 or 6/0 hook. For places with mostly smaller Channel Cats you can use smaller hooks. Here in shallow lakes a weight is not needed. Some folks pust small PVC pipe through swim noodle for strength. I go as cheap as possiable.
Here we are allowed 20 per person with person's tag # or contact info permenantly affixed. Must be attended during daylight hours, only left unattended at night. check your state's regulations to be legal.
I like to use 20 oz. sports drink bottles. I spray paint them white (Tx. law). I write my contact info. with a sharpie. I wrap reflective tape around the base. Wal-Mart sells white and red in the automotive dept. It is a must for me fishing at night. You can shine them a long way off. I tie my line around the neck at the cap. I can store a lot of them in a small space. Believe it or not, a 25 lb. blue cant hold one of those bottles down very long. As far as the length of my line I usually use between 3 and 6' depending on how deep the water is. I use 50 lb. Big Game. When I pull em up I wrap the line around the bottle and put a rubber band around it so that it holds the hook tight next to the bottle. The rubber bands dry rot pretty fast so I try to keep extras. A whole lot of trial and error, and this is what I have come up with. It works for me.
Oh yea, hooks. I use 1/0 or 2/0 Eagle Claw SS short shank. I dont use a big hook with the bottles because there in not much resistance. I let the bigger ones wear themselves out before I try to land them. The little hooks will hold a big fish. They dont kill the perch too bad. These hooks will straighten out pretty easy if it hangs up giving the fish a chance for escape. I dont use any sinkers if I am fishing with perch. They seem to live longer and stay livelier if they are not weighted down. If I'm not fishing with live bait, I use just enough weight to sink it. The 50# Big Game dont cut my hands too bad when I fish deep.
I like to use the swin noodles with pvc in them. I use a 3/0 circle hook and bait with raw shrimp. Works pretty good.
We have used the noodles here, but found they are too easy for other folks to see and run. We use 2 liter bottles painted flourescent orange, 7 lb concrete weight, 6/0 circles. Best to tie on the weight using heavy braided line, then half hitch every 3 ft. We make drops 16" doubled with braided line, circles, and a trotline snap. For Blues, always put your first hook 3' below jug then 5'. You will catch most of your fish on top two hooks. We have caught many hundred pounds of fish on jugs. Now is a good time to go. My favorite bait is FRESH gizzard shad cut into 1 1/4" strips. Two years ago we had out 16 jugs. We ran them 2x in 2 days and pulled them because we had all we needed. We turned loose over 332 lb, that we didn't keep.
I just have got started juging and have in joys it so far. Small fish gust pull them around. I make up some noddles thing and like on biggerfish. I have ccan up with some sport dring cans that I think I like better. They are the 32 oz bottles. I was useing weighs on them in to a week age. I took the weights off and seem to be catching bigger fish with no weighted lines. I have mine set up about 3-7 foot deep. I don't think I like fishing any shorter the the 3 foot with weights. In it the bottles we put a rock in them to make the floot slower and when a fish hits it it come a live and you hear the jug pop.
I like to use the 32 oz bottles they use for cleaning bathrooms and such. They are white and have a nice neck with a screw on lid. I can fit a dozen or so in a milk crate for storage. I have used different baits at different times, such as vanilla soaked raw shrimp, fresh shad and even Zote soap from time to time. I will leave my string at 3-5 feet with @ 3/0 circle hook. I have not been adding any weight lately and have not noticed any difference in how many I catch.
This is what I use. I found this online and turned this into a father-son project. They work extremely well, and stack nicely in a milk crate. I rig them differently for different places. I typically have 10' of cord with a 1/2 -3/4 oz sinker then another barrel swivel at the end. I then can tie a mono leader or directly tie a circle hook. I also use different baits ranging from small live bluegill, chicken livers in old pantyhose, and nightcrawlers. As previously posted, please ensure they are legal in your state and have fun!
Link to the plan: Turkey Country Magazine's Do It Yourself Outdoor Projects
Of note: I used rebar instead of the landscape nail. I also had a hard time trying to figure out how to separate the eyebolt enough to get the swivel on. I finally set the eyebolt on my vise and used the point of a plumb bob with a few light hammer taps to separate. Then you can slide the swivel on the eyebolt and use the vise to tightly close the eye on the bolt.
Lastly, There was a similar thread on the Mississippi off-topic site. Some other good ideas and plans.
Good info on seperating the eye-bolt! ThanksQuote:
Originally Posted by Spaceman
I am a fan of the swim noodles. I have about 100 jugs made up in them. I have some in different depths from 10 feet all the way to 45+'. I use camo cat line for my jugs and trot lines. I tie anywhere from 2 hooks on 10' lines to 5 hooks on lines that exceed 25' I write all my info on the swim noodle and it has stayed for several years. I use 9/0 stainless steel hooks. I use goldfish or whole shad for bait. I use large nuts that weigh just over 2.8 pounds on each for weight. Have never lost a jug and largest fish I have landed was just over 40 pounds. Can make 3 jugs out one swim noodle