So… About Jug line fishing?
ByThis weekend I’m going to lake Fork. (not the one near my house [Lavon])
I’m going to be testing different baits for carp. This lake is known for holding massive carp. And my family claims they’ve caught HUGE ones on trot lines.
This lake is only an hour away from home. If baits work there, they’re likely to work in my lake as well… So I’ll be doing some extensive testing 
I personally don’t like messing with trot lines. I have done it twice, now I can’t get my trotline untangled.
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For a jug line, do you simply tie a jug to one end, weight to the other, and no more than 2 hooks in the middle (or towards the bottom)?
Also, for jug lines is it okay to use treble hooks? Or are they likely to mess something up? I bought treble hooks with the springs on them. They hold softer dough bait for a LONG time. I can’t seem to figure out how to make dough baits last longer in water. So… treble hooks okay?
Also, I’m not sure how big of a weight to use… Won’t the fish just carry the jug off? Or do they tire down and stop? Not sure, but I looked up pictures and the jug lines appeared to be floating freely with no line connecting it to anything (like you do crab traps I guess?). Or is that just part of it – going and hunting your jugs down?
I’ll probably have access to a 2 man boat where I can go check these out hourly. My brother has the boat at the lake (so I’m told).
Thanks for your answers guys, and I rate thumbs up and best answers good
Ps. I know you’re supposed to make sure your jugs are clean if they’re old bleach or milk jugs. Evidently Texas has firm laws on this.
Tah.
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3 Comments
September 13th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
I use a half cinder block for a weight which usually keeps the drift to a minimum. Alot of guys seem to like to free float their jugs but I hate that. I have tried that before and wound up losing half of them to brush. A half cinder block is big enough weight but will work with most jugs without dragging them under. I almost always use gallon milk jugs and fill them with a little bit of water so they don’t ride so high.
As far as hooks bait and lines go, I never use treble hooks. Just a personal preference. I jug for Catfish and have less success with the trebles. I typically use stainless steel 3/0 hooks. I have used a wide variety of bait with success from raw slab bacon, nightcrawlers, Catalpa Worms, cut Shad or Bluegill and rotten chicken livers. I stagger my hooks. I have found through trial and error that is very important to stagger the hooks and one needs to be fairly near the bottom of the rig.
September 13th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
In my area they free float the jugs. But they are used to catch catfish here. It is an excellent method for catching catfish. I actually think you should broaden your Horizon and bait up some for catfish. You would surely be successful and have some good eating to boot. As far as the jugs, get ready to hunt down a few because the wind and fish will create a lot of movement to them.When the fish get hooked They will fight the jug until they get tired. It’s a fun method to use and a very effective one. But no one in my area has ever fished for carp in any way, shape or form other then to bow fish for them during the spawn.Hope you have good luck, and hope you try some for the catfish. All you need is a few catfish hooks and bait with virtually anything. Craw fish, shiners, worms, cut up bait fish, chicken liver, beef melt, stink bait, bad cheese, ivory soap- melt a bar or two in a pot on the stove and it will be pliable enough to bait your hooks and it will catch catfish. Good luck!
September 13th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
forks has load of timber below water line,allows for hang ups,,cheap decoys work well,and dont seem to attract,,as much attention,from passerbys,either cutting,stripping lines or cleaning up the lake,,add name an address ,,date,, single hook 2 fish rend to have leverage,an most tear away,instead of settling down,,check frequently,,,add light line from hook depth to bottom with small wt,weight,,easier to keep track of in area,