Jug lines & trotlines

I'm headed to Tawakoni 7-1 to 7-10.

Never used a jug in my life but want to set some out while we are fishing. Any advice that is available is greatly appreciated !

Line length ? Hook size ? Weight ect ect

Live bait or cut bait ?

I throw out a couple of jugs when I am fishing also. I try to bait with live goldfish. I usually catch a good catfish or a gar on my jugs. Now catfish bite well enough I don't need to use jugs and when your freezer is stocked why catch more. I usually do the goldfish thing in early spring before the catfish swarm to the chum.

Yes sir I agree the freezer part. No need in over stocking the freezer.

I have plans of chumming up a spot to let the kids & myself fight them on rod n reel but wanted to throw out a couple jugs to soak while we are trying to chase a few bass.


Out here I always bait up a spot with range cubes and it'll take an hour or 2 before the fish start showing up. With an a few hour soak the fishing is a lot better. Reckon the cake would work on Twok as well ?

I really believe in the goldfish especially in early spring. I tie single hooks on trees with a gear tag and put large goldfish on. Some of the goldfish make it and many of the lines have a catfish on it.

where will you be launching?

Prolly around the west side of 2 mile bridge but don't mind trailering else where if need be. And don't mind running across the lake.
Just there to hang out and let the wife & kids fish. Catching will just be a bonus lol

Will be doing the same let me know how you do, my first time out their. I will be out there June 12-16 fishing would love a good report. Thanks Bo

I have caught my share used using hot dogs. The cheap Bar-S brand work best. I fish them in under floaters. 6 to 7 foot under the jug. Some times they seem to out fish shad.

^ the red mixed meat bar s. We use them we we can't find shad.

Drop your jug lines right out in front of the two mile bridge.

When you drop your jug lines, are you setting the depth for the weight to stay off bottom, or do you keep it in contact for the wind to blow/drift the jug?

Great Thread. With very Good. Information.
Been Jugging and trotline. All my life. Always learn something new here.
At TFF.
We need a Section. Under-Catfish. For only Jugging and Trotlines.

I like for mine to drift. They cover more area a lot quicker spreading a much bigger scent trail.
Drifting jugs/noodles should be attended but that's what I do anyway. I even carry binoculars so I can keep them in sight and see when they stand up and also keep tabs on other boats that might want to mess with my stuff.
I use 120 lb green braid with lengths from 4 to 8 ft and 1/2 oz weight above 8/0 octopus hook. I like to use fresh caught perch for bait and if I can't get perch I use chicken breast. Believe it or not these noodles will wear out a 30lb blue in short order.

I've been thinking about tossing out a few jug lines while doing a typerson of fishing that is frowned upon on this forum. Good info here.

Any one have any opinions on using perch heads for bait ?? Or am I wasting my time with that ?

That's all I use on trot and jug lines. Of course I am mainly targeting Flat heads and not Blues or Channels. Flat heads prefer live bait.

My weights were frequent hanging up in the rocks and it was incredibly difficult to get them loose. Breaking a 330# line is nearly impossible from a boat. Finally I learned to tie the weight on with a 50 pound leader. I usually make weights by filling a 12oz Styrofoam cup with concrete with a short piece of small chain inserted. Works fine.

Say, those bream in the bags... do you catch them and freeze them for later use? If you freeze them, do you add water or just throw them in the bag and into the freezer? Do you bait them whole or cut them up?

When using perch its always fresh never frozen ? and how is it kept while fishing ?

I second the noodles; covers a lot of area and super easy to retrieve.

I catch them and keep them alive until I get home. I cover them with lots of salt and add water and freeze while still alive. This preserves color longer but I usually use them whole on 8/0 octopus hooks the next day. Scrap the scales off one side so they put out more smell. The sooner you can use them the better. If they are older than 6-7 days they don't seem to catch as well at which time chicken breast is better. Many times I use both perch and chicken. Most of the time they bite the perch better but not always. Maybe they like us. One day I want Mexican food and the next day I want hamburgers