I can't figure out what I did wrong. I put out 6 juglines at various depths at Sam Rayburn baited with small sun fish or bluegills. I used different hooks. Some #4 and #5 circle hooks and some "very big" regular hooks. I never caught even one fish but my bait was gone. I don't know that the bait lived long if that makes any difference. I can't imagine that I wouldn't catch anything even if it was turtles stealing the bait.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Sounds like someone checked them for you.

The hooks are too big! i like #2 kahle hooks.

Is it probable that I'd catch a flathead during the day or do they prowl only at night?

What was the area like that you put them out in? If it was a sheltered cove it's possible it was turtles.

Could also have been how you put the bait on, it's possble that it come loose.

I really prefer shad for my juglines. Have to check em more often but a large shad head seems to be the ticket for me on Texoma.

The bait probably died and turtles ate it.

When fishing perch, you want to use at least a 5/0 size hook. I use bigger. Your problem just might be gars. Water has warmed up and they are on the move big time. They can pick a perch off the hook and never get hooked. This time of year, we run our lines every 2 hours. Even through the night. At night, and early morning seems the best for big cats in the summer.

probably was turtles. i hate turtles.

It sounds like someone might have checked them for you, or it could be turtles or gar. One of the two...

Yes, big shad heads is the ticket!!

I put the jugs at the mouths of a couple of coves by San Augustine Park. I hooked the bream between the tail and the dorsal fin. Is that the correct place to set the hook on live bait?

gar prolly ate the bait.

I hook then between the gills and the main fin on the back myself, and that seems to work for me without losing them. I've never hooked them back that far, it's possible something just ripped them off the hook.