How do you get the lines with rock anchors real tight? I tried and had lines that had WAY too much slack in them. Need a process that I can do with just me in the boat.

Guess I would it need something like over 25# to get it to the surface so that average bass/crappie lines would break off before it got high enough up to get and cut? That was my thnking anyway.

Thanks.

you gotta use drops on your anchors ... if that's all you're using to set your lines out is anchors then one of the anchors needs another rope on it tied to a jug so that you can grab that jug and use your boat to tighten the line ... just wrap that line that's on your anchor to a cleat that won't break off easily and then fire your motor up and pull the anchor until the line is tight. if you've got the line in 15 ft of water then you'll need about 100 ft of line on both ends of the mainline so that when you pull the line up to check it you don't pull your anchors in... it'll just lift the line and stretch the anchor lines enough so that you can check your line. I used to use a pully system on the end of my lines where i'd tie two jugs on the end of the mainline and the mainline ran through a pully and the jugs pulled on the line all the time ... it also gave a good way for fish to fight against the line without something solid they could pull against and then it'd just spring back because the jugs would pull the mainline tight again through the pully that was attached to one end of the line via the anchor rock. then I had a tightener line and jug on the opposite anchor so that I could pull on that anchor until I sunk the jugs that were pulling the line up through the pully. but anyhow ... that's how you tighten your line ... tie another rope to the anchor on one end and pull the anchor until the mainline is tight

one man trotlining is a little dangerous. I'd just set out some jugs

Tiny, once again you the man. Tks, I will use your information when I start trotlining in the fall.
Snowyriver, I agree; one man trotlining can be dangerous and it really makes things more difficult. I have done it in the past, but as I get older I realize that too many things can go wrong and you can end up in the water.

Snowyriver, are you just talking about setting out jugs that have a single anchor or ones that are free-floating? You are talking about something like a floating throwline, right?

Sorry if I got the terms wrong - new at this and trying to get it all down still.

I take a window weight, or brick. I like window weights better. I tie my mainline onto it and clip a hook (I use those trotline clips with a foot long leader and a number 4 circle hook), 3 feet from the end and 6 feet from the end. Drop it to the bottom. On the other end of the line I tie a 2 foot long flotie.

I've trotlined for 40 years and caught a lot of fish that way. But in my older years, I can see how it might be a little dangerous. Running a line, your body is leaning forward and you are in the perfect position to fall overboard. Then you get tangled up in the line, or hooks. Now you're a dead man. I'd rather just set out some jugs. Its a lot easier and a lot safer and you'll catch just as many, and you wont have them green lipped trash fish fisherman running over your line.

And I always keep a knife in my pocket.....just in case I need it. Wearing a life jacket is a must, but also , always have a knife in your pocket.

i tie mine to two stationary logs that are in the water and pull as tight as i want then put a good sized weight in the middel and one on each side to sink it pretty good!!