I need somebody to either point me to a good walkthrough or give me the basics on how/where to setup and run a trotline. I have never tried it before and am thinking of going and picking up on of the prefab ones and trying it out this weekend.

How do you keep it from getting drug away ?
How do you pull the thing in and not get skewered by your own hooks ?

Etc, etc

ive been doing trotlines latly and im setting them in about 12 ft deep of water.From getting it kept from being drug out ive been tying it from tree to tree.use frsh shad or live perch for good results.
GOOD LUCK

An old fishing buddy passed on some good advise to me. When running trotlones, always hold the main line. If you hold outo the drop with the hook on it and a big fish hits one of your baits, it can imbed the hook into your hand. Always secure one end of the line, at least, to a tree or other secure point preferably with some flexability. The other end can be tied to another fixed object or a rock, brick, or other anchoring devise. Add weights to the line to keep the line at a predetermined depth. The depth can be adjusted by the length of the staging your weights are tied to. Bait with live or fresh dead shad, cut carp, or live perch for best results. You can also use stink bait, soap, or any other concoction you would normally use for cats but the bigger cats will normally be caught on live bait. Other posts are saying to run the lines in 12 to 15 feet of water right now. Make sure there is plenty of cover like brush or rocks cause cats prefer cover. If in a river, look for undercut banks and fallen trees in holes below gravel bars in the eddys where the current is eddying toward the bar. In lakes, look for submerged road beds, sand bars and submerged sand/gravel bars. Run the lines at least twice a day to make sure the line is baited and the fish are removed while still alive. Some fish, like hybrids and stripers, which you may pick up occasionally, will die if left on the line too long. It goes withour saying, check the regulations for trotlines and jug lines and be sure to tag them with all the required information. Good luck.

Did you get the E-mail I sent you?

I always "hooked" the mainlineline on boat cleat instead of just holding the mainline while baiting or taking fish off. Fishing by yourself tends to make one cautious, some might say over cautious, but I aint had a hook thru the hand doing it this way.

Catfish_Addiction. I got the email but I have to wait for them to approve my account before I can get in and view the topic

Mr Wiggles you probably know this, but I would reccomend having 2 people in the boat and wearing PFD's when running the trotline espeacially if it is windy. Depending on what lake your fishing if you can find the 5" and longer fresh shad and find some stick-ups you will do fine.

Good-luck

Marc

I have only used juglines...so I will be trying to run one for the first time soon..


Here are articles I found on the internet

http://www.motherearthnews.com/library/1998_Febuary_March/How_to_Run_a_Trotline

http://www.whiskerkitty.com/jug_vs_trotline.html

http://brotherhood-of-catfishermen.com/