Spend hours cast netting shad in the dark and baiting hooks and crouching over the sonar searching the structure breaks. I finally find what I am looking for so I chip the ice off my fingers and set the juglines in three different sets covering deep, medium, and shallow. I motor back to the shore, warm up in the truck a little and catch a quick nap. At first light I go back out to run the lines and find some that some USDA-certified-grade-A-#1-bunghole has thrown his juglines out right in the middle of 2 out of my 3 sets. I'm not talking about just close - I mean right on top of them! I didn't see that kind of thing too often in the past, but now its happening more and more. Anyone else experience this?

Yep. That's why I gave up the jugs and rod and reel fish only now.

Sometimes near, but not in the midst or right beside. Obviouly a rookie or a pro, depending on the end of scale knowing that somebody (you) might know exactly where to set them. But in poor taste of respect either way.

I have been known to come up near my trotlines & have someone sitting over rod-n-reeling as to one end of it. As gas (fuel) is not cheap, some of my lines are miles apart, I can't alweays pass up the lines without checking them. I start up conversation & explain that I will be checking my lines on one side that eventually runs underneath them (but will stop short of getting next to them) & try not to disturb their fishing, and will check what I can of it, and come back after they are gone to check the rest. You would be amazed as to the people who will be so kind as to move over so you can check the whole line. Perhaps they do so out of curiosity to see a set line fisherman's method or catches. But maybe because they think they might get tangled since now they know a line exists below them. Either way, respect & kindness are the best ways to fish. Not sometimes, but ALWAYS.

USDA-certified-grade-A-#1-bunghole - sounds about right. It took a real idiot to do that. Almost sounds like they needed to get real close so they could check them all, double up the number of jugs in the water.

Did you end up with any fish on?

I'm new to jugging and not sure of what the protocal is, but I've seen jugs strung along a dam, every 60-75 yards or so and didn't feel right fishing the dam at all. I normally group my sets in an area 250' x 250' and would be pretty pissed if someone would dump all over my jugs.

I cant believe that. I have a bunch made up and heck it worth it now. So disrespectful. A total jerk.

Good spots are good spots, but that seems rude. Best thing you can do is turn the other cheek. Sometimes I can't fish on the spot I want the way I want cuz there are jugs or trotlines on them. Just gotta fish around them or go to a new location.

I ended up with an 8# and 6# blue and one 15"cc, all on the only set that mr. bunghole didn't dump on. On the other two sets, all I had were empty hooks and a few jugs with tangled lines. Coulda been coincidence, but it sure dont look like it.
As for protocal, I dont put my lines out in an area someone else is already jugging. There have been plenty of times I planned to fish a particular area, then got out on the water and found someone had beat me to it. I'll move on to another spot.

Sounds like he ran your jugs while he was putting his out. Tangled lines are usually from someone checking them in a hurry. Sorry to hear about the DB

When I throw juglines, I never leave them. Mine are not anchored and float freely with the wind and current. I just tag along with my boat and watch for one to start flagging.

This is what I do, I have seen too many fish thieves in my time, and if I cannot actually keep an eye on my jugs I will not fish them. Even then, you still have people that think it is okay to try to thieve fish off your lines. A quick trip over to them in the boat to let them know you have a cell phone pic of them picking up your jug and the game warden on speed dial usually will do the trick.

I have a few floating jugs that I will use if I'm going to rod n reel fish also - drift along near them and pull them when I go. I guess I should be more thankful that so many people are considerate of their fellow fishermen, it just bothers me that a few have such little respect for others as to mess with their gear and even take their catch.

That would work. The only time I tried to approach another boat that was obviously running my lines, he took off. He was in a bass rig with a big Evinrude. I got a little 25 horse Yammie tiller job. Adios fish!