whats the best way to set out a trotline. beep or shollow, how deep and how to anchor never set one out before Thanks

right now 10' parallel to the bank, preferably a rocky bank ... i use a 5 gal bucket at least 3/4 full of sackret ... bend a piece of rebar into a loop to tie to

Don't forget the equipment tag with your name, address, phone number, and date. If you can keep it out of an area of bedding bass if might be there when you come back to run it.

For the most part, trotlines are a fairly safe way to fish but can be tricky if youve never done it. I would suggest running it in shallow water (4ft or so). The blues will be up in the shallows and if something goes wrong and you get pulled in, ur only in 4 ft of water. I would keep my hooks about 1.5 to 2 ft off the bottom at that depth. Only thing to worry about is the bass fishers cutting it or some jack wad running it for you. Use fresh cut shad, carp, or buffalo.

This is definately the shallow time of year. i would be looking for shallow places near shore with rocko or gravel, preferably near depth change/creek/river...

I use live bait so I dont have to wory about it being inthe mud.

matt

the reason i said 10 ft deep is so all the panty waiste wouldn't be cryin' about gettin into a trotline ... but parallel to the bank

Thanks for the info .what type hooks do you use ?

im going to build my own trotline the ones in the store look cheep

I use nothing but circle hooks!

what would bee a good size?

I use the mustad circle hooks from academy, the cheap ones you get in boxes of 25 in 12/0-14/0 depending on what my bait looks like.

Dont fool yourself, the lines from the stores will hold alot of fish, just dont use their stagings or hooks. I have caught alot of cats on them biggest was 82 lbs, they will hold fish.

matt

I have never had a store bought line fail other than being hit by a boat motor or cut by another boater, i have had my own stagings break, and everytime that happens I rework them to the next level and start again.

matt