| Jug Fishing is in the realm of 'serious' | | | | White spray paint (if required in your state) |
| catfishing. By serious, I mean it is for | | | | |
| people who want to catch many catfish | | | | Permanent Marker (if required in your state) |
| consistently and fill up the freezer. Most | | | | |
| 'serious' catfish people will choose jug | | | | Reflective tape (if required in your state) |
| fishing over all other forms of fishing. | | | | |
| | | | Heavy (1-3 oz.) bell sinker |
| It is fun, cheap, productive and easy to do. | | | | |
| One of the advantages to jug fishing is that | | | | 10-25 lb. monofilament (for leaders) |
| you can spread your jugs over a much larger | | | | |
| area than is possible any other type of | | | | Check your jugs for cracks and splits. This |
| setline. It is also much easier to re-locate | | | | is best done by filling them with water and |
| juglines from an unproductive area than it is | | | | look for leaks. Many States require jugs to |
| for other setlines. | | | | be white or a bright color. If so, then start |
| | | | by painting your jugs with the white spray |
| Juglines can catch catfish, from eating size | | | | paint and let them dry. Then squeeze some |
| all the way to behemoths in the 50+ lb. | | | | silicone into the caps and screw them on. |
| range. They are a great way to catch many | | | | Allow them to dry. This is to make sure they |
| catfish in a short period. It is also one of | | | | are watertight. |
| the least expensive methods of fishing. All | | | | |
| that is actually required is a boat of some | | | | Next, unroll a length of the braided nylon |
| kind (or raft, float-tube or even an air | | | | twine, about 25-30' should be plenty. Tie one |
| mattress), bait, plastic jugs, string and | | | | end of the twine securely to the handle of |
| terminal tackle. | | | | the jug (or around the neck if using soda |
| | | | bottles) so that it cannot come off. Your |
| Commercially made, pre-rigged fishing jugs | | | | depth can be adjusted by wrapping, or |
| are on the market, but you can also make your | | | | unwrapping the line around the handle. |
| own very easily and cheaply. A Jug unit | | | | |
| consists of a plastic jug (old milk or Sunny | | | | Next, tie the bell sinkers to the bottom of |
| Delight jugs work great. So do Anti-Freeze | | | | each rig. I prefer using a Perfection Loop |
| jugs and 2 liter plastic soda bottles), a | | | | knot for this. Now, for each hook, you can |
| mainline (usually heavy kite or parcel | | | | snell them with the monofilament. You only |
| string), a weight, hooks and some | | | | need about a 10" leader. Starting from the |
| monofilament leaders. | | | | bottom, tie on a hook at the 3' mark, using a |
| | | | three-way or barrel swivel. |
| You can rig several hooks on each jugline. | | | | |
| You can let the weight go all the way to the | | | | Then, go up to the 6' level and tie a hook, |
| bottom, or rig it at a certain depth and let | | | | and so on, until you have all the hooks you |
| it drift, to cover more water. | | | | want on it. I recommend sticking with just |
| | | | three, for simplicity. Repeat for each jug |
| To make a jug line, you need: | | | | unit. |
| | | | |
| A plastic jug | | | | If your state requires it, then put |
| | | | reflective tape on the top of the jug and use |
| Silicone sealant (caulk) | | | | the permanent marker to write your name, |
| | | | address, phone number, and any other required |
| A roll of braided nylon twine | | | | information on the top of the jug. To store |
| | | | the units, simply wrap the mainline around |
| Several size 1-2/0 Aberdeen hooks (your | | | | the handles and the bodies of the jugs until |
| choice) | | | | you are ready to use them. |
| | | | |