Troutlines And Jugs

[Forsythian]

I always pay close attention to the jugs.

[Sam]

I have never found a name and address on a trot line... or witnessed a guy watching jug lines.

I usually find them covered with moss-- looking like they had been there for a long time... and I see jugs floating up in the brush near the banks and such... I guess the guy forgot to come and get his lines...

Whack'em

Yeah, I see that junk all the time too - usually right where I want to make a cast. I guess the regs about tagging trotlines and watching juglines are at least an effort to help that problem.

There's some guys doing it right, though. I had several good crappie and white bass trips this spring downstream from Cape Fair, and that's where a lot of catfishing was going on. I saw several active trotlines set out, with nametags attached. Crappie fishing along one bank, another boat came by with two guys catching little black perch on jigs to bait their trotline. I got to talking with them and they said they'd been running a trotline for a couple of days, doing good and having a ball with it, and bass fishing in between. It took both of them to hold up a BIG flathead from the bottom of their boat to show me.

I could stand some of that.

[abkeenan]

I always set my trotline in the same cove as my dock or the next cove over which is 100 yards further. Jugs are clearly visible at both ends with all my information written on the jug in black sharpy ink. Always remove it before i leave the lake. But i understand how others can hate trotlines because i have also seen the way that others use theirs. Looks like they have been in the water since the river was damed and that really bothers me that someone would be that lazy and discourteous to the lake and people trying to enjoy it. Just like everything else their are jerks that make a bad name for the rest of us who abide by the rules and try to have some respect for the water, anglers, boaters, skiers and wildlife.

-Brett

[Whack'emGood]

I always set my trotline in the same cove as my dock or the next cove over which is 100 yards further. Jugs are clearly visible at both ends with all my information written on the jug in black sharpy ink. Always remove it before i leave the lake. But i understand how others can hate trotlines because i have also seen the way that others use theirs. Looks like they have been in the water since the river was damed and that really bothers me that someone would be that lazy and discourteous to the lake and people trying to enjoy it. Just like everything else their are jerks that make a bad name for the rest of us who abide by the rules and try to have some respect for the water, anglers, boaters, skiers and wildlife.

-Brett

Right on Brett. I don't think most of us conventional fishermen hate trotlines per se... I just hate it when those few "jerks" who don't follow the rules screw things up for the rest of us-- like you said. That goes for every activity/sport.

I want to wish everyone who does trotlines right good luck.

Whack'em

[Wayne SW/MO]

Not all trotlines are armed, some leave the running line and remove the drop lines. I generally don't have a problem with this as long as its deep enough and well marked so that others don't snag it, but that's not always the case.

If your focus is catching some cats on the trotline however, you'll do better in shallow water over night.

[Sam]

abide by the rules and try to have some respect for the water, anglers, boaters, skiers and wildlife.

I'm with you on that, but do I gotta respect the Los Angeles-class heavy cruisers and PWC's (lake lice) too?

That's asking a lot.

[Painter nick]

I would like to day thanks to all who posted. Keep them comming I will read them all. Thanks again!!!!! I will pick up my line when I am done dont want to make people mad. There is lots of good info here. I went to pommey two weeks ago and had no luck and i see why. Wrong hooks and i was to deep. i was talking to someone to day and he said to try at flat creek so i will. Just want to have a fish fry like i went to when I was little. So i wil have all the info on my troutline and jugs so they meet regulations. Good luck comes by doing what right so I need some good luck on my side.

[redbud]

Painter, good luck to you.I hope you have tons of fun .You are right,good luck comes from doing whats right,sort of a karma thing. Take some pics if you get any ,always enjoy pics of fish caught .

[Whack'emGood]

Good luck Painter... have fun!

[Painter nick]

As soon as I get to go Ill post my pic