Jug Fishing

[The Blue Goose]

My family and I are heading for Lake of the Ozarks next week for vacation. I think the kids (and myself) might enjoy throwing out some jugs and trying to catch some catfish. We used to do it when I was a kid and the laws were different...we'd let them out in the cove at dark and run them down the next morning. It was fun but we hardly ever caught anything. Anybody got any advice? What depth, what times, what for bait? Thanks...

[Wayne SW/MO]

Make them out of pool noodles with the hollow center. Cut the noodle to length, run a rope through the center hole and through fender washers big enough to keep the rope from pulling into the noodle. Make a loop in each end of the rope and tie your dropper to one and use the other as a lifting handle.

Bait them with 2-3" perch.

[junkman]

Blue goose, welcome to the forum, I am new as well and you will find discussion seems to be at a bare minimum around here sometimes. I an not a jug fisherman but I believe the rules state that you are suppose to be with them at all times, might check the rule book for I don't have one. Hope you and your family still have plenty of fun. Again welcome

[rps]

The noodle advice is good. The "be with them" is as well. I don't know about jugs, but trot lines need to be labeled with your name and maybe some other stuff. Maybe someone who knows more than I will help out here.Based on where I have found fish the last 10 days,I suggest you set the weight at 26 feet and have the hook about a foot above that. The bluegills are thick at 26 - 28 feet. Good luck.

[The Blue Goose]

I already have my "jugs," which are swimming noodles similar to what is described. I borrowed them from my Dad, who has used them like me and never had a whole lot of success. I was planning on free-floating them anywhere from 3-12 feet or so. We always used to let them float, but at about 3-5 feet. I thought I'd try to go deeper but from the way it sounds I need to go a lot deeper still and add some weight. Does anybody catch any catfish shallower in August?

Yeah, I know you have to stay with them now, which is kind of disappointing. It used to be a lot of fun trying to run down your jugs the next morning...I guess too many dock owners were mad at Billy Bob's jugs stuck on their dock with a bloated bluegill on the end.

[Pflugradt]

Remember also that MO regulations say that even if an angler is under the age of 16 if they are participating (actually touching in any way other than handing an unbaited one to you and even that is a bit gray) in trot line fish, bank or limb line fishing or anchored or unanchored jug line fishing they must possess a Missouri fishing license. But also remember that if they possess a license they can also have a full daily and bag limit to add to the boat as well as another round of hooks. This is one of the reasons I buy my 8yr old a license every year, he and I can go float a section and set 60 or so limb lines and then go back and pick them and have 2 full limits, or if the wife comes as well we have three and an extra round of hooks if we find a place to put out a few extras.

Steve

[The Blue Goose]

Remember also that MO regulations say that even if an angler is under the age of 16 if they are participating (actually touching in any way other than handing an unbaited one to you and even that is a bit gray) in trot line fish, bank or limb line fishing or anchored or unanchored jug line fishing they must possess a Missouri fishing license. But also remember that if they possess a license they can also have a full daily and bag limit to add to the boat as well as another round of hooks. This is one of the reasons I buy my 8yr old a license every year, he and I can go float a section and set 60 or so limb lines and then go back and pick them and have 2 full limits, or if the wife comes as well we have three and an extra round of hooks if we find a place to put out a few extras.

Steve

Wow. I would like to think I have a pretty decent grasp on rules and regs but I did not know that. I think that might take the cake as the most ridiculous conservation law I've ever heard.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I believe that is so that Billy Bob can't load the boat with kids and then set that many more hooks.

[rainbow]

For jug fishing a kid under 16 would need a permit. Here is a link to the rules for kids. http://mdc.mo.gov/permits/fishing-permit-information. Also you can't leave jugs unattended unless they are anchored to the bottom. If they are free floating you must stay in sight of them. Get on a flat away from the shallow water and use hotdogs. you only need to set your droppers to 5 or 6 feet deep if you are off shore. if you catch a small bluegill leave it on the hook for a flattie. Spray the dogs with a shad spray or wd40. That's all you need.

here is a link to the jug fishing rules http://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/regulations/general-fishing-provisions/jug-line-regulations

[JimG]

Spray the dogs with a shad spray or wd40.

WD40? Your post didn't seem like a joke, but spraying WD40 on your bait sure sounded like a joke to me. So I did a google search and sure enough people do it. Have you had good luck using WD40?