Although jigging a quarter-ounce trap may not be necessary nor will the sporting appeal of catching a 20-pound fish on a 10-pound test be present, jug fishing is undoubtedly a successful move in the fun department. Nothing compares to pedaling your yacht at full speed and chasing after a large fish drags a jug along. It’s a mono- a man tug of war when you catch away to that jug, and you might end up with one catfish piled higher in the cooler at the end of the day.
It’s a lot of fun to juggle for fish from a yacht.
Remember that this jugging technique only applies to water stream, azure, and flathead catfish, as well as non-game fish. There are also several lakes, reservoirs, and streams where it is forbidden to jugline. ( You can find them all on the TPWD website under Legal Devices, Methods, and Restrictions. ) Now that all of that is said and done,
- Rig up bottles of any color other than orange ( must be at least 6 inches long and 3 inches wide ) and have at least a line length of 25 to 30 percent longer than the deepest spots you’ll fish. In general, it’s better to go overboard and use too many line as opposed to very small because you could lose a jug. You’ll be hand-tying it in with a heavy monofilament line rather than braid. The thick line wo n’t deter catfish, and the 80-pound test is great.
- Connect on an egg sinker-healing group hook that is 8 to 12 inches long. More fat is frequently required to stop any buckets from floating off, as with line length. Next use a piece of the cut fish as bait.
- Use your bottles as much terrain as you’d like to pedal or paddle over.
Now it’s time to relax, delay, and enjoy. The hunt begins when one of the jugs begins to move out!
