By Barry St. Clair
May 30, 2008 07:26 pm
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“It’s not glamorous, but it sure is fun” aptly describes an unheralded, age-old form of fishing still popular today. A well known axiom, author unknown, states “The simple things in life are best,” and fishing does not get much simpler than using a jug-line.
Catching fish with a free floating device sporting a dangling piece of bait was probably the second or third fishing technique invented, right after hand-grappling and spearing. Whatever its origins, catching fish on jug-lines is a simple and fun means of getting meat for the table. It definitely qualifies as a non-stressful, entertaining form of angling.
Basic materials necessary are a highly buoyant object a foot or less in length, some fishing line, a weight and bait. Secure a stout length of cord to the float, crimp a small weight to the line, tie on a baited hook and toss the whole contraption into a likely fishing spot and wait for action.
Action is defined by the movement of the jug. If it starts to dance up and down on the water’s surface or move off more rapidly than the prevailing breeze, odds are good a fish is attached. Retrieve the jug, wind in the line and viola; supper should be attached to the other end.
Jug fishing doesn’t get much press. It probably has something to do with the lack of marketable products involved. Most jug fishermen make their outfits out of whatever is handy. Plastic milk bottles work but are inferior. They are easily punctured and won’t hold up to much abuse. Better choices are cleanly rinsed bleach bottles, two liter soft drink bottles or Styrofoam.
Professionals use 4X8-inch dry Styrofoam blocks cut into the shape of a brick. The blocks won’t absorb water and are cheap. Die hard jug fishermen paint the blocks fluorescent colors making them easier to spot at night—prime jug fishing time. Some states have restrictions on jug lines including what colors are legal. It is best to consult local regulations before choosing a color.
Texas law states that a jug-line may be used in freshwater only and is defined as a fishing line with five or less hooks tied to a free-floating device. The device must contain a gear tag listing the angler’s name, address and date the device was set out. It also states that for non-commercial use, a jug-line must be marked with a white free-floating device. Orange is the color used by commercial fishermen.
How to make jug-line rigs:
If you decided to use Styrofoam blocks, make sure they are white as outlined above. Attach an adhesive label with your name, address and date to the block written with a black permanent marker. Get some Department of Transportation safety tape. It is red and white, very reflective, and shows up great at night when illuminated by a spotlight. Wrap a strip of tape around each end of the block. Now wrap the whole thing with clear carton sealing tape. It will protect the label and reflective tape and adds to the block’s durability.
Attach a length of stout fishing line to the middle of the block, about 20 feet is right. Use at least 20-pound test, 50-pound is better. Attach a couple of split shot size # 1 or #2 about two feet from the end of the line. Tie on a 3/0 to 4/0 “J” style bait holder hook. Wrap the line around the brick and stick the hook into it. Attach a heavy duty rubber band around the brick to secure the wrapped line and the outfit is ready to go.
A gallon white bleach jug will also work just fine. Write your identifying information on the jug with a permanent marker and rig as outlined above. Tie the line to the jug handle. Attach a strip of reflective tape to the jug and secure it with the clear carton tape as in the previous example. Sand can be added to a jug to slow its rate of drift if the wind is strong. Wrap the line around the jug and secure with a rubber band.
Types of bait to use are only limited by your imagination. Small pieces of cut bait will entice channel and blue catfish. Shad, perch, carp or drum work well. If yellow catfish is the target, live bait is necessary. A three to four inch perch hooked just under the dorsal fin will attract the big ones. Adjust fishing depth by un-wrapping enough line to keep the bait from hanging on the bottom. Secure the remainder to the jug or block with the heavy rubber band.
Live bait fished with jug-lines will also catch other species including largemouth bass and striped bass. In Texas, only non-game fish, channel catfish, blue catfish and yellow catfish may be legally taken with jug-lines. Other game fish must be released.
Good places to use jug-lines in reservoirs are coves fed by a flowing creek and shallow flats off main creek channels. The best time to use them is when water levels are rising. Catfish are drawn by the fresh water inflows and will spread out looking for food.
Jug-line fishing is not complicated or expensive. It is also just plain fun and an entertaining way to get kids involved in the outdoors. The excitement generated by a jug bobbing or racing across the surface of the water is a curious thing. It somehow brings out the child in all of us, the wonder of discovering what is on the other end of the string that leads to the depths of our imagination.
Barry St. Clair is a guest columnist for the Athens Daily Review. His columns appear weekly.
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