Post By: Mr.Pink Posted: 9/10/2012 4:09:07 PM Points: 132
What's jug fishing all about? I see in the regulations that it's allowed in a few reservoirs. I don't think it's something I want to try, but I'm curious about it, partly because I've never met anyone who does it, and I've never seen the topic addressed here.
It seems like you attach a bait to a jug and toss it out. What happens when a large fish takes it? Do you then chase the jug around the lake until the fish tires out? Do you throw out a hook and catch the line like crab fishermen?
Anyway, like I said...I'm curious. For that matter, trot lines are also something I never hear about and have never met anyone who does it.
Neither method sounds like much fun to me...but what do I know.
I once "jug" fished at navajo with a duck decoy with a 6' piece of mono tied to a treble hook and aa seven inch bluegill. Waited till it drifted out of site n went n found it later with a chewed up gill on it still.
Trotlines are the way to go but jugs are cool to for cats if you just set them at night. Also jugs are a good way to scout water before setting a trotline.
So, how does that work with the jugs? How do you retrieve them when they're hooked to big fish? Do you chase them down? And what's in the jugs in the pic you posted? It's orange...
I use a half of brick for a weight so i don't have to chase them. A big cat can dunk the jug like a bobber. I only use orange juice jugs so you can see them in white cap waters. A single hook jug line has to be checked every hour and a 25 hook trotline has to be checked 1 time per day.
I like jugs as much as the next guy - but when they come into play when trying to catch fish - I have other games I favor.
Being a Colorado native, jug fishing has never been encountered on a personal level on my part. But by watching from afar, I can see that I seriously doubt I would ever favor jug fishing over other means of catching 'em. I also doubt if I would enjoy it as anything other than a passing amusement.
To each his own.
However, I can see a lot of worth in some of the characters that undoubtedly and wholeheartedly participate in jug fishing.
I can see the merit in using them. Especially if I was hungry, had children to feed, had no job, needed to catch food while looking for a job. I a couple of guys that fish/hunt for their family's food. They get enough to feed their family and make sure they go out often enough to stock the freezer if necessary. They occasionally have a couple of friends over, however, they usually don't have the 'food budget' for that.
I would love to learn more about trotlines, but won't hijack the thread.
Cookster, that looks awesome!
I couldn't imagine having that many decent fish sitting there. Only time I have ever had that many fish sitting out of the water, was when they were bluegill and I spent a couple of hours cleaning and filleting them, and then only once. Come to think of it I've only caught maybe two in my life that were anywhere close to that size too. Now I'm sad...
Well, thanks to everyone for chiming in. I learned something, and I love that.
One poster mentioned feeding a family, and I can appreciate that.
These methods aren't for every one...I don't think I'll be trying my hand soon. But that may be because I don't live near any waters where it's allowed.
