| Jug fishing is a very old method of covering | | | | favorite rigs online from Jug Fishing. They |
| a large area of water with bait, and catch a | | | | also carry my favorite and best producing |
| lot of fish quickly. It is very low-tech, and | | | | bait, Redneck SoapBait. |
| easy enough for anyone to learn quickly. | | | | |
| | | | If you want to make your own, you will need |
| It is not uncommon to catch your limit of | | | | several 1 or 2 liter plastic soda bottles, a |
| fish in a very short period of time, using | | | | roll of braided nylon twine, 2 hooks for each |
| this method. A jug rig is simply a floating | | | | rig, silicone caulk, white spray paint, a |
| plastic jug with an attached running line, | | | | permanent Sharpie marker, pocket knife, |
| hooks, bait and weight. They are placed in | | | | gravel, reflective tape, and a brick. The |
| the water and pulled in when a fish bites. | | | | first thing you have to do to comply with |
| That's it. | | | | many State laws, is to paint the jugs white. |
| | | | |
| In modern times, jug fishing is used mostly | | | | This also aids in spotting the jugs on the |
| for catching channel and blue catfish. | | | | water and keeping them in sight. When they |
| Flatheads, or Yellow Catfish are frequently | | | | are dry, put strips of reflective tape on the |
| caught as well. Many trophy and record fish | | | | bottom of the jugs. Next, put a cup or two of |
| have been caught on jugs. Before going out | | | | gravel in the jug. Fill the cap with caulk |
| jugging, be sure to check your local laws and | | | | and screw it on the bottle tightly, and allow |
| make sure it is legal in your area. | | | | it to dry. This seals the bottle. Next, take |
| | | | about 20-25' of the twine and attach securely |
| There are two types of jug rigs: | | | | one end of it to the neck of the bottle. On |
| Free-Floating and Stationary. Free-Floating | | | | the other end, make 2 dropper loops, one |
| rigs are allowed to drift with the wind and | | | | about 3' up from the end, and the other about |
| current across likely spots, with the | | | | 3' above that one, and attach the hooks of |
| fisherman following in a boat. | | | | your choice. If you want a Free-Floating rig, |
| | | | place a 1/2 oz. bell sinker on the bottom. If |
| When a fish hits one of the rigs, it is | | | | you want a Stationary Rig, leave enough twine |
| pulled in. The Stationary Rig has a heavy | | | | at the bottom to tie on the brick. |
| weight that anchors it to the bottom so that | | | | |
| it doesn't drift. Both are very effective. | | | | For storage, roll the line around the neck. |
| | | | Use the Sharpie and write your name, address |
| You can make your own jug rigs, but frankly, | | | | and phone number on the jugs (to comply with |
| there are commercial ones available that are | | | | many state laws). Repeat for the number of |
| so cheap and well-made that it's not really | | | | rigs you want. I usually use 5 or 6 at a |
| worth the trouble. Even Wal-Mart carries jug | | | | time. I use the marker to number the jugs. It |
| rigs, ready-to-fish, for a pittance. I get my | | | | makes them easier to keep track of. |