Jug fishing questions

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Master Carper

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Nov 23, 2010
Messages
2,005
Reaction score
1,896
Location
Oklahoma
I have a bunch of heavy duty gallon jugs saved up, and I plan on doing some nighttime jugging within the next couple of weeks...

I plan on using the black tar coated nylon line, and running 3 to 5 hooks per jug...

Hooks will be baited with hand sized perch and chunks of skip jack herring...

My question is, what will be the best way to attach hooks to the main line? I was thinking about running a hook every eight to ten feet, with a 2 ft. leader for each hook, which would be attached to the main line with a swivel...

I have a 5 gallon bucket full of 6 oz. weights, and these will be tied to the end of the main line...

What would be an ideal setup for rigging the hooks off the main line for jug fishing?

I will be lake fishing, so no river current to contend with.
 

dennishoddy

Sharpshooter
Supporting Member
Special Hen Supporter
Joined
Dec 9, 2008
Messages
84,545
Reaction score
61,825
Location
Ponca City Ok
I just use a 3 way swivel on the main line and then a single line out to the hook.
The best advice I can give is to use circle hooks. I go on line and get the #12 saltwater hooks. Big hooks, but you need big hooks to use big baits.
My catch ratio doubled when moving to circle hooks.
 

Reloading Rod

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Aug 10, 2014
Messages
137
Reaction score
76
Location
Edmond
I just looped them and used 4 or 5 hooks per line, swivel is just extra money lost when it floats off or someone cuts it. If at all possible I would use shad, it's easy to catch with a cast net and is their natural food, you want the shad fresh, it is usually good for a few hours on ice. Blue cats will be big enough to move the jug with a 6 ounce weight, I found using a 6 or 7 foot grab hook to grab the jugs as you go by very helpful. I just put them where the drifted till they hit the depth of the line, caught tons of fish doing this.
 

Master Carper

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Nov 23, 2010
Messages
2,005
Reaction score
1,896
Location
Oklahoma
Thank you for the advice Dennis! I just bought 100 of the Gamakatsu Big Cat Circle Hooks in 5/0. If I have "problems" with them, then I will get the 10/0 hooks for the next outing. What size swivels do you use? I think that might be the only "weak" link on these lines, and I want to make sure I get the best I can for this...


Reloading Rod, I have access to all the shad I could ever use. I get the skipjack herring whole and in 60 pound boxes. I am targeting big blues, as they seem to like the herring better than shad...

I'm not worried about losing tackle or my jugs, as I stay with them all night. I thought about looping the hooks, but my biggest worry is the fish spinning and getting off...

I have an 8 ft. pole with a grab hook on it, and it works perfectly for getting hold of the jug line...
 

dennishoddy

Sharpshooter
Supporting Member
Special Hen Supporter
Joined
Dec 9, 2008
Messages
84,545
Reaction score
61,825
Location
Ponca City Ok
Thank you for the advice Dennis! I just bought 100 of the Gamakatsu Big Cat Circle Hooks in 5/0. If I have "problems" with them, then I will get the 10/0 hooks for the next outing. What size swivels do you use? I think that might be the only "weak" link on these lines, and I want to make sure I get the best I can for this...


Reloading Rod, I have access to all the shad I could ever use. I get the skipjack herring whole and in 60 pound boxes. I am targeting big blues, as they seem to like the herring better than shad...

I'm not worried about losing tackle or my jugs, as I stay with them all night. I thought about looping the hooks, but my biggest worry is the fish spinning and getting off...

I have an 8 ft. pole with a grab hook on it, and it works perfectly for getting hold of the jug line...
I use the biggest three way swivels I can find. They don't help a lot as you have to set your jugs at the depth where your lines stay taunt, yet don't get lifted and moved by high waves. They still get tangled up. I've thought about putting a swivel at the hook so if the line gets tangled, the fish can still twist. Hate pulling a jug that looks like a wad of line with no fish. I like to set near the main lake channels where feeder creek channels intersect. Blues use the channels as super highways, and venture on to the flats to feed.
 

Deer Slayer

Sharpshooter
Supporting Member
Special Hen Supporter
Joined
Sep 7, 2009
Messages
3,891
Reaction score
1,245
Location
Oklahoma City
I use 15-25 ft of line for my jug fishing. I place a 3/0 barrel swivel 5' up from the bottom then 5' above that on 15' of line. I use 1 lb concrete weights made with 20 ozs solo cups with a "T" post clip in the concrete. 4/0 circle hooks on 50# test big game for leaders tied with a palomar knot. 3/0 snap swivel on the bottom of the line to attach to weight. Fresh shad for bait and place the jug on the drop offs. Dennis and I have caught alot of blues together.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom