Catfish Trotlining and Jugging Tricks
John E. Phillips 06.18.12
Successful catfish catchers know where the cats are, what they want to eat, and which method of angling will put the catfish on their tables.
This method of fishing for cats varies from state to state and person to person. I know men in Mississippi and Louisiana who go into the swamps bare-footed and overall-clad, dive down into the black, murky water to find a big cat in a hollow stump and wrestle the cat to the surface. In other states, picnic lunches on the edge of a stream with six or 10 poles set out is the more conventional way to wait for a catfish dinner. Anglers often have little choice of method. Some states ban trotlines, and others have strict regulations on the use of them. Just as forbidden in some regions are limb lines and set poles. However, the rod and the reel or the cane pole is almost universally acceptable. Catfishing has such a wide appeal for several reasons. Catfish are inexpensive to angle for and they are delicious to eat and fun to catch. Here are some helpful hints if these methods are permitted in your state. Be sure to check with your local department of conservation on regulations for catching catfish.
Trotlining
Trotlines and hooks to fish an entire season usually can be purchased for under $25. Be sure to anchor the line, so it will float the bait just off the bottom. Use a rock anchor to hold the main line down for the best results. Buoys like Styrofoam or jugs can be used to support the line off the bottom. Because of this arrangement, the drops and the hooks will be close to the bottom but not on the bottom. Vary your baits and depths, until you discover what depths and baits are preferred. Always check state regulations too as to the number of hooks permitted and the size and the type of line required. Trotlines have the big advantage of being reusable over several years. They also can be picked up and moved to other spots with little trouble.
Jugging
Jug fishing is a fun activity that can involve the entire family. Children seem to enjoy raiding laundromats and garbage cans for plastic, quart detergent and bleach bottles. These jugs can be strung with monofilament, weights and hooks for only pennies. By putting each family member’s name on different jugs, a competition can be held as to whose jug catches the most cats. Don’t forget to vary the depth of the lines and the baits to help you decide where the cats are ranging, and what food source they favor. A jug that floats downstream or sits quietly in a slough or a pond is fishing for catfish, while the family is recreating. For something a little different, try night jugging. Cats seem to feed better at night. Moonlight jugging is a good way to beat the summer heat.
For more catfishing tips and tricks, check out last week’s post on the best baits to use.
John, the 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the year and the 2007 Legendary Communicator chosen for induction into the National Fresh Water Hall of Fame, is a freelance writer (over 6,000 magazine articles for about 100 magazines and several thousand newspaper columns published), magazine editor, photographer for print media as well as industry catalogues (over 25,000 photos published), lecturer, outdoor consultant, marketing consultant, book author and daily internet content provider with an overview of the outdoors.
Phillips has been a contributor to many national magazines, has been affiliated with 27 radio stations across Alabama serving as their outdoor editor and wrote for a weekly syndicated column, "Alabama Outdoors," for 38-Alabama newspapers for more than 13 years. Phillips was Outdoor Editor for the "Birmingham Post-Herald" for 24 years. Phillips was also the executive editor for "Great Days Outdoors" magazine for 3 years.
The author of almost 30 books on the outdoors, Phillips is a founding member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and an active member of the Southeastern Outdoors Press Association (SEOPA). Phillips also is the owner of Night Hawk Publications, a marketing and publishing firm, and president of Creative Concepts, an outdoor consulting group.
Phillips conducts seminars across the nation at colleges in freelance writing, photography and outdoor education besides teaching courses in how to sell what you write to writers' groups. Phillips received his photography training as a still-lab photo specialist for six years in the Air Force. He was the chief photographer for Mannequins, Inc., a Birmingham modeling agency, for 11 years.
While serving as 2nd Vice President of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, Phillips was in charge of all press releases for the organization as well as serving as Chairman of Alabama's Big Buck Contest, which he founded more than 30 years ago. He also was president of the Alabama Sportsman's Association for three years.
Phillips is the recipient of a Certificate of Merit from the Governor of Alabama and the Department of Conservation for his work in the outdoor field. Phillips is vitally interested in the outdoors and travels the nation collecting personalities, stories and how-to information for his articles and features.
EDUCATION: B.S. degree from the University of West Alabama with a physical education major and a history minor.
EXPERIENCE: 10 years parttime and fulltime physical director for YMCAs and 34 years as a freelance writer, photographer, editor, book author, lecturer and daily-content provider for websites. Currently, Phillips is a field editor for Game and Fish Publications; serves on the editorial board of Grandview Media; is a regular contributor to 12 internet magazines and a daily content provider for 8 websites.
WRITING AWARDS: Runnerup - Best Outdoor Magazine Feature - 1981 - SEOPA; Certificate of Merit - Awarded by Alabama's Governor for writings on conservation; Most Outstanding Sports Writer in Southeast - 1983 & 1984; Best Outdoor Feature in Alabama, 1987 - Alabama Sportswriters' Association 3rd Place; Best Book of the Year - 1989 - SEOPA; 2007 - inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Communicator; 2008 - received award naming him 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the Year from the Crossbow Manufacturers' Association; 2009 - GAMMA Honorable Mention for Consumer/Paid Best Essay for July/August 2008 in "Southern Sporting Journal."
