If cooked down, the catfish will fall apart and blend perfectly with the crabmeat. So try these methods before throwing that tasty fish back in the water. The first step for a trotline is cutting your pickets. I like to have one around 10 to 12 feet and another around 15 to 18 feet depending on the depth of the water.
Are
circle hooks good
for trotlines?
per run (even if you don’t use the new trotline model) is to switch to circle hooks. A 6/0 straight hook won’t give you half the holding power that a 6/0 circle hook will provide. They’re that good … and definitely worth the extra cost.
How often should you run a trotline?
To really run trotlines right you should check them every two hours throughout the night That way you’ll catch a lot more fish by keeping the hooks rebaited. If you only check it in the morning you may have two fish and 20 empty hooks.
What is the
best trotline bait
?
When targeting blue catfish or
channel catfish
, freshly cut parts of dead fish work best, followed by any types of dead bait or “stink catfish baits.”.
How long should trotline drops be?
The backbone of the trotline is now complete. The short segments of line that will run between the swivels and hooks, called drops, can be attached now, along with the hooks. Ideally the drops should be 12 to 18
inches long
.
How many hooks can you put on a trotline?
Trotlines in fresh water may not have more than 50 hooks on any one trotline.
What fish can you catch on a trotline?
A trotline can be set so it covers the width of a channel, river, or stream with baited hooks. There are many ways to set a trotline, with most methods involving weights to hold the cord below the surface of the water. They are used for catching crabs or fish (particularly catfish).
Why do catfish like Kool Aid?
The Kool-Aid will soak into the chunks and some of the liquid will come out of the meat to form a marinade that helps the flavor soak into the meat This makes the flavor and sweet smell permeate the chunk and means the bait will keep its flavor and smell for a long time in the water.
Do
hot dogs
work for catfish?
Hot dogs are a common food taken along on fishing excursions and double as excellent catfish bait Points to remember when using hot dogs as catfish bait include: Cheaper hot dogs seem to catch more fish.
What is a floating trotline?
Floating Trot line. (Item #846116) It is floating and measures 120 ft. long. It has plastic pellets melted on the twine to hold the swivels in place. Just like the old L&H trotline!.
Why is it called a trotline?
How ever trotlines got their name, they are part of an Ozarks fishing tradition that dates back many generations Long before there were bass boats, graphite rods and electronic depth-finders; people were setting trotlines to catch catfish that prowled local waters.
Where do you put weights on a trotline?
Weights are attached to the trotline in the middle (depending on the length of the line you might need to weight it at quarter lengths) to keep it underwater and to prevent larger catfish from dragging the line all over the place [source: Eggertson]. Once the line is set, you can start baiting the line.
How far apart are trotline hooks?
A trotline consists of a 25- to 150-foot-long main line with up to 25 baited hooks on 2- to 3-foot dropper lines. To minimize tangles, attach these via swivels spaced 6 feet apart A split shot above each hook will help keep the bait near the bottom.
How far can you travel in the Gulf of Mexico before you enter federal waters?
In general, federal waters begin three to nine nautical miles offshore to the 200 mile limit of the Gulf of Mexico. From Texas and Florida, federal waters begin nine nautical miles out, and from Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama, federal waters begin three nautical miles out. However, nothing is that clear cut.
Can you use trotlines for catfish?
Anyone can use trotlines to fish for catfish whether you are the serious angler searching for that “big one”, the amateur just having fun or the fisherman that makes his living by catching catfish. Setting the trotlines up may be a little time consuming but it’s worth it in the end.
Are trotlines legal in Florida?
Lawful Methods for Using Trotlines and Bush Hooks or Set Lines. A trotline limited to 25 hooks may be used for taking nongame fish for personal use Persons operating more than 25 bush hooks or set lines or a trotline using more than 25 hooks are considered to be fishing commercially and must have a commercial license.
Are trotlines legal in Georgia?
It is unlawful to use any sport trotline within one-half mile below any lock or dam Only catfish and nongame fish (year-round) and American and Hickory shad during shad season may be taken with trotlines. Trotlines are not permitted on Lake Tobesofkee or any State Park Lake.
References
https://www.reeltexasoutdoors.com/blogs/catfishing/the-best-trotline-ever-catch-more-catfish-with-this-method
https://www.amazon.com/trotline/s?k=trotline
https://barlowstackle.com/catfish-fishing-tackle/trotline-cord-hardware-kits-for-catfish-1/
https://www.memphisnet.net/category/trotline-accessories