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 deep do you set a trotline?
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.
How often should you check 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.
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
.
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 far apart are hooks on a trotline?
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.
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 many hooks does a trotline have?
A typical trotline consists of a strong nylon cord with hooks every three or four feet and weight every 15 or 20 feet to keep the line down. Missouri fishing regulations state that hooks should be no closer than two feet apart, and one line can’t have more than 33 hooks.
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!.
How many hooks can you have on a trot line in Texas?
For a trotline to be legal in Texas public freshwater, it has to meet a handful of requirements. It can’t hold more than 50 hooks , can’t have hooks closer than 3 feet apart, can’t be more than 600 feet in length and can’t have any portion (mainline, stagings, hooks) above the water’s surface.
How long is the average trotline?
A trotline is usually a long, braided high-test line (typically 150 feet in length) that has shorter lines called “drops” or “leaders” tied onto it via quick-release clamps or barrel swivels.
What can be used as fishing weights?
- Steel and Tin. In many ways, steel fishing weights have a lot of pluses
- Tungsten. This product has become the most popular non-toxic, lead alternative for anglers around the world
- Bismuth
- Brass
- Clay.
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.