Jug Catfish Fishing - Large Range of Tactics

Jug fishing is a very old method of covering a large area of water with bait, and catch a lot of fish quickly. It is very low-tech, and easy enough for anyone to learn quickly.

It is not uncommon to catch your limit of fish in a very short period of time, using this method. A jug rig is simply a floating plastic jug with an attached running line, hooks, bait and weight. They are placed in the water and pulled in when a fish bites. That's it.

In modern times, jug fishing is used mostly for catching channel and blue catfish. Flatheads, or Yellow Catfish are frequently caught as well. Many trophy and record fish have been caught on jugs. Before going out jugging, be sure to check your local laws and make sure it is legal in your area.

There are two types of jug rigs: Free-Floating and Stationary. Free-Floating rigs are allowed to drift with the wind and current across likely spots, with the fisherman following in a boat.

When a fish hits one of the rigs, it is pulled in. The Stationary Rig has a heavy weight that anchors it to the bottom so that it doesn't drift. Both are very effective.

You can make your own jug rigs, but frankly, there are commercial ones available that are so cheap and well-made that it's not really worth the trouble. Even Wal-Mart carries jug rigs, ready-to-fish, for a pittance. I get my favorite rigs online from Jug Fishing. They also carry my favorite and best producing bait, Redneck SoapBait.

If you want to make your own, you will need several 1 or 2 liter plastic soda bottles, a roll of braided nylon twine, 2 hooks for each rig, silicone caulk, white spray paint, a permanent Sharpie marker, pocket knife, gravel, reflective tape, and a brick. The first thing you have to do to comply with many State laws, is to paint the jugs white.

This also aids in spotting the jugs on the water and keeping them in sight. When they are dry, put strips of reflective tape on the bottom of the jugs. Next, put a cup or two of gravel in the jug. Fill the cap with caulk and screw it on the bottle tightly, and allow it to dry. This seals the bottle. Next, take about 20-25' of the twine and attach securely one end of it to the neck of the bottle. On the other end, make 2 dropper loops, one about 3' up from the end, and the other about 3' above that one, and attach the hooks of your choice. If you want a Free-Floating rig, place a 1/2 oz. bell sinker on the bottom. If you want a Stationary Rig, leave enough twine at the bottom to tie on the brick.

For storage, roll the line around the neck. Use the Sharpie and write your name, address and phone number on the jugs (to comply with many state laws). Repeat for the number of rigs you want. I usually use 5 or 6 at a time. I use the marker to number the jugs. It makes them easier to keep track of.