Ask a Prepper
  • DIY |
  • Terms of Use |
  • Privacy Policy |
  • Contact
ask a prepper survival every day
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • All Articles
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Survival Knowledge
  • How To’s
  • Store
  • About Claude Davis
  • Home
  • All Articles
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Survival Knowledge
  • How To’s
  • Store
  • About Claude Davis
No Result
View All Result
Menu
Ask a Prepper
Search
No Result
View All Result
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Home All Articles
How to Catch Fish with a Jug

How to Catch Fish with a Jug

How to Catch Fish with a Jug

KJ Barber by KJ Barber
December 17, 2019
8

Jug line fishing is an easy method that has been around for a long time. First timers and seasonal fishermen find this method to be consistent, effective, and low cost. If you are in an area with a decent amount of fish, the jug line method is a sure bet for plenty of action.

So, if you enjoy fishing and have never heard of jug line fishing, or don’t know how to go about it, this article and video will provide some helpful information.

What Is Jug Fishing?

Jug fishing is often referred to as “jugging” because it utilizes jugs to float in the water for catching fish, with bait suspended beneath each jug. The way this is set up, allows covering of a large area in the water, without having to constantly tend to a line and rod.

Supplies for Jug Fishing

How to Catch Fish with a JugFirst, you will want to collect some jugs. Plastic jugs work well because they are light, durable, and inexpensive. Examples of jugs many fishermen use include the following:

  • 2-liter soda bottles
  • Milk jugs (quart or gallon)
  • Bleach bottles

Basically, any plastic container that is sturdy and has a strong seal, should work.

You will also need fishing line and bait. For the line, typically a 50 – 65 Lb test braid or Dacron works great. The bait could be anything that you would normally use for the specific fish you are attempting to catch; but we’ll talk about this later.

Another thing to consider is adding weight, especially if you plan on leaving the jugs unattended. Securing a weight to the jug will help keep the jug in place.

Related: 15 Survival Uses for Plastic Bottles

Jug Fishing Technique

How to Catch Fish with a JugSetting up various jugs with varying line lengths will allow you to spread the jugs throughout different water depths.

Also, if you have different types of bait, you will lure more than one type of fish.

Varying the lengths and bait will also show you what is working, and what is not. While the jugs that are working continue to work, you can start adjusting the jugs that are sitting idle for too long.

The jugs will start to bob, like a bobber, when fish have taken the bait. When you notice this, you can get to the jug to pull in the fish you find on the line

Just keep in mind that jug fishing is best done in waters with mild to no current, and decent weather conditions. Too much movement in the water, your jugs and lines will get entangled in possible debris and become quite difficult to maneuver, or will get lost completely.

Related: The Three-Year Shelf Life Viking Survival Food (With Pictures)

Use the following steps as a guide to get started:

  • Decide the length of your line. If you know the water’s depth, that will help determine the line length you should work with, while the bait suspends near the water’s floor.
  • Fasten the line to the jug.
  • Attach some weight towards the end of the line, about 2 pounds or more if you want them to be less mobile, such as a brick. Use less than 1 pound for free-floating jugs. And, if the conditions are windy, add more.
  • Attach a hook to the end of the line, hook size depending on the type of fish you want to catch. Some people attach 2 hooks, 1 above the weight, and the other at the end of the line. This allows the jug to float into more shallow water and still be effective.
  • Attach the other end of the line around the jug’s “neck”.

You now have a properly rigged jug for jug fishing. Just repeat the process with as many jugs you want to have in the water.

Jug Fishing Tips

Here are a few tips to remember:

  • Once the work is done in prepping, the actual fishing process is quite passive. This gives you flexibility in when you can set it up, such as in the evening, and then checking the next morning to see what has been caught. Catfish, for example, are known to stay active at night. So you could be catching tomorrow’s dinner while you sleep. They are quite capable of swimming away with your jug though, if there is not enough weight on it.
  • Pay attention to water temperatures. If it’s mid-summer in a hot climate with warmer water temps, the fish could die quickly. So, check on the jugs every hour or so in hot weather.
  • Brightly colored jugs are easier to spot on the surface, which is important when they drift.

Best Bait for Jug Fishing

This will depend on what you are trying to catch. If you are hoping for catfish, a variety of baits are effective. But, since they have a great sense of smell, stinky baits are often used.

Other bait options include: herring, shad, perch, drum, night crawlers, crickets, grasshoppers, turkey or chicken liver, shrimp.

However, trying a variety of bait will show you what works for your particular area and conditions.

Related: All-Natural Fruit Tree Bait for Insects: It Works!

Jug Fishing Regulations

Jug line fishing isn’t allowed in all jurisdictions. Make sure you check what your local regulations are before you drop the first jug.

Where it is allowed, you might have to label each jug with your name, address, and your fishing permit number.

In some areas, it is required that you remain present at all times.

Also, each state and area will have their own set of regulations, governing things such as:

  • The number of jugs allowed to be in use at one time
  • Number of hooks required/allowed per jug
  • Size of the fish caught
  • Number of fish caught

To sum it up, jug fishing is a simple, yet effective method in catching fish. It’s a great way to get kids and people who have never fished introduced to fishing.

[responsive_youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19HyACN5pgc]

You may also like:

Winter Sowing Technique That Guarantees The Best Crops

The U.S. Army’s Forgotten Food Miracle (Video)

25 Survival Uses For Leftover Bacon Grease

How To Make A Lot Of Compost This Winter

How To Cook In A Cactus

What Is the Best Canned Meat?

Tags: Food CrisisHow topreparednessPrepperprotect your familyreserve foodsurvival
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
ShareTweetPin36

Comments 8

  1. G.W. Long says:
    3 years ago

    Outstanding Article, and a ton of fun. Easy to do and lots of fun for all ages. Thanks Claude!! Merry Christmas to You and Your Family. It’s always a PLEASURE to read your posts.

    Did you like this comment? 6
    Reply
  2. IvyMike says:
    3 years ago

    Jug fishing around here was unregulated until it exploded in popularity in the 1970s and became a danger to boaters, skiers, divers and other fisherman. Another way to rig a jug is to set a heavy anchor and shorten the line so that the jug is hidden 1-2 feet under the surface, you just have to remember where your jugs are and check them regularly.
    Another cool obnoxious productive way of fishing is the rubber band line. They used to sell long stout rubber bands you could anchor out in the water, stretch it to shore and attach a long line with multiple hooks then let the rubber band pull it out into the water, then check it ever so often just by pulling it in. Pretty cool but I think they have drowned more than 1 swimmer.
    When my Dad was a little country boy in the Depression times his fishing gear was 20′ of string, tie a bent nail on the end, add some grub worms, crickets, or a grass hopper.

    Did you like this comment? 6
    Reply
  3. jay says:
    3 years ago

    That’s pretty crazy! Most likely not legal here in California… like everything else.

    Did you like this comment? 5
    Reply
    • Prepper In Training says:
      3 years ago

      Don’t worry.. Admit to the illegal activity, then claim sanctuary. Punishing illegal acts in California appear to be an illegal act in itself.

      Did you like this comment? 13
      Reply
  4. FVP says:
    3 years ago

    I don’t fish, find it boring. But That’s Me! article raised my eyebrow in WOW maybe i’ll give it a go with my little girl. I’ve become a pushover since having my daughter LOL. Enjoyed the article and gave Thumbs Up to all comments. Ain’t that the truth about California SMH. i Like, OLE!

    Did you like this comment? 3
    Reply
  5. Illini Warrior says:
    3 years ago

    jug fishing, trout lines and auto fishers will be critical in a serious SHTF >> time & labor multiplying like this will be necessary along with the possible need to fish covertly as possible ….

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
  6. Ted says:
    3 years ago

    Great article!

    Now, how do we guys catch “Jugs” with a fish???

    Sorry, I couldn’t help myself…………………………..lol!

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions Terms & Conditions.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

FOLLOW US ON:

PREPPER RECOMMENDS

YOU WILL NOT SURVIVE AN EMP STRIKE WITHOUT THIS

IF YOU SEE THIS PLANT IN YOUR BACKYARD BURN IT IMMEDIATELY

HOW TO GET 295 POUNDS OF EXTRA FOOD FOR JUST $5 A WEEK

THE AWESOME DIY DEVICE THAT TURNS AIR INTO FRESH WATER

5 INGENIOUS WAYS TO REFRIGERATE YOUR FOOD WITHOUT ELECTRICITY

HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOUSE INVISIBLE TO LOOTERS

Banner Generator

LATEST ARTICLES

If You Have This On Your Property, Hide It Immediately

This Is How The Government Is Stopping You From Living Independently

DIY Poor Man’s Greenhouse

Why You Should Put A Silver Coin In Water

7 Stores Where You Can Buy Cheap Survival Food

Essential Survival Know-Hows Modern People Have Forgotten

What Happens If China Becomes The Ruling Economic Power Of The World

How To Treat And Heal Wounds With Sugar

5 Ways To Actually Use FEMA To Your Advantage

Long-Lasting Amish Burgers

How To Get Back Home After An EMP Strike

Why You Should Bury A Trash Can In Your Backyard

6 Signs Your Neighbor Will Become A Looter As Soon As SHTF

Ancient Types Of Homes You Can Build For Cheap

5 Unexpected Events Following An Economic Crisis That No One Talks About

How To Recondition Old Gasoline

Veggies You Only Plant Once And Harvest Forever

20 Prepping Items That Will Skyrocket In Price This Year

How To Use An Old Refrigerator For Survival

6 Places You Can Go Dumpster Diving For Your Prepper Stockpile

Great Depression Foods We Will All Be Eating Again Soon

Prepping Projects From The Bible

When The World Runs Out Of Food, This Is All You Need

Banner Bor

Banner TLW2

The Lost Ways Claude Davis

HOW TO

How To Recondition Old Gasoline

How To Remove Radioactive Particles From Water In Case Of A Nuclear Fallout

How To Make Bread Last For Up To 5 Years

How To Prepare Your Car For SHTF

How To Cook Steak On A Stone In The Wilderness

How To Craft A Deadly Slingshot

How To Make Your Chickens Lay More Eggs

How To Make And Can Evaporated Milk

How To Prepare For The Rising Energy Prices

How To Protect Your Garden From Looting Intruders

Vote for ask a Prepper

YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON:

Survial Websites Prepper

Banner LSF Hamburger

Copyright © 2014-2023 Ask a Prepper

  • Home
  • All Articles
  • Ask a Prepper
  • About Claude Davis
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2014-2023 Ask a Prepper

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.