Trotlining

In this article, I’ll discuss the topics listed below. Hopefully this will help you to understand this fishing method better and help you catch more fish!!

• Definition of a trotline
• Materials used
• Stages (setting, running, checking)
• Storage of the trotline
• Trotlining tips

When I go fishing with my friends, I often forget things that I need. But one thing I don’t forget are my trotlines!! If I tell my fishing buddies that I’m going to “drop some lines” I usually get some strange looks… except from those that have fished with me before!

I love trotlining like you wouldn’t believe! What better way to effortlessly (or should I say ‘near-effortlessly’) catch a limit of catfish for the fryer or freezer?! Basically, trotlining is a means by which you put a lot of hooks into the water in order to catch a lot of fish.

While I am experienced enough to run lines by myself, it is better to have a fishing buddy along. There are a lot of hazards involved with trotlining — hooks in the skin, bites from turtles or snakes, even drowning — so it’s better to have someone along to help out. You have your choice of helpers… those that know what to do and those that don’t. My choice will depend upon my fishing goal. If I’m going to stock up (within state regulations, of course!), I will take a more experienced trotliner. But if I want to fish but take time to teach someone what I know, I will opt for the lesser experienced helper.

Definition

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. State regulations will determine how the trotline is to be marked, how many hooks are allowed, and the minimal spacing requirements between each hook. The trotline is composed of four basic parts — the trotline, the drops, the hooks, and the weights (or anchors).

Materials Used

• Braided line — one can either buy a trotline set or make their own. If you’re going after the big monsters, build your own trotlines; but if you’re going for regular-sized catfish, buying one already rigged up is your best bet. The reason for this is (1) cost; (2) already set up; and (3) requires minimal assembly [attaching the drops and hooks to the trotline].
   
• Leader (or drop) lines
   
• Hooks — for small bait, use No. 4 or 5 Mustad circle hooks; for live bait, use No. 10 or 12 Mustad circle hooks.
   
• Anchors — the type of anchors needed will depend on where you are setting your lines. If running from the shore, then you’ll only need one anchor on the other end (also called the “wet” end). If running offshore, you’ll need anchors on both ends of the trotline. Check under the TIPS section below for items of interest regarding anchors.
  
  
• Floats (optional; unless required by state regulations)

Stages

Setting

Setting a trotline is the process by which you get the line into the water. Make sure you follow your state’s regulations and mark/identify your trotlines (and floats, if required). It’s highly recommended to know where you are laying your lines rather than just haphazardly picking a spot and hoping for the best!! If you have a boat with a depth finder, cruise the area well and look for typography that will hold the most fish (slight dropoffs leading to deeper water; a hole; channels; etc.). If you don’t have a boat and/or depth finder, get a typographical map of the lake or river that you are fishing and look for markings that will indicate the aforementioned typographical elements. When using a boat, keep your boat clear of all equipment and carry only what you need to get your lines out. Less clutter equals more room for you to move around more easily.

Pick an area that is free of underwater debris (wood, trees, etc.). If you set up around this type of structure, your lines can easily get tangled up in them. You can also tie-off between two trees or stumps. But always make sure that all of your tie-offs are strong and secure. If you tie-off between two trees or stumps, make sure to put a weight in the middle of the line to get the line down and out of the way of boaters and skiers.

Tie off to some structure on the shoreline or to an anchor and start letting out your line slowly. This is where having someone along is very helpful. One can run the trolling motor while the other sets out the line. When all of the line is let out, tie off to anchor, then give the line some extra tension, and let the anchor and line drop. Your best bet at this point is to get that anchor and line as close to the water level (or below the water level) before dropping it slowly.

NOTE: If you tie-off to the anchor initially, it is highly advisable to tie on a float with a long enough leader line to allow the float to remain on the water once the anchor and line have sunk. This serves two purposes: (1) you can find your line easily; and (2) you can retrieve your line easily. Easy is good! Using floats is also good in that they can keep the trotline slightly off the bottom; or can be used in the summer to keep the trotline in shallower depths.

For me, I don’t not put the drops (or leaders) and hooks on the line. That comes next in ‘running’ the line.

Running

Make your way back to the initial tie-off point (be it on the shoreline or at the anchor) and pull up your trotline so that you can start adding the drops and baiting the hooks. Again, you want to have someone using the trolling motor to slowly progress down the line. It is also advisable to remain down-current of the line so that the boat and props aren’t crossing the trotline.

Once you’ve attached a drop and some bait, make sure that the bait is secure and will remain on the hook for a long time. Keep from snapping or shaking the trotline excessively during this process as it can tangle your drops on the trotline and even cause the bait to fall off. Keep moving down the line slowly and attaching the drops and baiting the hooks until you’ve set out all the hooks that you will be using (within state regulations, of course!!).

You may find that you need to put more tension on the line since some of it was lost as you were adding the drops and bait. The best method is to just pull up that anchor and add more tension (using the trolling motor or boat motor) and then slowly letting the anchor into the water and letting go. Again, don’t be snapping or shaking the line because you can get tangled or lose your bait.

At this point, you are done ‘running’ your line. You can go set/run other lines or do whatever you want to do; or send money or fishing stuff to me just for the heck of it!!!!

Checking

4 to 6 hours after you’ve run your line, you should go and check it; and then keep checking the line every 4 to 6 hours. When checking your line, you’ll be doing one of three things: (1) retrieving catfish; (2) admiring a hook that still has good bait on it; or (3) re-baiting a hook because the bait is bad or is gone.

When checking your lines, take it slow. It’s not a race (unless you’re in a tournament…. and yes, there are trotline tournaments; at least here in Texas!). You can easily get hooked, bit by an angry turtle (or worse, a snake!), or get tangled up in your lines. Safety is of the utmost importance in this fishing method. You’ll need the following items on-hand when checking your line:

1. needle nose pliers
2. a sharp knife
3. gloves
4. net
5. gaff (there just might be something really big on that line!!!)
6. fishing buddy
7. extra bait
8. extra leader line
9. extra hooks
10. spotlight (for night runs)

If you find that there is a fish on the line, keep the fish in the water. Don’t pull the line and fish up out of the water. Get the net under the fish and then use the net to pull the fish and line into the boat. That way you don’t risk losing the fish! After removing the fish, re-bait the hook and keep moving down the line until all hooks have been checked. Keep only the fish you are going to eat. If the fish is small, toss it back so that it can grow larger. Make any necessary repairs as you check your lines. You may find that you have missing hooks or missing leaders. Those were most likely good-sized catfish that got away. Put on new hooks or leaders and hooks and then re-bait and move on.

If you decide that you don’t want to check your lines for any lengthy period of time or you decide to leave the site, pull up the line and anchors (refer to the Storage section below for further details). Don’t just leave the line there for it will still catch fish. Even if there’s not any bait, there’s still enough scent to draw in a curious fish or a fish might simply get snagged on the hooks as it passes by.

Storage

For me, this is the most important step that most tend to overlook. Well, they overlook it until it’s time to set out the lines again and find a tangled mass that has Tylenol Tension Headache written all over it! Follow these suggestions and your next venture in trotlining will go smoothly…

• NEVER leave your drops/leaders and hooks on the trotline when storing.
   
• One method of storing the leaders and hooks is to run the hooks into a foam board and then use a rubber band to bound the loose ends of the leaders.
   
• Another method of storing the leaders and hooks is to run the hooks into a long piece of inner tube.
   
• A handy way of running and retrieving your trotline is to use one of those extension cords reels. When running the lines, simply tie-off your lie and then mount the reel somehow on the boat so that you can slowly troll out to deeper water and the line will slowly feed out. This will allow you to clamp on the hooks and bait them as you go along. The same method applies to when you are retrieving your trotline. Clamp it down and reel in the trotline and remove your drops and hooks as you move in. This method of storage is especially helpful when you’re working alone.

Tips

• Follow your state’s trotline regulations to the letter. If you don’t understand them, contact the game warden for the county that you will be fishing; or contact your state’s department of wildlife for further explanations.
   
• You should check the line every 4-6 hours. Checking the lines often will help ensure that you don’t lose as many fish, it’s also more humane to the fish, and you can re-bait those hooks that have lost their bait.
   
• Only catch as many fish as you will eat. Just because there’s a limit doesn’t mean you should catch that many on each outing.
   
• Take a friend with you when running your lines. There’s no telling what might happen and if you’ll need someone’s help.
   
• The best seasons for trotlining are spring and fall. You can run lines during the summer but you’ll need to run them shallow (5 to 10 feet) because of the lack of oxygen in the deeper levels.
   
• Choose sturdy hooks and keep them sharp!! If the hooks begin to show defects (breaks, rust, etc.), replace them and throw the bad one away (in the trash can, not in the water!!!).
   
• Use gloves when setting, running and checking your trotlines.
   
• Chumming — The process of chumming will enhance your catching abilities immensely!! Most people are immediately turned off by chumming because of one simple fact… IT STINKS!!! Chumming involves either products you have purchased that are pre-mixed and ready to use; or you can make your own. WARNING: If you make your own, and live in the city, you’re going to have some upset neighbors in most cases!!! To make your own chum, most fishermen prefer to use maize, chicken scratch, or milo. You can also use range cubes (usually purchased from a cattle feed store). Get a 5-gallon bucket that has a lid that will snap on tightly. Fill the bucket about three-quarters full of the grain and then add enough water so that the water level is a couple of inches above the level of the grain. Get some cheap beer and add a couple of cans. Seal the container and set it out in the sun. Periodically check the mixture to ensure that the water is not completely absorbed. Keep an adequate amount of water at all times. This mixture will be ripe within a week; and more than extra-ripe in a couple of weeks! When using the chum mixture (whether it’s some that you’ve made or some that you’ve bought)…. USE IT SPARINGLY!!! Use about 1 or 2 pounds of the mixture so that it entices the fish into a feeding frenzy; not to feed them! Scatter the grain the length of the boat if you are fishing from a boat. Catfish go by smell so when this mixture hits the water, they will respond rather quickly. You should start fishing after about 15 minutes if you’re using a rod-and-reel to fish. Once the action slows down (or becomes nonexistent), move on to another location and starting chumming again. Some fishermen will pick three or four spots. They will start with the first spot and chum it. Then they will move on to the next spot and chum it… so forth and so on. After the last spot is chummed, they return to the first spot and start fishing it and then they move on to the next spot in succession.
   
• Anchors — There are many options when it comes to anchors. And like chum, you can opt to buy them or make them. I prefer to make them because they are much cheaper overall. I use buckets or restaurant-sized cans filled with concrete and an eye bolt (or bend coat hangers) in the middle. The key to the anchor is weight. You want something very heavy to hold that line in place and to keep that line straight.
   
• Bait — the best bait by far is shad from the area you are fishing in. The problem with shad is that they die quickly; therefore you need to take precautions to help keep them alive and well to be useful on the hooks. Once you catch the shad, you need to quickly get them into an aerated livewell. You can also purchase bait (minnows, goldfish, worms, liver, gizzards, shrimp, stink baits, etc.). If using live bait, attach them to the hook so that they remain alive for as long as possible. You want the fish to swim about erratically so that it draws the attention of the bigger predator fish. Hook the live fish via several methods (through the lower lip and head; through the back; just below and right behind the dorsal fin; and even through the tail). Just a note… when hooking through the tail, don’t run the hook through the actual tail!!! (Can you say, “fishing for free”??!!)… That fish will get off and be on it’s way in no time! You need to run that hook through the meaty portion of the tail section. Regardless of which bait you use, it must stay on the hook in order to work!! Don’t use baits that will easily come off of the hook.
   
• The best catfish by far (in my humble, biased opinion) is the yellow catfish. Why? Yellow catfish are predators and feed mainly on live fish. Therefore their meat is very, very, VERY flavorful!!