Jug Fishing

[RockyRaab2]

Back when I was a wee nipper in Illinois, both set and jug fishing were common. Set lines were always tied to springy tree branches to give a visual clue you had a fish on when you checked. Some even had spring-powered reels that would set the hook at the first tug. Jugs used a single hook on a short line - two to four feet or so - and were allowed to drift in the wind/current at night. It'd be bobbing furiously or even pulled under with a big enough catfish, but would surface again when it tired of fighting.

There were always tall tales of mythical catfish so large they could tow under a five-gallon jerry can baited with a whole dead rabbit on a shark hook. Fun to hear or tell!