Thread: Noodling

The better season for running jugs is in the spring but catfish can still be caught this time of the year too. The best bait you can get is what the fish are naturally feeding on in the lake. If there's blueback herring then cut bluebacks would be good. Shad, bream, etc. Just expect to catch some gar this time of the year so have a pair of heavy gloves in the boat so you can get your hooks back.

Originally Posted by Bobby J

we tried some catfish noodling over the weekend and it is fun but a lot of work running the noodles down. 1st time out was a learning process,not to many fish caught. Is there a secret to noodling?

How many jugs u set out .How deep was the water u set them in,,and how long was your jug lines?What you use for bait and did u have a small weight on your jug lines?Did u coat your bait with anything to enhance it,like fish oil,garlic powder,etc?Did you fish in a lake or river..........I do most of my jugging in the late spring through fall.

High Rock Lake 4 ft down no weight chicken liver was the bait water was from 18 to 2 ft deep, we caught several, the best was on a minnow on my rod with ultra light tackle, it weighed about 7 lbs. that was fun. water temp was 88.9 to 86 by night fall clear some wind a lot of boat traffic, we put them out at the mouth of a channel so they would drift into the cove, we only put out 20 this time. also these were noodles not jugs, i made them out of 3/4 pvc with caps and a eye in one end with the line attached, 20" long with a pool noodle 10" long placed near the top, they float flat till you get a fish then they stand up, any suggestions.

Add small split shot to each line.Vary your line lengths and number your jugs.Keep up with what length catches the most fish.Try to catch and cut up bream for bait if your states laws allow it.A cast net to catch shad may be helpful.Instead of chicken livers use gizzards and put some type of bait enhancer on what ever bait you use.And u might want to see if you can find some chitlins,,thaw em out when u get em,Cover with garlic powder and refreeze till ready to use.Also fish oil,the kind you can get in pints and qts that trapping supply companies sell is great......it will take time to learn what works best ,,and like any type of fishing its not a load the boat every time,and jugging for catfish is no different.Chasing jugs is my favorite part of jugging(well maybe a close 2nd to eaten the catch)--i love the thrill!

Thanks, i know what you mean when you see one go down and resurface 30 yrds away.

Originally Posted by Bobby J

Thanks, i know what you mean when you see one go down and resurface 30 yrds away.

I know some youngsters that really love chasing jugs and a oldster that does too!

I use a little longer lines and no weight. Live bait is best for us, even more so if you want to catch a big Flathead Catfish. My favorite bait is live Green Sunfish as big as my hand. Seldom use noodles anymore as I catch lots of Channel Catfish on baited holes with a pole.

Take cheap pack of hotdogs and cut each weiner into 5 pieces and dust with garlic powder. Put them in the microwave for 2 minutes, remove and redust then nuke them again. These baits are just as effective as cut shad. I know this sounds crazy but we have been running a comparison of cut shad versus garlic weiners for several weeks and the hotdogs are so effective that we no longer use shad. The hotdogs are sssooooo easy to make and just as effective. The only thing better is crawfish or grasshoppers.