Trotlines for Catfish

Lets talk about using trotlines as your method of catching catfish is a great idea. When set-up correctly, trotlines are a simple but very effective way to go catfish fishing. However, don't think that there is no work involved because there is a lot to it. You need to get them set-up the right way before they will work properly.

Trotlines are used in rivers, creeks, lakes and ponds. They can also be used most anytime of the year which is another reason why they are so popular. To understand how to set-up a trotline it is beneficial to understand exactly what it is. The trotline consists of a long line that has hooks placed at certain intervals from the beginning to the end of the line. Both ends of the line are tied off or anchored to keep it tight. As you can see it is a very simple design.

Anyone can use trotlines to fish for catfish whether you are the serious angler searching for that "big one", the amateur just having fun or the fisherman that makes his living by catching catfish. Setting the trotlines up may be a little time consuming but it's worth it in the end. Below are instructions on how to set-up trotlines in both deep and shallow water.

How to Set-up Trotlines

Normally, trotlines are set up in lakes, rivers and creeks where the bottom tends to drop-off or where there are channels. You start out on the shallow end of the water and tie your trotline to a tree or other fixed object that will hold it secure. Next, you need to feed the trotline out into the water until you reach the spot where you want it to stop. Midway on the line you will need to tie a weight onto the trotline so it will hold the line under the water at the depth you need it to stay.

The main thing that you need to be concerned with is to make sure that the weight you use is heavy enough to prevent the line from moving around. You will now need to tie twine at the end of the weight with a knot placed at the same depth where you want the trotline to remain. You will now have to feed the twine with the weight attached to the bottom of the water and place a float on the twine at the top of the waterline. Once the trotline is in place you are ready to go back to the shallow end of the water and begin baiting the line. Make sure that you keep the line tight at all times for the best results.