Jugs on Dorcheat river in Louisiana

[ar_confederate]

Although it's not where most people are fishing in our area, I'm going to put out some jugs this evening on Dorcheat Bayou. Had some out Saturday night but only caught one 4 lb channel cat. Almost all of the bait was gone though. Don't know if the bait simply got off or if something "encouraged" it. I think that if I put these in and keep them baited up that I'll do better over the long run. Plus, I need to get out more than once every week or two!

[catsmith1]

I never thought about running jugs there. Should be good. I know thaqt on the river all of our cats were off the top hook 2-3 ft deep.

Good luck!

[ar_confederate]

Thanks. Didn't get out there last night like I wanted, so I made up a couple of experimental "jugs". Trying to find the perfect design but so far not doing so well. I'm going out tonight for sure. Hope you're feeling better and will be able to get out fishing this weekend!

[catsmith1]

I made up some new ones before the last trip and liked the way they worked. I tied to the jug or noodle or whatever. then about 2 foot down I tied a loop abou 5 inches and put a hook there. about 2-3 foot below that another loop and hook. at the 8 ft mark on the end I tied a 16 penny nail for weight. the slim weight does not get hung up and I had them hanging aruond the shop used.

[ar_confederate]

What I'm trying right now is also with a noodle. I'm cutting a piece of noodle about 18" long, putting pvc caps on each end and running a rod thru them both. I bend each end of the rod into a very rough circle. I tie the line on one loop and then use the other loop to keep the depth where I wanted it. I'm also putting a larger weight on the bottom to hold it pretty much in place. Since I can't get out and stay out on the water much, I'm treating these as kind of vertical trotlines. So far, haven't had much luck. I don't know if it's the places, the design or the application. Thanks for the tips on yours. I think that I may need to add another hook closer to the top like you suggested.

[WildWillie]

You ever used slat catfish traps? I looked on the LA Wildlife & Fisheries site, and they seem to be legal most everywhere in LA with the gear license you purchase. I believe it said you can have up to five traps. Been many years since I ran any, but they are good to catch eaters with. Very few big fish.

They frown on there use over here. Some years ago a couple fellows were fined $2500 when caught trapping in Martin Lake. One of the fellows I worked with for years got caught trapping in Angelina River. Cost him around $500.

Funny how two states have such different outlooks at laws. Oh well, just the way it goes. Have fun.

Will

[ar_confederate]

Hi. I've never used either traps or nets. My father who likes to eat catfish is loosing patience with hooks and it talking about a hoop net. I understand his desire to catch some fish but have very mixed feelings about using nets. One of the old timers on Dorcheat was telling me the other day that Dorcheat had huge numbers of catfish until some commercial fishers came in with nets. He said that it's just now beginning to recover. I know that they're legal but I don't think that I'm going to use them.

If you want to fish a really nice stream, come on over. I think that someone who knows fishing better than me would do really good on it.

[jtholder00]

I jug out at Caney lake in Minden.. I pulled a 20lb flat out of there two summers ago, and pulled this 20lb blue out the other night.. I would be careful with eating fish out of Dorcheat, there is a Mercury warning I believe in that water..

The funny thing is, I was using my cast net looking for shad out in Turner's Pond in Minden.. and on a folded up throw, I pulled in a 5.1lb bass. Both the bass and the 20lb catfish were both thrown back after being photographed.

[jtrew]

I've always found that jugfishing does an excellent job of filling the freezer. Of course trotlines will too, but they're a lot more trouble.

[ar_confederate]

Did you have any luck with the shad in Turner's pond? Call me when you go out. I'd like to watch. My cast net throwing is getting better but I still have something to learn! From what I've heard, there's some cats in Turner's as well. Have you ever caught any there?

[ersel]

Emmit we used to do alot of yo-yo's on Dorcheat. It is closer to my house than the Red but I never think to go there.

[WildWillie]

I would be careful with eating fish out of Dorcheat, there is a Mercury warning I believe in that water.

I think most all waterways have advisories on mercury poisoning these days. I figure by the time it gets me, I'll be ready to go anyway. I believe the main concern is for children and expectant mothers. I would definitely limit their intake. Martin Lake over here has high levels of selenium, another one of the heavy metals.

And Emmett, on the nets, they look like too much work to me. I saw a guy running them in Toledo Bend a couple years ago, and man he was nasty from head to toe. I remember when I was a kid in central LA, all the commercial fishermen used gill nets. All the lakes we fished, you had to be careful of tangling them in the prop. Right now we are fishing Lake Murvaul in Panola County, TX. Trying to get a few in the freezer. It's fairly close to home, and the bream and kitties are biting fairly good.

Will

[ar_confederate]

Ersel, if you'd like to start fishing it again, come on down. I haven't had much luck catching anything but all the bait is missing each morning. I'm redoing my jugs and may start trying some limblines. I have seen several nice fish caught on limblines this past weekend. Give me a shout if you want to try it.

As for the mercury, I agree that it seems every stream has mercury warnings. There's a good article in either this month's or last month's Bass Master magazine about mercury. The gist of it is that the EPA threshold is 10 times lower than even other countries. It then goes on to talk about how many of the groups demanding the warnings for streams may have some other motives, such as keeping people from eating any kind of animal. I don't think that I'm going to worry about it either. We don't eat fish every week and my wife and I aren't going to be having any kids.

[jtholder00]

Did you have any luck with the shad in Turner's pond? Call me when you go out. I'd like to watch. My cast net throwing is getting better but I still have something to learn! From what I've heard, there's some cats in Turner's as well. Have you ever caught any there?

As of right now, I think the water temp might still be a little too cold for them to be through spawning, so they are not as active yet. I caught some, but not enough.. so we ended up using some nightcrawlers and chicken liver as well.

I bet there are some nice size cats in there.. I really have never actually fished there other than a few casts with a bass rig..

I usually do my juggin out at Black Bayou in Benton.. I did that all last summer.. and rarely came home with less than 5 or 6 between 2-5lbs.. The biggest we caught were around the 8lbs range.. but lots of numbers.. we caught 20 on several occasions.. Which that number at that size has fish fry written all over it..

I just recently became pretty good at throwing my net. I still have the occasional fold up, but only probably 1 out of 5. It's still hard to do out of the boat because I tend to always hit something and mess up the cast. Usually a cooler or cleat.

When I do get out at Black Bayou, usually around june or so, the shad are schooling by the millions. You just about cant beat shad, unless you can catch you a mess of bluegill.

[BullDaddy]

There's a good article in either this month's or last month's Bass Master magazine.....

Ah-ha, caught ya! I'm gonna tell Tony!:hell_boy:

[ar_confederate]

I didn't say why I caught them. Got to know how to catch them if you need bait! In truth, I used to catch that trash fish before I was converted to the true faith. Please forgive me and don't tell the others!:surrender:

[BullDaddy]

Well I suppose I can let it slide this time, but I got my eye on ya!:look_down:

You know, I havn't been on Dorcheat since I was a kid. I think I may have to slip over there one of these weekends and give it a shot.

[ar_confederate]

Kevin, if you have the time and desire, you can call me and I'll take out to my lot on Dorcheat and you can camp there to your hearts content. Specially since you will overlook my scarlet sin, this time!!!:)

Tell you what I did last night. Got in from work and had the kind of day where I just had to get on the water. Loaded everything in the truck, including my dog and away we went. Got there, caught some bait, got ready to load the boat and I'd left the motor at home! Dear God am I getting old and forgetful! Oh well, there's always tonight!

[ar_confederate]

Well, the jugs have been out for a while now and been checking them 2x a day. All the bait is gone but no fish. I'm going to take them up and rethink this.

[jtholder00]

Dont be too disappointed.. we went out saturday night and fished from around 11-5 and didnt catch anything on about 20 jugs. It was so foggy you couldnt see the bank around you.

[ar_confederate]

Thanks for the encouragement James. I plan on getting out some time this weekend and I'll try again! Where were you fishing?

[solomon]

Went Saturday night and it was extremely foggy here too. Scared to run too much. Even with what light we had you could barely see where the banks were.

ar_confederate, I think the law in Louisiana is you have to have a recreational slat trap license, which is $80 I think, and you get to run 5 boxes. This is not commercial. The good thing I think is if you're not commercial fishing, one box or maybe two at the most is very sufficient, and most likely you're not going to catch anything but eaters, which I think is fair with this type of fishing. Hoop nets are trouble to run, as are boxes some times but not as aggravating in my opinion. Here in Mississippi we don't have recreational slat box fishing. You have to have a commercial license, and pay a $30 license on each box, plus a $3 box tag, plus a commercial license. I think though, that as the water warms up the slat box fishing will not be as good as in the winter, though you'll still catch fish. I would not recommend a gill net, as it will make trotlining seems like a relaxing vacation.

[catsmith1]

AR how are you doing your jugs? Maybe it is something little you could change and start hooking fish. Let us know and we'll try to help.

[WildWillie]

I think the law in Louisiana is you have to have a recreational slat trap license, which is $80 I think, and you get to run 5 boxes.

Actually, the resident license is only 20 bucks, on top of you regular fishing license fee. The non-resident is $80. Dang, our basic fishing license here in TX is $28. I bought a non-resident (for one year) in Arkansas for $32. I hope to buy an annual LA non-resident license in June when the present ones expire. I may opt the 80 bucks to use the slat traps also. I know the traps are available from The Net Company in Jonesville (used to be Champlin's if recall correctly).

Will

[ersel]

You can get the trps here in Shreveport also or just buy the thraots and make the trap.

[solomon]

You're right. $80 is for non resident. Memphis Net and Twine sells them for about $45. I bought mine from a guy across the river in Angie, LA for $18 each. Just be sure you check with the wildlife dept where you're going to fish them. I know Mississippi has to have 2" slots, and Louisiana is 1 1/2", and if I'm not mistaken, Louisiana only has to have slots on 3 sides.

[WildWillie]

You can get the trps here in Shreveport also or just buy the thraots and make the trap.

Mind if I ask where in Shreveport? I have thought about building some, but you really need hardwood, and it's hard to rip those thin slats. Now if I could find the slats pre-cut; that might be a different story.

Will

[catsmith1]

It is best to build themoutof cypress and they should last forever. Cypress can be pricey but if you find a wood shop they might have scraps you can use to save some money.

If you go north outta shreveport on hwy one, there is a BIG shop on the right that sells all kinda stuff. It is probably about 10-12 miles north. Just guessing on the distance. The have nets and such hanging on the building. I know Ersel knows the name of it but I c annot remember right now.

[WildWillie]

Catsmith...I had wondered about using cypress, as I have cypress swings and gliders from LA, but all the traps I have seen and the ones I have viewed on line are hardwood. I had supposed it to be a bouyancy (or density) issue, but don't really know. I know my friend used to soak his traps (prior to use) to waterlog the wood. There are a couple cypress mills in LaSalle Parish (or was last time I was there). Oh well, I will just stick to the trot lines and rods for now.

[solomon]

if possible, get white oak, and you do need to soak them prior to use, but you can weight them down and go ahead and fish them, but they're harder to get up with the weights on them.

[jtholder00]

Thanks for the encouragement James. I plan on getting out some time this weekend and I'll try again! Where were you fishing?

Out at Caney again.. I might get back into going to Cypress or Black Bayou... Always have good luck there.

[ar_confederate]

AR how are you doing your jugs? Maybe it is something little you could change and start hooking fish. Let us know and we'll try to help.

Robert,
I had fairly good luck at Bishops Point but not outstanding. The jugs are simply empty drink bottles with about 20 feet of line tied to it. I have a fairly large weight on the end to basically hold it in place and then have a couple of loops tied in about 18" and 24" from the bottom where I attach the hook with the clip ons for trot lines. I'm using sharpened circle hooks and minnows, shad, etc. What do you think? Thanks.

[catsmith1]

Here is my experience: Which is limited but it works.

If you want to run with jug and weight on bottom, only let the line be about a foot longer than the depth of the water. The key is to keep the line tight. If you are in heavy current you could put more as the current will keep it tight. I also would put hooks every couple of feet all the way to the jug. I have cought more fish on the high hooks than low. I do not even sink my trotlines to the bottom like I used to.

If you are runnning floating jugs keep your line shorter than the depth by about 2 foot and tie a light weight such as a 16 penny nail or something cheap on the end. then hang hooks along the main line.

Another thing I learned this year, get the heavy tar coated line and tie a loop about 4 inches and it hangs straight out from the main line and does not get tangled up while floating.

Just a few thing to try. Good luck and ramember, a loose line will not catch fish.

[jtrew]

Another consideration for anchored jugs is that a big cat may drag the jugline to deeper water. If you aren't using a jug large enough to float your anchor, the whole thing will simply sink out of sight, to be lost forever. My personal preference is to use a jug with twice the floatation of the weight of the anchor so that there's still plenty of jug showing if it's dragged into deep water.

[ar_confederate]

Thanks. That's good information. It may be then that the line is too loose. Like I said, I was consistently loosing my bait just not getting any hooksets. I'll try it this weekend!

[cuttingout69]

I just read how much line you have on your jugs ar_confederate. I most line I put on my jugs is 4'. i use a small 2oz -6oz sinker. Just enough to make the bait hold the line tight. Now the name of this thread is jugs in Dorcheat. If you are fishing jugs in Dorcheat, I feel that you are feeding the gar way to much bait, as that is the #1 fish in Dorcheat, just in front of the Jackfish.

[David Knotts]

Over the many weeks that I have been running jugs, I have found that 6'1" of line is the best length. It can't be 6', or6'2".lol I like about 6 feet of line with 2 hooks about 2 feet apart, with about 1/2 sinker. That way if the weight hits bottom the current will still push it along.

I'm with Catsmith most of the fish I catch come on the top hook.

[ar_confederate]

You're sure right about the gar and jack fish. I'm planning on making some changes to the jugs. If I don't start doing better, I'll have to start looking around for another place. Thanks!

[David Knotts]

AR next time you go to your camp talk to Jim Tharpe he should know where the fish are. I know he fishes a lot now days.

[ar_confederate]

Hi. Jim hasn't been around the last few times that I've been out. As for asking him, all I have to do to find the good spots is look for the yo-yos. Most of the ones out there are his, only reasonable since he lives out there.

I did a little better out there this weekend. I put up a couple of limb lines and caught three cats. Two channel and 1 op.

[David Knotts]

I'll bet yo-yos aint all he has out. And that all I'm gonna say on that.lol

[cuttingout69]

You're sure right about the gar and jack fish. I'm planning on making some changes to the jugs. If I don't start doing better, I'll have to start looking around for another place. Thanks!
I want to make me a line just for gar and jack fish. I read how you put a second drop on your trotlines and fray it out in to a puffy wad around your hook, and then bait up. They say the teeth of the gar and jack fish get caught in the fraid twine and they can't get loose. I have been planing on trying it just so I can break the gar bills off and send the swiming and throught jack on the back for the coons or what ever will eat them. :roll_eyes:

[ar_confederate]

Hadn't heard that about fraying the line but it makes sense. Hey, you catch some and I hear that some people will eat the gar. Not sure that I want to try to eat anything that has more teeth than I do!

[ar_confederate]

I'll bet yo-yos aint all he has out. And that all I'm gonna say on that.lol


I don't think that I'll take that bet!:lol:

How'd the move go? and have you done any fishing since?

[catsmith1]

I met a guy at the Chennierre Dam over in WM and all he does is fish for gar. Traveling sales man. He gets stripped off line from bait shops and ties a shinner in the middle with no hook at all an it works! He also makes a small noose out of very thin wire and hangs a shinner in the loop and when the gar bites the shinner it will either catch his mouth or around his body and will cinch down where he cannot get away. Floats the whole thing on a big jug or broom handle. Pretty interesting idea!

[WildWillie]

Hadn't heard that about fraying the line but it makes sense. Hey, you catch some and I hear that some people will eat the gar. Not sure that I want to try to eat anything that has more teeth than I do!

I've eaten gar a few times. They have to be pretty large to get much meat from them. Really tastes pretty good. On large gar you can get a cut much like back strap. I sliced that into very thin strips, put lots of cajun seasoning in my meal, and fried 'er up.

Oh, and we used to catch those needle nosed gar and prop their mouth open wide with a stick and put them back in the water. Bet PETA would love that.

Will

[jtholder00]

Gar balls are good if you eat them fresh from the grease.. do not let them sit and get cold or they will not be very good.. Getting to the meat is very hard, but can be done with a hatchet.. also, stay away from the roe, because it will kill you dead dead dead..

[ar_confederate]

Gar balls are good if you eat them fresh from the grease.. do not let them sit and get cold or they will not be very good.. Getting to the meat is very hard, but can be done with a hatchet.. also, stay away from the roe, because it will kill you dead dead dead..

I don't think that I'm going to have to worry about that roe. I just can't bring myself to even think about eating a gar! I'll be rebaiting the lines tonight. If I catch a gar, does anyone want it?

[ar_confederate]

Just got back from checking the lines. All the bait was gone, one line was broken just above the hook. The line was frayed, I think it might have been a gar and I caught one small mud cat. Even so, a bad day on the water beats a good day at work!

[ladyfish50]

Hey, Emmett, Buddy & I took our grandson fishing this a.m. out from Bishop's Point. The wind was horrible! Buddy fought it the whole time. We never really got into a bream bed; just picked up a few stragglers here & there. Shadow (grandson) caught a couple of good goggle-eye, & some decent bream. In fact he caught more than we did! He also caught a small bass on a cricket, but we weren't sure of the legal size on the river, so he had to put it back. He sure didn't want to!! The river looks to be up about a foot from last weekend.

[ar_confederate]

Sounds good Roxie. I remember my grandmother taking me fishing when I was young on the LSU lakes in Baton Rouge. Later, when we lived on the Texas coast, she taught me how to go crabbing, floundering, etc. All in all, I learned to love fishing more with her than with anyone else. Not only that, but she was the best cook, period. She was 100% pure cajun. She used every pot in the kitchen but it was worth it. Another thing about her, she wouldn't cook in anything except cast iron.

Well, that was a long way around to say that your grandson will always remember this day fishing with you. Good job! As for the legal size, I don't think that there is a minimum size to bass on the river.

Greg and I (you met him at R4) went out and baited up the lines again. We'll have to check them after work tomorrow. Maybe it'll be better. As for the wind, we have enough trees on the bayou to break it up so that we aren't bothered by it too much. Come try it some day. Some good bream fishing as well as bass and crappie.

[ar_confederate]

Greg and I ran the limb lines this evening. We only had one fish. It wasn't the same color as the mudcats from Bishops or the one that I caught about a week ago but don't think it was an op either. The tooth pad didn't go back into the mouth like I've seen before. This fish was rather olive to brown colored with a white belly. The anal fin was rounded. Is this just a variation of the mudcat?

[jtrew]

A lot of the channels I catch are olive colored, and channels have a rounded anal fin. Did you see any black spots on the fish?

[ar_confederate]

As a matter of fact, I wouldn't say that it was spotted but it was more mottled. The anal fin was much smaller than I'm used to seeing in channels. It sure didn't look like a mud cat to me but then, I'm still learning.

[jtrew]

All I know about mudcats/bullheads is that there are several (or more) different varieties.

[ar_confederate]

Caught one small cat, turned him loose and one gar, killed him last night on limb lines. Try again tonight.

[ar_confederate]

Baited a few lines last night and checked them this afternoon. Caught two channel cats, one about 4 lb and the other too small.

[ar_confederate]

Put out some limb lines last night. Coming back in about 30 minutes after starting and noticed the first line that I'd put out was dancing around. It wasn't much, just a small fish (but still bigger than the one I had at the tournament!!). It's always exciting to pull up to a dancing limb right before you actually pull on your line. You never know just what you have! Can't wait to check them after work.