Fishing: Set Up Your Own Trot Line

Ah, the joys of catching fish. But sometimes it can be really boring if the fish don't bite. If you're the type that grows weary of tossing a fishing pole back and forth, you may want to try setting up a trot line. In this article, I will describe how you can set up your own trot line.

First of all, you'll need to buy the trot line somewhere. You can buy it from an online store, or visit a normal store such as Academy. The trot line is basically just a thick type of thread that doesn't rot or fall apart easily. The kind I have used has always been white, but I have seen other colors as well.

After you buy your trot line, you'll need some hooks to catch the fish on. The ones that I used were always long and had just one hook on them. Make sure to replace the hooks as needed because the fish will struggle against them for some time. The fish will become exhausted and give up eventually, but if the hooks aren't sharp enough the fish can get off. Also, don't forget that you may be away from the trot line for several hours or even an entire day. So it's important that the hooks remain nice and sharp.

One other item you will need to buy is weights. This is very important because you don't want the motor from some boat accidentally cutting the trot line. So make sure you sink it by a few feet or so. I would say place three weights on your trot line. One at the beginning, one in the middle, and one at the end of your trot line should suffice. And make sure the weights are heavy enough.

The final item you will need for your trot line is bait. You have several choices when it comes to bait. Blood bait is one such option, and it is basically just a piece of bloody meat. There is also cheese bait, which has a disgusting aroma(it doesn't smell like cheese). However, it does help when it comes to catching fish. Or you could simply use live bait, which will not smell as bad as the other choices.

Personally, I've almost always used live bait because it seems to stay on the hook better. I also prefer live bait because the small fish moves while it's on the hook, and this attracts the bigger fish. If you want, buy some maize to attract even more fish to your trot line. Maize smells terrible, just like blood bait and cheese bait, but it works.

All that's left is for you to pick a spot for your trot line, and let it sink and do it's job. Feel free to check on the trot line after a couple of hours or even a day. Perhaps you have set up the trot line in the evening and want to check on it in the morning. That's fine, the fish will still be there. They do manage to get off the hooks occasionally, but usually the fish are still on the line in the morning.

Catching fish doesn't have to be an exhaustive experience anymore. You can easily catch fish without the hassle, and you don't have to worry as much if the fish don't bite. After all, with a trot line you don't have to do nearly as much work. So use a trot line during your next fishing trip, and make life a little easier.