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I don't think that fishing is strictly about the method you choose. In my opinion, being flexible, the willingness to do whatever it takes to match the conditions is the key to success. Selection of flies, artificials and baits, presentation, presence of mind, experience and a little luck, all lead to mastery of the sport

Rod and Reel
If you are not worried about filling up the freezer in one trip and are looking for some fish for dinner this is the preferred method. Nothing beats sitting under a shade tree and fighting old whiskers. Lets run through a few of the things to keep in mind.

Try to stay away from cheapie rods and reels (zebco 202’s etc,). What ever your preference is, spinning or casting reels work fine just as long as the rod and reel has enough strength to handle old granddad whiskers if he comes along.

I love the new synthetic lines (spectra in 20# or 30# strength) as they have small diameter (for that long cast), no memory (comes off smooth and easy), and little stretch (great for setting the hook).

If your serious about your fishing, plan to come back to a same spot, and are fishing in a lake (no running water) consider baiting your fishing spot.

A lot of things work for baiting a hole but my favorite is cattle blocks (without molasses) in the 20# size.

These last a long time, doesn’t put something in the lake which you are going to snag, and work great for attracting bait and catfish. The number one thing to remember when rod and reel fishing is to SET THE DRAG. There is nothing more frustrating than hooking old granddad and having him break your line.

Jug Lines

Jug lines are great for the lazy man. Normally people use jug lines while fishing for some other fish species, fishing in another way or even a day of skiing. If you are going to be fishing for Crappie, Bass, etc. a couple of days in a row, pitch out some jug lines and check them before and after fishing for something else. The main benefit of jug lines is the ease of putting out and taking up.

There are more ways to make up a jug line than you can imagine. A jug line normally consists of a line (adjustable for length by being able to let out what you want off the float) with a weight on the bottom, a float on the top, and 3 to 5 hooks tied from the bottom coming up. Almost any materials can be used to make up these components but the main thing to keep in mind is the ease of picking up and putting out. Styrofoam works great for the float as you can use it to put the hooks into when picking up as opposed to having to remove the hooks from the line. A detachable weight is nice for ease of transporting.

When putting out jug lines keep in mind – water depth, placement (surrounding brush, etc.) and ease of spotting the float if a big one pulls it off.

Trotlines

Trotlines are for the serious fisherman.  You have to put in some work putting them out and picking them up but you'd be surprised how many pounds of fish you can put in the freezer in a couple of days. Trotlines can be used shallow or deep, lake or river, and any time of the year. A trotline is made up of a long line, with many hooks place at intervals along the line and anchored at both ends. There are many tricks to successful fishing with a trotline, some of which are – tensioning of the main line, hook placement in relation to the bottom, materials used in the makeup, how its anchored at the ends, and the location which it is placed. Most states regulate the use of trotlines and put requirements on the total length, number of hooks, float color and material, etc., so be sure to know the rules before you set one out. If you have never fished with a trotline before consider finding a friend to give you some tips or purchasing instructions and tips for how to set out and use. Trotlines need to be run at regular intervals (once a day, etc.) to remove fish and rebait as needed.  Here's a free tip – don’t try running a trotline out of your 30’ ocean going boat.

Throw Lines

A throw line is sort of a compromise between a trotline and fishing with a pole. Easy to put out and pick up and gets extra hooks in the water. A throw line consists of a line with a weight on one end anchored at the surface on the other end with several hooks attached along the line. It can be placed as simply as pitching it off the bank at your camp site, tied to a tree in the lake or any of a thousand other way to set it out. The number and placement of hooks depends on the method used in the setting out of the line.