Preferred Trotline Hooks/Bait

[GarGuy]

My drinking water comes from the mill. I’m surprised people mentioned grasshoppers. I would think the bream would steal them all pretty quick

I'm talking about those 2.5 inch ling yellow hoppers. Bream are not nearly as hard on them as they are on earth worms. If you haven't tried them late summer, you need to.

[SRK14]

I'm talking about those 2.5 inch ling yellow hoppers. Bream are not nearly as hard on them as they are on earth worms. If you haven't tried them late summer, you need to.

I’ll sure give it a try. Thanks

[texan16]

Hook sizes will vary (see above posts) but the best bait you can use on the trot line is cheap azz hotdogs cut in 1" chunks and soaked in Big Red soda. Soak for about 30 minutes before you go bait the lines. Fast, easy, cheap, and clean to put on the lines. Gar wont eat em (usually). Any of the live bait, cut bait, chicken innerds will work well also, but you either have to buy or catch live bait and deal with the mess with cut bait. Anyrate, hotdogs are the way to go. You will catch more than you want to clean.

[SaltwaterSlick]

Hook sizes will vary (see above posts) but the best bait you can use on the trot line is cheap azz hotdogs cut in 1" chunks and soaked in Big Red soda. Soak for about 30 minutes before you go bait the lines. Fast, easy, cheap, and clean to put on the lines. Gar wont eat em (usually). Any of the live bait, cut bait, chicken innerds will work well also, but you either have to buy or catch live bait and deal with the mess with cut bait. Anyrate, hotdogs are the way to go. You will catch more than you want to clean.

Lot of merit to this post. We use these and cut 'em in half... best dang catfish bait I ever used, and I been catfishin' for almost 60 years!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hillshire-Farm-Lit-l-Smokies-Smoked-Sausage-14-Oz/15935188

[Gumberger]

Circle hooks!

[duckmanep]

I also fish Sulphur. Eagle Claw O'Shaughnessy 3/0 with a worm works great for numbers of eating size fish. 6/0 with live perch will catch you some bigger blues & flatheads. If you have a good spot to dig earthworms on the river bank, they will catch more fish than nightcrawlers. Shrimp does good sometimes. Cubed pig liver is good too. For pole fishing, Triple S Catfish dip bait (Sonny's) is excellent.

https://www.catfishconnection.com/Store/Details/354SS-3--0/HOOKCATFSH/ECHKCTSS/EAGLE-CLAW-OSHAUGHN/

[Big_gun]

we use the large eye eagle claws but only do drop lines and have 2-5 hooks on each... find some willow trees and stab in the banks.... fish a lot of areas and easy .. dont know anyone uses trebles on trot lines ... easy to get yourself hooked I would imagine. bait we always use live perch / some chicken liver / grasshoppers etc.

[Sasqy]

6/0 owners and live perch!
Don’t look back.