ground line, what do you like best?

[D.C.]

I have done a little long lineing in the ocean, before the rules changed and we weren't allowed to do it any more. kind of curious about what you guys use in rivers. i used poly rope and wieghted it every now and then to keep it near the bottom.but you are in realitvly shalow water with traffic.how do you keep your gear from getting fouled by boats and flotsum in a river? do you use a sinking ground line?

[spinafish]

I think what you are going to find  is some limb lining..but lots of jugging and trotlines..Most states have regs concerning the type of lines used to tie off the limb lines and the trotlines.  Mississippi requiires a cotton line to attach and nylon is allowed for the main line..

[D.C.]

ah yes the good old rule book. i will definatly check it first.  if it says you can only use x it will take alot of the mistery out of it.looks like your trot lines are pretty much flat on the bottom. thanks for the answer  the rules probaly change from one body of water to the next too.  D.C.

[spinafish]

not necessarilary right on the bottom..depends of the fish of course..imagine this if I describe it well enough..a trot line can be tied off at the bank with an anchor of some sort (usually a cinder block or concrete in a coffee can)on the other in end with  hooks attached to drooper lines about every two feet(again check the rule book for minimum distance).  The main line is stretched so that everything stays untangled.  Alot of folks fish in the middle of a lake or river by suspending a stretched line between two of those anchored lines...they usually use a large detergent bottle in flo. color or such to mark their lines.  Hopefully, the bottle will be skier off one's trotline..it really ruins a day when you have to cut all that nylon outta your prop! Hope that describes it for ya..

[suthincomfort]

we use trot lines weighted with old window weights . best weight i've ever used