Bush Hooks/Limb lines

[sweetwater]

If you are going to put limb lines out ( or any other kind of stationary lines ) please remove them when you are done. On a lake where the water level changes these things can be a real hazard to fishermen and swimmers. When the lake level goes down if they are not removed the hook is left dangling in the air. The hook can also end up just under the surface to snag a swimmer. This can be an be an especially dangerous situation for fishermen out at night or even in the day recovering lures that hang up by the bank.

I was casting the first north bank upstream from the dam boat ramp at Cumberland Friday night. We went to retrieve a Lure and we were fumbling around with the trolling motor and the rods and the boat wakes to retrieve a lure that was hung up near the bank. We were standing in the front of the boat and after getting the lure and my partner noticed a limb line hook dangling in the air 12 inches from my eye. It could have been a very bad situation. Think of it ... you're standing on a boat with the hook in your face or your in your eye that's attached to a very sturdy cord which is attached to a springy tree limb and the boat is rocking in the waves and the boat is moving.

I think most of us have seen a similar situation before.


* Please see below from the 2016 fishing regulations. You are required to have your name and address permanently affixed to any stationary lines.
It would probably be a good idea for everyone to immediately report a stationary line they find does not have the owners name and address.



SPORT FISHING TROTLINES, JUGGING and SET LINES (LIMB LINES)
(301 KAR 1:410; KRS 150.010)
A sport fishing trotline is a line with no more than 50 single or multibarbed baited hooks that must be at least 18 inches apart. A sport fishing trotline must be set at least three feet below the water’s surface. Jugging is fishing with a single baited line attached to any floating object. A jug line may have no more than one single or multi-barbed hook. A set line is a line with one single or multi-barbed hook. It may be attached to a tree limb, tree trunk, bank pole or other stationary object on the bank of a stream or impoundment.

One person may use no more than two sport fishing trotlines or 50 jug lines or 25 set lines at any one time. Each boat may not use more than 50 jug lines, but each occupant may use two sportfishing trotlines or 25 set lines. Each sport fishing trotline, jug line or set line must be: 1) permanently labeled with the name and address of the user; 2) baited, checked and all fish removed at least once every 24 hours; 3) removed from water, bank or tree when fishing ceases.

Thanks for posting. While I knew that trotlines (never use em) and jug lines (love em) should be labeled I didn't realize the same was true for limb lines. Anyone have any suggestions on a preferred method to label a limb line? Obviously unlike a jug line I can't write on it with a sharpie. Lol.

[Basshunter82]

Thanks for posting. While I knew that trotlines (never use em) and jug lines (love em) should be labeled I didn't realize the same was true for limb lines. Anyone have any suggestions on a preferred method to label a limb line? Obviously unlike a jug line I can't write on it with a sharpie. Lol.

Some kind of plastic name tag I would imagine work. One with a zip tie. Not sure where you would get them.

[stripernut1]

Thanks for posting. While I knew that trotlines (never use em) and jug lines (love em) should be labeled I didn't realize the same was true for limb lines. Anyone have any suggestions on a preferred method to label a limb line? Obviously unlike a jug line I can't write on it with a sharpie. Lol.

take a piece of flourescent orange duck tape about 6 inches long and wrap it around the line, fold it over so sticky side mates with sticky sticky side. you can use a sharpie to put your info on the tape and the flourescent tape is easy to locate at night....a plus for the owner of the bush line AND the unsuspecting angler who accidentally hooks the line

[peter]

take a piece of flourescent orange duck tape about 6 inches long and wrap it around the line, fold it over so sticky side mates with sticky sticky side. you can use a sharpie to put your info on the tape and the flourescent tape is easy to locate at night....a plus for the owner of the bush line AND the unsuspecting angler who accidentally hooks the line

A few minutes ago I was going to suggest that but I could not remember my password.

But:

I had in mind grey duct. Fluorescent much better.

Didn't think of the visibility to someone else.

Didn't think of more visibility at night.


To digress--
On the way home from the lake I was thinking about all the small shad and water that would accumulate on the floor of the boat when netting and shaking gilled shad loose and what a mess they made when I stepped on them. An all time high last weekend. It looked like one if those commercial fishing boats you see on TV. Rubber boots would have been overkill. Definitely not flip- flop material. Barefoot no.

In a moment of brilliance I Figured out if I turn to the left (back of boat) instead of the right ( floor of boat ) I could substantially lighten the load on the floor ... in the motion if going from pulling to dumping.

I'll gone it a try next time and see if it is actually is a good idea.

Also if t throw toward the back corner instead of off the back side I'll be able to get more of a wind up baseball bat swing and open the net better. Jeez the light is round not square.

Takes a long time to learn stuff like this. Lol. That's why you never want to get a new Striper boat unless absolutely necessary.

[sweetwater]

take a piece of flourescent orange duck tape about 6 inches long and wrap it around the line, fold it over so sticky side mates with sticky sticky side. you can use a sharpie to put your info on the tape and the flourescent tape is easy to locate at night....a plus for the owner of the bush line AND the unsuspecting angler who accidentally hooks the line

Great idea! Along that same line I guess a length of orange or white flag tape with the info written on it and tied onto the limb beside of the line would work too. Kinda like the ones they use for gator lines on Swamp People.

[luvtohunt]

I have laminated tags with my name and address on them. I just use the extra line left over after tying the line to run through the hole I have punched in them. I typically set at the edge of dark and check at day break instead of running all night. Just my preference I guess. Just something about seeing a limb bouncing out in front of the boat through the fog of the morning gets me fired up.

[smashdn]

Anyone have any suggestions on a preferred method to label a limb line? Obviously unlike a jug line I can't write on it with a sharpie. Lol.

I use a side cut from a milk jug with my info written in sharpie on it. You can cut a slit in it and it will slid onto the line.