There are two distinct types of jugs in use today… the free floating jug and the anchored jug. The free floating jug has a small weight on the bottom of the line, usually less than a half pound with the line being shorter than the depth of the water being fished. The free-floating jug must be watched carefully for the very nature of a free-floating jug will allow it to float away or be carried away by a current or a fish.

The anchored jug has a much larger weight on the end of the line, from 1 to 2 pounds… sometimes more with the line at least as long as the depth of the water. This anchor will help keep the jug in the area which you place it. Heavy current like in a river will still make this design into a free-floating jug.

A jug is nothing more than a float, a line with dropper loops tied in it, a weight, and hooks. You have a choice… you can build your own fishing jugs for jug fishing or purchase them from commercial dealers.

My favorite fishing jug is made from a 2L soda bottle, stripped of it's label, spray-painted with white spray paint and 360 banded with reflective fluorescent tape on the big end, one cup of dry sand or pea gravel poured in and the cap sealed down with RTV sealant. I write my tagging information directly on the bottle with permanent marker.

I use 200# nylon seine twine for the anchor line with dropper loops at 5 foot intervals for a total of three loops. 5/0 to 8/0 circle hooks on 50# mono leaders finish out the assembly. The anchor line is wound on the outside of the bottle and held in place with a strip of electrical tape or a rubber band.

I use anything I happen to have for an anchor, from half a red brick to a chunk of scrap metal. Cheap is the name of the game for me, 'cause often the jugs will "disappear" when other boats are around.

When I set out jugs for jug fishing, I sit in my boat watching the jugs so that when one gets a hit, I can run it down before it goes out of sight. I never leave the jugs unattended unless they are anchored with at least a 3-pound anchor.

I keep eight jugs in a soda case that used to hold the full soda bottles assembled for shipment. This keeps the jugs under control in the boat, and makes for easier storage.

Another design that has become increasingly popular is made from a swim noodle easily purchased from many outlet stores. One swim noodle cut in 12" lengths will make 6 jugs. Cut a ½" ID schedule 40 plastic pipe into 24" pieces and glue a cap on one end of the pipes. Slide one piece of swim noodle over the open end of each pipe then drop a 6" chunk of rebar down inside the pipe before gluing on another end cap to seal the tube. Tie an appropriate length of line on the tube so that it cannot slip off. Next, tie dropper loops in the line and the weight on the end. Wind up the line on the noodle, binding the hooks with the line.

As with all things, check your local regulations and wildlife laws before placing a jug in the water.