Gangly, I used to "jug" back in college at some of our sport fishing ponds, a cheap method I used was to buy 3-4 of the swimming pool noodle floats. Cut them into 10" or so pieces, and stick a PVC pipe through them. Drill a hole through one end and tie some catfish line to it. Put a big ole catfish hook on the other end and tip it with chicken livers wrapped in pantyhose, a live (small) bluegill, pieces of bluegill, etc. Set them out at dusk, let sit overnight and come back and check the next morning. I usually would put out quite a bit because the turtles would steal most of them.


However, every now and then, as you approach one, the noodle comes alive and you know you got a big 'ol catfish.