How to make PVC fishing jugs

Illustrations by Ryan Kirby

Jugging for catfish is a fun summertime activity. The excitement of watching a jug bob and disappear is a great thing to share with a child or someone new to fishing. Dealing with a tangled mess of bleach and detergent bottles and milk jugs, however, will kill a fun day on the water in a heartbeat.

Rather than battle the hassle of traditional jugs, why not built a better fishing jug? PVC fishing jugs fit the bill quite well. They are durable, compact, and easy to assemble; and when built with a little ingenuity, they can even let you know when the fish are biting.

MATERIALS

(2) foam swimming noodles with holes in centers
(1) 10-foot length of 3/4-inch thick-walled PVC pipe
(12) 3/4-inch PVC caps
(6) landscape nails, rebar or iron rods (at least 6 to 8 inches long) for sliding weight
(6) 3/16-inch eyebolts, with washers and nuts
drill with 1/8-inch bit
PVC glue
silicone glue
hot glue
fishing terminal tackle: heavy-duty swivels, line, barrel weights and hooks

Instructions

Cut PVC pipe into 20-inch lengths.
Cut swimming noodles into (six) 12-inch lengths;
use extra noodle foam for step 7.
Drill six PVC caps on centers.
Screw in eyebolts, using dabs of silicone glue on threads to waterproof cap.
Install washers and nuts on eyebolt threads and seal with silicone glue.
Apply PVC glue on caps with eyebolts.
Cut a small scrap piece of foam, place foam inside the PVC pipevand install eyebolt cap on bottom end of pipe.
Drop sliding weight in PVC pipe, place scrap foam piece in PVC pipe above sliding weight.
Slide foam noodle on to PVC pipe (top end), apply PVC glue to cap and seal top end of pipe.
Secure foam using silicon glue or hot glue.
Attach terminal tackle to eyebolt: swivel, leader, weight and hook.
Wrap rig around jug and hook into foam.
Store fishing jugs in cooler or plastic crate.

Illustration by Ryan Kirby

How to Fish with the Smart Jug

Bait hook with liver, worms, cutbait or local bait of choice. Deploy jug with sliding weight in the top end (foam end), so it lays flat on the water. When fish bites, the jug will tilt and slide the weight to the bottom and jug will stand up, signaling a bite.
Check local regulations on using jugs, special licenses and limits. Don’t forget to bring a child along on your next jug fishing trip and enjoy the fish fry afterward!

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