This is a cove in a lake but I'm fishing between 10-20ft deep and the jug lines have 8-10 ft of line. Ideally you want your baits close to the bottom without snagging but I have also caught many fish (big fish too) with my baits 10-15ft off bottom. Most important factor for me has always been more about placement.
Late reply, but we have friends and family we take catfish home to often. As much as we fish and having the freezers already full we let them go until someone asks for more.
How deep is the river and what length did you set your jug line?
This is a cove in a lake but I'm fishing between 10-20ft deep and the jug lines have 8-10 ft of line. Ideally you want your baits close to the bottom without snagging but I have also caught many fish (big fish too) with my baits 10-15ft off bottom. Most important factor for me has always been more about placement.
Why are you throwing those fish back somebody would love to have them loved my catfish
Late reply, but we have friends and family we take catfish home to often. As much as we fish and having the freezers already full we let them go until someone asks for more.