I've experimented with everything from trotlines to bank poles to yo-yos, as well as hook-and-line fishing from a bank or a boat. But one of my favorite techniques is to use jug lines. The reason is simple: I catch a lot of fish, it's thrilling, and few other people employ my approach. So I tend to stick to places where I know other people don't go. A jug line is simply a very long length of rope or cord with small hooks or beads attached at intervals. You drive the hooks into the side of a stream or river past all those dangerous shallow spots where others might get stuck. When a fish takes the bait, he pulls it in quickly, which leaves him time to escape if he doesn't like what he sees. The idea is that you'll catch more large fish this way; they're less likely to panic and more likely to stay near the shore where they're easier to land. You can use anything from half a mile to several miles of cord. Longer lines are better because they give you more room to work with, but they're also harder to find and cost more. For me, the tradeoff is worth it. I've caught huge fish on lines as short as 200 feet! Fish feel comfortable in running water and will often follow the path of least resistance.