I have lost two jug/noodles this year due to large fish taking them under and not resurfacing. One I found the next day, 1/2 mile upstream (river fishing) with the line severed, apparently from being scraped on rocks, apparent from the frayed end of the line. The other was returned to me by another fisherman who said he found it a mile downstream from where I last saw it. The line was frayed like the other one. (I do put my information on the jugs. I don't think anyone is going to find the address and come and try to rob/murder me. Of course, if they do, then the consequences rest on their shoulders.)
I use a 30lb braid and both were rock frayed cuts. I have since doubled the size of the noodles and haven't had any more stay under for more than 30 minutes. I only release 8-10 at a time and float the river with them, keeping them all in sight so I know fairly quickly if one is missing, as I do a constant count......and I only jug in the daylight.
I too have found a number of jugs on JPP while crappie fishing there. Some have the information, some don't. I have called people who have lost jugs and they say just throw them away.
One fellow came to my boat asking if I had seen any jugs as he had lost his from the night before. I hadn't then, but an hour later and two bays away, I found (possibly) his jugs, but no name or TWRA # on them. I'm wondering if he just forgot where he dropped them. I checked each one and they had no fish and no bait so I just stuck the hook in the foam and left them, hoping he might find them later.
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