Here are the regulations for jugging...
http://www.eregulations.com/tennesse...than-rod-reel/
I normally put out between 12-24 on flats near channels. Normally I have fish on before I get the last one out. I have been using a pair of minnows on circle hooks set about 3 feet deep. I am going to try cut and live bluegill this year. I have not caught any giants, but I have caught a lot of nice eating size fish. I have used them on east and west fork and have not caught as many as I have closer to the hobson pk bridge area. An advantage of using them in the rivers is sometimes you can get out of the wind that way. Most of the time there is not much wind at night, but I do most of my fishing in the hour or two before dark until about an hour or two after. I use the fat swim noodles cut to around a foot long with coat hangers threaded through them. Good luck.