In Georgia, trotline anglers using more than 50 hooks at any given time must possess a commercial fishing license. Sport trotlines must be marked with the owner's name and address, have visible floats attached, and be submerged at least 3 feet beneath the surface. The line must be removed when the fishing has ended, as old lines and hooks left in a lake or stream can be hazardous to boaters, anglers, and wildlife.

When fishing for catfish with rod and reel, vary your technique according to the species you're targeting.

FLATHEAD
For flatheads, bottom-fishing with a bell or egg sinker and drift-fishing with a float are two favorite angling methods.

Bottom-fishing generally involves anchoring above likely spots such as snags and stumps in deep, flowing water. The size of the hook (3/0 to 7/0) and sinker (1 to 4 ounces) will be determined by the size of the bait and the strength of the current. Using enough weight to keep your bait on the bottom will result in fewer snagged hooks. A split shot or swivel between hook and sinker can be used to keep the bait at a known distance from the weight. By and large, faster current requires a shorter distance of as little as 3 inches between bait and sinker. For slower-moving water, leaders may be lengthened to about 2 feet. Move the bait -- assuming it's a live fish such as a bream, shiner or goldfish -- every few minutes, which allows you to cover a larger area and improves your chances of enticing a flathead to bite. Big flatheads are often solitary creatures; seldom are many of them in one spot.

When drift-fishing, try bouncing the bait along the bottom while using a trolling motor to maneuver the boat near snags and other underwater structure. Moving with the current increases your likelihood of finding actively feeding flatheads.

Fishing a float rig enables you to cover a lot of flathead habitat, and can take up the slack when bottom-fishing is slow. Tie the hook about 12 inches below the swivel and position a 1- to 4-ounce egg sinker just above the swivel; attach a float 3 or 4 feet above the sinker, and hook the baitfish through the back near the dorsal fin, or through the "nose" between mouth and eyes. Allow the float rig to swirl around holes, steep banks and stumps. The bait's vibrations will likely attract any hungry flathead lurking nearby.

CHANNEL CATS
Channel-cat anglers might be wise to decide between quality and quantity. According to Dalmier, an avid angler as well as a scientific expert, most fishermen who seek trophy channel cats use live baitfish such as small bream or shad. "Large channel cats are more predatory than their smaller brethren," he explained. "A lively sunfish fished just off bottom in a deep hole can produce some monster fish."

For these monster fish, "monster" fishing gear is often a necessity. "Horsing huge channel cats out of snag-infested lairs requires heavy tackle," Dalmier noted. "A heavy baitcasting or spinning outfit spooled with 20-pound-test line should be considered the minimum. Hook the live bait with a heavy 4/0 or larger hook and allow it to swim freely. Use enough weight to keep the bait on bottom and, when a strike occurs, allow the fish time to completely take the bait before setting the hook. Reels with a free-spool bait-clicker feature are excellent for this type of fishing."