Of course, there are occasions when you might want to sit for hours on end while waiting for a bite. After all, half the fun of catfishing is the camaraderie it allows. You and your buddy build a nice campfire on shore, and then you kick back in your lawn chairs and have a few cool ones while you shoot the breeze.

This "sit and fish" tactic may be your best bet if catching trophy-class cats is your objective. Cast to the best-looking spot you can reach, place your fishing combo in a rod holder, put the reel in free-spool, flip on your bait clicker and relax until the action starts. This technique may not produce lots of catfish, but it's excellent when targeting roaming heavyweights.

ROD HOLDERS FOR ALL OCCASIONS AND SITUATIONS
Rod holders are often used for this type of fishing. You can buy them or make your own. If you're the do-it-yourself type, you can make an inexpensive version from a 4-foot section of 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 1/8-inch angle iron, a 12-inch piece of PVC pipe (1 1/2" diameter) and two 2-inch radiator hose clamps. Bevel one end of the angle iron so it can be easily pushed into the soil. Attach the PVC pipe to the other end with the hose clamps, and you're done.

My favorite manufactured bank fishing model is the innovative Rock-It Pole Holder from M and N Distributing. Its solid two-piece construction (a bottom spike and upper rod holder that push together) makes it small enough to store in a big tackle box. The metal spike fits many boat bracket mounts or can be pushed into the soil. The most fascinating feature, however, is the light-and-sound bite detector. When a cat tugs your line, a small battery-powered device inside beeps and glows. The sensitivity is adjustable.

Fishing from a concrete riverside walkway? No problem. The Bucket Mount Rod Holder balances two fishing rods on a five-gallon bucket you fill with water or rocks for support. The holders' angle can be changed to fit your needs. It works great on any flat surface.

Good holders to use when bank fishing for smaller cats include the Combination Rod & Bait Holder, which mounts to a lawn chair and has a built-in holder for your worm box or liver tub; and Doug-jo's Catfish Killer is a no-frills, metal spike rod holder that's solid, inexpensive and made to last a lifetime.

BANK FISHING HOTSPOTS
A good place to test your new rod holder is the tailwater beneath a big river dam. These sites rank among the best bank fishing areas. State and federal agencies often provide riverside walkways to accommodate anglers. Catfish concentrate here in huge numbers, especially during upstream runs in spring.

Ten- to 14-foot fiberglass rods allow the long casts necessary to reach prime fishing areas. Use a simple bell-sinker rig - a 2- to 4-ounce bell sinker allowed to slide freely on your line above an 8/0 circle or octopus hook. Try shad chunks for bait. Cast toward the dam into a groove of slackened water between open gates. Let the rig sink and remain in one spot for 15 minutes. If no bites follow, raise your rod tip high to lift the weight, let the current wash it downstream a few feet, then let the weight down again, and repeat. This allows you to cover lots of bottom from a single bank fishing spot.

Fishing piers also offer excellent bank fishing prospects. Look for buoys around the pier marking man-made fish shelters where catfish are likely to hold. If there are no buoys, cast a small inexpensive jig a few times to determine where shelters might be. Fish attractors are usually the best fishing spots, but also fish around nearby stumps, trees and other cover. The egg-sinker rig and sliding-bobber rig both work here.

No matter where you bank fish, don't drop your guard when landing a big cat, even if the fish appears subdued. A long-handled net is best for landing large fish, but beaching the fish may be necessary. If you anticipate this possibility, use heavy line, keep your drag properly set and pull the fish up on shore as far as possible before attempting its capture.

Carry some chairs, drinks and friends on your bank fishing forays. Build a campfire, kick back and chew the fat. The camaraderie and relaxation are what make this form of fishing so much fun. Catching cats is just a bonus.