Hope you can help me out on this. I do good with picking spots to set up my juglines. I scan the area, read the depth, smell area for shad(don't ask just feel I can smell them) and I catch good catfish. Question is: How do I translate that to catching them on a fishing rod? Don't get me wrong it's fun catching big cats on juglines but I want to feel one on my fishing pole. Hope you can help.

The same way you set your jugs. It is a old school gift knowing what the water smells like to catch cats. My grandpa taught me this skill. Fish it like you do your jugs. Either drift or anchor up in that area.

Thanks. I've tryed to anchor with small cat luck and when I drift, it seems like I might be drifting to fast. Should I be trying to drift a certain speed?

Around a half a mile an hour

I rarely drift, even though I know it is a good way to target cats. I anchor and toss out the rejects from when I cut my bait up. If they are there I will usually have a rod go down before I can get them all set out.

No roll sinkers, quality swivel, circle hook of choice, good line and leader, and get to fishin'.