I dont have access to a boat right now so I have been putting out a trotline in about 4 foot of water for the last 3 weekends. I have had extremely bad luck and was looking for some opinions on my luck.

Starting three weeks ago I put out my first line. I wasnt being real serious I just wanted to catch some catfish to eat. Friday night I put hotdog and liver on 8 hooks. Came back Saturday morning with a softshell turtle. I re-baited Saturday night with 7 3-7 inch perch. Sunday morning all bait was still alive and still on the hooks. The next weekend I went back. Baited up Friday night with 7 live perch a little smaller in size maybe 3-5 inches. Saturday morning I go check it and I have all bait missing and a 2 foot gar. This last weekend I decide Im going to put a little more effort into it. I moved the trotline about 200 yards down from where it was, again in about 4 to 4.5 foot of water. I use 4 perch and 2 large shad cut in half. Saturday morning I have a gar and all bait missing. Saturday night I increase the trotline to 25 hooks. Bait it with whole and cut shad. Sunday morning I check it and all bait missing with 2 gar on it.

I have never had such a problem catching catfish. I've also never caught so many gar. You think my area just has too many gar right now?

Yep

It is tough to trotline in shallow water this time of year. Try setting your line out on a point or a bank that the wind is blowing into if you are not already.