I was thinking how I use jugs to drift for catfish with about 12 feet of line out. Anyone ever drift with cane poles the same way?

It would be kinda like spider rigging for crappie I guess.

I think jugs work because the fish can pull them around a bit (if they aren't anchored). On a pole with a straight line, I think the fish maybe senses the movement and doesn't complete the strike. If I was going to do that I would just carolina rig and drag it.

Sure if you got strong enough line to hoist the bigguns in. I caught a decent sized yellow cat using a 20' BNM telescoping pole with 20# Big Game mainline and 12# leader while using minnows crappie fishing.

Sort of been watching this one and I get the feeling that not many have used a cane pole at all.
I grew up using them for everything including catfish.
We always cut our own from river cane. Dad would pick the biggest ones for catfish set lines and we would tie them up in bundles and lay on top of somthing and let them dry. He would then cut the tips down until they had enough strength to set a hook on a big cat.

I guess my only concern with using them would be if they were stout enough to handle the larger fish. I have seen more than one break when trying to land larger fish.
If mostly after eaters you should have no problem. I would avoid the store bought two piece ones completly.
Tie your line about halfway down the pole and then run it up to the tip and throw a couple half hitches in it and go fishing.
By tying it down lower on the pole first if the pole breaks you still have a chance of landing the fish and most likely won�t loose you line and rigging.

Similar to Dwight just noted.

I bought some two piece cane poles from Academy last year for a trip we had to cancel at Lake Bryan. Since no set lines are allowed, I decided on this & a few R-n-Rs. Other than that, because of this ruling, you really don't see me visiting Lake Bryan. I assemble the 2 piece, then get some size 36 three strand nylon twist cord. I tie near the bottom & make a loop (to be able to tie to a stake or hook in a stake so it is secure & won't leave the bank).

Heading on up, I tie the cord to just after the second pole starts. You don't need to tie on the end of the first pole.

Then I tie onto just before the end or the end eye. And then I have "X" amount left on the line to tie the leader & hook to. Or I may just leave a loop to tie that line to.

The reasoning for the two piece pole setups was to get the line hanging out about 4 to 6 feet away from the bank, so it can dangle & also help create some action to lure the Cat to it.

I recall on friend who used willow branches for small set poles or switches to set on the Brazos River for Cats. He told me he caught a 19# Yellow on one of these limb lines baited with a top water minnow. The willow switches are very limber & do not snap as easy. He said it was slapping down as the Yellow kept tugging, but held it fine.