I have used what you're describing many, many times. Here in south Louisiana catfish are abundant. I have used auto-reels to catch blue-cats and mud-cats all through the year. They're convient because they can be hung from a dock (that's how I use them mostly), or you can set trot-lines accross canals etc., or simply hung from branches that overhang the water. Earthworms are by far the best bait, but any grub under a rotten log will work.

The size of the auto-reels is about the diameter of a coke can. And about 3/4 of an inch thick. They work on an internal spring that's very stout. I have caught up to six and seven pound catfish on these. They won't pull the bigger fish completely out of that water, but they will pull their heads to above water level.

Down here they're more commonly referred to as "yo-yo's" for the up and down movement of the line.

I commonly set 10-12 of them off my dock and am practically guaranteed fresh dinner. After you've cought your needed fish, simply trip the latch and wind them up an let them hang. I've had some hanging all summer long, and they still work great. My advice on buying them would be to stay away from "trinkets" their spring often break or the latch won't work. Happy fishing.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

--Luke