A Trotline is a length of cor or lightweight rope used in conjunction with several hooks or baited lines hanging at given intervals along the cord for the purpose of catching crabs or fish (particularly catfish). With a trotline one can completely cover the width of a channel, river, or stream with baited hooks and leave the line unattended. There are many ways to construct a trotline, but most methods involve a long piece of cord with any number of drop lines ending with hooks and a few weights to hold the cord below the surface of the water.