OK..... Help me spend a few bucks

[wooduck26]

Ive read over the old post about rods......and I cant for the life of me find a rod! I was going to go to Moores tonight but they close at 5.. I need a spinning rod, Id like an 8ft, with a good backbone! I will be putting a Shimano 4500 on it.

Suggestions?

[hanson]

Catfish Safari "Flathead"

Bob should be able to get it for you.

[nsnutter]

My spinning setup is a Berkley Big Game 7'er ... think I got her for $15 or so few years ago ... really you don't need to spend top dollar on a rod, although some of the more expensive rods are really really nice!

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Definitely don't need to spend a fortune but I went ahead and spent $80 at Moore's and got a 7'6" Team Catfish spinning rod (3/4 ton) and I love it. Very, very sturdy rod. Not the best for sensitive biting fish but should be perfect for muscling big Flatheads.

[hanson]

We're all after that durable, heavy backbone, yet sensitive rod with a soft tip. You will not find this in a cheap rod, at least I haven't yet.

Anyone who says sensitivity doesn't matter hasn't fished long enough. A sensitive rod tells you your live bait is still lively AND on the hook.

When you get that quick 3' run, a sensitive rod tells you whether its just bait struggling or a fish is holding that struggling bait in its mouth.

When you do hook that 60 pounder in strong current, you want that sensitive rod to have a helluva backbone as well.

Finding this combination of qualities is tough.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

This is all true. I found with the MH Ugly Stick Catfish series rod that is was just straight up too sensitive with too little backbone. Just not a good rod for Flatheads in my opinion. I think my new Team Catfish rod will still be sensitive to detect what my bait is doing but just not as good as a traditional sensitive rod.

Another rod I have really liked but never used personally is the Ugly Stick Tiger series. Those things seem plenty sensitive with plenty of backbone. Definitely on my to-buy list.

[DTro]

I got a nice Surge leaning against the wall not being used if you are interested.

That 4500 might look a little small on it though.

[wooduck26]

Catfish Safari "Flathead"

Bob should be able to get it for you.

Whats the price tag on that rod? Just curious.....

[hanson]

Hmmmm.... $70ish thereabouts. I'm not positive but it should be in that range.

Only complaint some people may have is the rod is yellow. Guess I really don't care as its hard to find a rod with an action that I really like.

[wooduck26]

Hansen I have a few questions for ya....could throw me your email addy?

[email protected]

Dave

[blakeb]

as stated the catfish MH ugly dtik isnt the best choice for flats, it will work but an 8 footer is my number one choise for channels, my rod for flats is a shakespear blue runner 7 ft (surf rod) very stiff not enuf tip action but it would take in a record fish without snapping this i am sure of.

[dan z]

graphite is the only way to go in my opinion... My brother uses a GM 6'6" muskie rod thats good for 1-5 oz baits, and he also uses a scheels muskie rod that is 7'2" and thats rated about the same... I also use a GM 8'6"good to 3oz and a scheels 6'9"

Check out the photo's that monster 43" was cuaght on that 6'6" GM muskie rod that cost $30

[wooduck26]

Hanson......Did you get the email I sent you?

-Dave

[riverrat56]

graphite is the only way to go in my opinion...

Graphite is great till it blows up into 4 pieces trying to lift a mid sized fish off the bottom....

[dan z]

Originally Posted By: dan z

graphite is the only way to go in my opinion...

Graphite is great till it blows up into 4 pieces trying to lift a mid sized fish off the bottom....

till this happens I say graphite

[rushing]

Graphite is lighter, more sensitive, more expensive, much more delicate compared to e-glass. Get a nick in the blank and go to set the hook or lift a fish off the bottom and schnappp. Take good care of your rod and it will last but catfishin tends to be hard on equipment.

[Scott K]

A good quality graphit for me as well.

[dan z]

A good quality graphit for me as well

will get 'em turned are way once they realize how strong the graphite rods really are... till then they will never know what there missing

[Loose]

Always been graphite fan myself always felt something was missing with glass.

[DTro]

What's that, not having to buy a new rod every 2 years?

Graphite is perfect for finesse fishing and or throwing baits all day. If it's getting banged around in a rod holder all the time, the choice is a no brainer to me.

Those 4-6oz weights can really ding up a nice graphite rod.

Catgeeks tend to be really hard on their gear, not to mention are known to be a little clumsy; add the factor of a couple adult beverages and darkness into the mix and you have a recipe for many broken rods.

Glass rods are going to break too, but they are much more wallet(read wife) friendly to replace.

Now if I was doing some of these new tactics I've read about such as drifting, strolling, drop shotting, I would rethink that.

[Scott K]

I have only busted 2 graphite polls when fishing, neither were broke due to normal fishing. The way the first one broke would have broken pretty much any pole, I had the pole resting across the side of the boat, while I was posing for a picture holding a 25 pound flat, he wiggled out of my hands and landed in the middle of my rod. The second one broke by hooking the line to the eyelet, and I just pulled a little to hard. I have always catfished with graphite poles since I was 16, and that has been a quite a few years ago. I would say I fish a fair amount, and I would say I am not the easiest on my stuff, and I have caught a few decent fish on these poles. I have a couple St croix rods that are 15+ years old.

If you learn how to fish them, you shouldnt ever have issues with them.

[DTro]

Fair enough, but I can't find one in white

[Scott K]

Fair enough, but I can't find one in white

That part does suck! I wish they did make them in white

[dan z]

just like everything thing is this world if yeah spend a lil extra you will take care of it. not a different than strapping a 202 to a great rod the pole is usless without a reel. and the reel is useless without the rod.

rod straps and reel cases are my friend...

when I moved to graphite 10 plus years ago I have never broke on while fishing. and on a side note the big box stores have great warrenties on there name branded stuff, so if it does break they usually take great care of ya

Dont know who it was the other night at Le suer landing but they saw the boat I was in and they said "what do you catch in there sunfish" low and behold they had no idea that there was a really healthy KOTC caught in it that night...

[Loose]

Ha ha that was My fishin partner!