Gear

[mtreno]

so where does a guy go to get good carfishin gear. been to all the local megastores and cant find a good real with a clicker or any decent weights over 1 oz. where do you guys shop?

[DTro]

you don't have to go far to find rod or reel, in fact you can get a pretty good setup right from Walmart. The terminal tackle and sinkers is another story. I actually drove to cabelas and even THEY didn't have what I was looking for. If you check the small bait shops around the area you can find some stuff. I know the place in Shakopee (Sport Stop) has a pretty good selection. The place in Mankato (Bobber Shop) also has quite a bit. When you find what you like, get a bunch, cause you'll probably need it.

I'm also in the market for a new reel after the monster I caught last night, pretty much destroyed it. I always thought that my Corsair was MAN enough to handle the big stuff, nope, not after fighting the same fish for a half hour. No more Corsairs for me.

[mtreno]

thanks - i will have to stop in the sport stop - was there the other day but they were clsed when i got there

interesting stuff with your real. is there a real that anyone would talk a guy into buying. so far we have just been using our musky gear but are starting to out grow that and getting tired of moving leaders and weight back and fourth so often as it seems i have been going every other trip. thanks for you input.....

[hanson]

It sure is frustrating finding cat gear anywhere. I haven't found a place anywhere in the metro yet.

Sportsman's Warehouse has some stuff (large hooks & sinkers). Gander has hooks but not quite as large as I'm looking for.

Terminal tackle is tough to find but everybody has a good selection of stink bait and prepared baits. I don't use the stuff at all and I'm not quite sure why they sell it.

Rods are really hard to find. Wal-Mart does have the Berkley Big-Game rods. Couple of the guys I fish with have them and they land big fish with them.

Reels are everywhere.

I'd probably stick with Garcia Ambassadeurs for catfishing. Get one with a bait clicker like a 6500 C3 or C4. If you like more capacity, maybe 7000 series. If you really like nice gear, how about a Calcutta.

There are also spinning reel options too, I'd once again recommend a baitfeeder (clicker) like a Shimano Baitrunner or Okuma Epixor EB Series.

There are some good online resources too, Catfish Connection is a good one.

[Fisher Dave]

On the reel, I would take a garcia 7000 any day over a calcutta for Flathead fishing.. The 7000 is geared down(slower ratio) for true power when you are cranking on heavy line. There is a huge difference between reeling a 6500 with 20 pounds of load vs a 7000.. calcutta's.. great reel, but no more functional than a 6500 for flatheads.

Garcia does have a reel out with a cool little catfish engraved into it now. It is the size of a 6500, but has a lower gear ratio (5.3/1) that is equipped with the power handle.. I am sure it is balanced nicely for heavy fish.

Rods.. Dont take this the wrong way but.. good luck. The Big Cat rods at wal mart are pretty decent. If you want heavier, you will have to resort to a catalog. I think Bass Pro Shops has some stuff.. search the internet if you cant find what is on hand. Everyone doesnt go for the same rod in the end, it is a personal preference thing.. often times preference will change after hooking into big fish. Sometimes a person needs a rod that can turn a whale around when it heads for a snag, other times, a softer rod that provides some shock seems to have its place.. and they are easier on the arms. The only thing I highly recommend is making sure the rod has a long handle on it so it is comfortable to fight a fish... a handle a bit too short mounted on a pool cue can be hard on the ribs, and nearly rip your arms out of the socket when a huge fish runs and your trying to turn it around.

Good Luck

[Mr Special]

Great post.

It got me thinking, and even though I may never need it. Considering I've never caught a flattie over 12lbs and biggest channel is 19.5lbs. But I just picked up a PowerHandle for AbuGarcia reels from Sportman's Warehouse for only $14.

Good luck guys

[Willy]

The Berkely Outlet center in Spirit Lake IA has a lot of stuff for catfishing. They have rods, reels, hook, and sinkers. Some of the rods are reconditioned or discountinued, and the reels are discountinued. I got a 6500 abu there with a clicker and a pretty nice rod for about 50 bucks.

[Mr Special]

Kewl,

I'll have to remember that next time I'm down that way. Have you ever fished the Des Moines River, it has some nice channels and walleyes too.

[Bagley]

hsolist is worth checking out.

I just bought 500-600 nickel plated 7/0 and 8/0 octupus hooks for a $36.00. About 7 cents a piece. I also bought 100 2/0 barrel swivels for $14.00. 14 cents a piece. There are tons of heavy sinkers on there also that are up for auction.

Bagley

[Willy]

I never have. I only fish for cats on the MN. Is that the same one that runs through Jackson? Must be.

[Mr Special]

Yep,

There's tons of carps also.

[DTro]

I was at Cabelas yesterday and they have a great deal on a spinning baitrunner combo. It's a King Kat rod 7ft and Cabelas salt striker reel $64.98 + they throw in a free King Kat hat. You have to ask for the deal though. It's listed on their HSOforum. I bought two

[hanson]

If I'm not mistaken, that Cabelas Salt Striker Baitrunner is made by Okuma. I don't see how you could go wrong with a price like that.

[Fisher Dave]

You are 100% correct on the Cabellas salt striker being Okuma.. same reel.. $20 less when I was there a couple weeks ago.

[PierBridge]

I think I may pick one of these up, right in my price range.

Would you guys sud jest the 7', 8' or 10 footer their all the same price $64.98, the 8 and 10 footers take a little heavier line 14-30.

[rushing]

I have had the the 8ft King Kat Rod for a couple of seasons and love it. I also just got a TiCA Sportera "baitrunner reel" from cabelas. A spinning reel with a clicker in it. Tonight was the first night out using it and I didnt even get a run but the bully would occasionally pull out line and the clicker sounded goooood. I can't wait to hear it go for real!

Rob

[DTro]

That's the only downside of this reel. It IS a baitrunner with adustable clicker tension, however the audible clicker is not the kind that will snap you out of a quick snooze.

On a side note, about a month ago, I purchased the same outfit, just seperately (I was told by Cabelas that the price was only good on the internet). When I was there this weekend I asked again about it and was told that they indeed offered it. Well, yesterday I called and spoke with a manager and he told me "no problem, next time your down, present your receipt and we'll refund the difference (nearly a $20 bill) plus throw in the hat ($9.99), and no hurry, just next time your down". That's pretty good customer service. Just for that I might have to buy another one.

[rushing]

Thats probably the best thing about cabelas is their customer service. My buddy bought a rod and like two days later busted the tip off and I told him to just take it back and they gave him a new one no questions asked.

I dont know if the Okuma reels have a real bait alarm but I know they make a drag type sound when line is coming out. This TiCA reel I got has a metal clicker in the spool itself so its pretty heavy duty. I had been using a Rhino Baitsensor reel and it worked great but the little tiny peice that made the clicking sound died and wasnt really ment to be any sort of an alarm. I am interested in knowing how the Cabelas Salt Striker with the bait runner works. Has anybody tried one yet?

Rob

[Fisher Dave]

Rushing .. I bought one of the baitrunner type salt strikers for my ol' lady.. It is a very smooth reel this far and has worked great.. It will engage(sp?) when you hit the crank, or the release lever. The clutch(anti backreel) is very solid, the gear ratio is about perfect, and the handle is oversized and very comfortable.

The only downfall about the reel is the clicker is a little quiet for me (I am really 70% deaf).. but I do hear it if I'm not too far away. The bait feeder is very smooth along with the drag, and a bonus is the tension can be adjusted to VERY light if desired, or very heavy if preferred in heavy current with monster bait.. and the tension of the bait runner does not put extra tension on the retrieve like on a baitcaster.

The Salt Striker she has is equivelent to the Okuma EB50, but her gear ratio is slightly lower on hers than the actual Okuma production model in that size.. unless I got the info confused.. either way, it is easy to crank with some serious power.

Ths far, I would recommend anyone looking for a good spinning reel for cats to get one.

[mtreno]

thanks for all the grear info guys!!! i new i would get what i was looking for here. planning a trip down to cabela's to look at some reels but have to get my home equity loan closed first for all the other stuff i will want to get when i am there....