Catfish rod/reel for the new guy?

[Random guy]

Cats are going to get some attention this year from the musky guy. I was wondering what type of rod/reel set-up would be good for a smuck like me that is just getting started. I do have some of the Ecat rods that I use for musky trolling but the few times I went out catting my rods where shorter then everybody elses and that started a whole new line of envy for me. Plus they diidn't seem to have the action of the longer rods. I also noticed guys like Dennis Steele and a few others use open face reels instead of baitcasters, why? Another thing is with the longer rods do you cat guys us a two piece rod for travel. I know my longer musky rods won't fit in the Yota where a two piece would? Are the two piece rods any good? I have also heard that when it comes to catfish higher priced rods are not the best bang for the buck, that some of the less exspensive rods work better.

[Mr Special]

I'm gonna leave the technical stuff to the Guru's on the site, but wanted to say welcome to the DARKSIDE. Once you hook into that 40+ flattie you'll wonder why you didn't start catting sooner.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Yes, welcome, Jon! I'm still a newbie, but I got hooked last year.

2-piece rods are a necessity. Generally, you'll want something with a nice, slow action. Length depends a lot on how you're fishing. Most of mine is done from shore, so a longer rod lets me cast out farther. I've got a 9' Power Plus surf rod from Bass Pro that I really like (altough it hasn't caught me any monsters...yet!). The downside is that it is black, which is hard to see at night, but I helped that with reflective tape and glow paint. I know a lot of guys like the Berkley Glowsticks.

Spinning reels have the advantage of being able to pick up line fairly quickly and you don't have to deal with backlashes in the dark. Baitcasters have more carking power and loud baitclickers. I've got an Okuma Epixor spinning reel. Very nice reel with the baitfeeder option that allows the cat to pull out line, then when I start reeling, it switches to the main drag to fight the fish. The clicker isn't real loud, though. As far as baitcasters, I'll let others chime in. All of my baitcasters are used for bass fishing.

Like I said, I'm still new, but you'll get a lot of good info from these guys. Have fun!

[hanson]

Jon-

Might as well use your baitcasters. You could probably swap them back and forth from your muskie rods. I'm sure they are already spooled with 80lb Power Pro.

Lower gear ratio would be a little better, 5.3:1 or lower. I'm thinking a Garcia 6500 C3 or a 7000 C3 for flatheads.

The clickers on the Abu's are much louder than my Okuma spinning reel.

Good luck with the rod, you might have to buy 4 or 5 until you really find something you like. One common factor with cat rods is E-Glass.

Berkley Reflex series is a pretty nice rod IMO. Problem is, they have been discontinued and are hard to find. I just ordered (2) 8 footers from an online store. Let me know if you are interested and I'll pass along their address.

I have also heard good things about Bass Pro Cattmax rods but haven't ordered one up. They have black blanks however.

Ugly Stick Ugly Cat and the Ugly Stick Tiger rods are nice as well. I would stick with the Ugly Cats for channels and the Tiger series for flatheads.

(And YES! That is a bass in my avatar. )

[I Da Man]

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Ugly Stick Ugly Cat and the Ugly Stick Tiger rods are nice as well.

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Hey JP! I have an Ugly Stick for sale...just haven't put it up yet.

IMO go as least expensive as you can...for two reasons.

1) You might turn into a pumking at midnight and want to get out of Catfishing after a few nights.

2) No matter what you buy, when you start seeing what everyone is using...the one you just bought isn't what you want. (they all work...some better than others, but mostly what you like is the big differance)

I've never used a spinning reel for real fish... But the only time I can remember having a backlash at night is when I let Wellman try to cast. LOL! (he's going to love that!)

Let me know if your interested in the Ugly Stick...It's in very good shape.

[DARK30]

Sounds like the right equipment is already at hand....and an Ecat fan too yet. Once you catch a few on one combo, you'll need another,and another,and another...it gets ugly, are you married?

Now, all we need is winter to be over.

[Dirk W]

Are you talking a rod for channel cats or flatheads? Straight hooks or circles? The all around best setup for channel cats in rivers, in my opinion, is a 8-9 foot slower action fiberglass rod like Berkley Reflex (discontinued) or ugly stick, med-med.heavy, teamed up with 20lb Berkley Big Game Solar (if the water is at all stained or dirty)and a 4/0-6/0 circle hook. Keep your reel engaged and don't set the hook, let the cat do all the work.

If you want to set the hook on channels I'd use straight hooks. Switch over to a lighter graphite rod with the same mono or a braid.

For flatheads I like straight hooks and a powerfull graphite or fiberglass (ugly stick tiger rod, Quantum Big Cat, etc.) rod teamed with 80lb Power Pro. The graphite rods aren't necessary but I like them because they arent as heavy and they are just nicer to work with. Both types get used in my boat. Your musky rods will work good. If you like mono go with Big Game Solar 40lb.

I prefer baitcasters over spinning reels. 6500 Garcia for channels and the 7000 series for flats. Go with the larger reels if you want one reel for both types of fish.

[barnyard]

You've gotten some good advice, so far. Here's what I use.

For Channels, we use 8.5-9 foot salmon rods. Lighter ones when we are using chicken liver and slipbobbers and heavier ones for bottom rigs.

I've not fished for flatheads, yet, but got the rigs for them too. I'll be using them for Sturgeon this Spring, 8 & 9 foot Berkley Reflex Cat rods, the 9 ft with a 7000 and the 8 with a 6500.

I also have a 8 foot muskie rod that I won on a raffle. (Contact US Regarding This Word) Pearson donated it and he said he fished with it for 2 or 3 years. Anyways, it seems to have the perfect action for bottom fishing, so I'll try it on Sturgeon this Spring.

I LOVE the song of a Garcia baitclicker annoucing a fish. To me, that is as exciting as having a muskie follow.

One more thing.... Look for rods with foam handles. If you are shore fishing, you will be using rod holders of some type and foam grips are more durable than cork.

Tom B

[barnyard]

Annnnd even thought it is not a cat trip.... I will bring along some of the rod holders that we fabricated to the Sturgeon Excursion. That way you can get an idea of what can work well, for almost no dough.

Tom B

[DTro]

I always used baitcaster setup until that fish in my avatar trashed one of my Corsairs. I was looking online at Cabela's HSOforum and came upon the KingKat SaltStriker combo. I was intrigued so I took a drive down and picked up the combo for 64.98. Gave it a try and a few days later went back bought 2 more

After using both spinning and baitcasting it seems like I have more leverage when fighting the fish with the spinning. Another thing I like is the baitrunner vs the clicker. The baitrunner automatically disengages when you start reeling. Not a deal breaker, but to me the clicker sounds much better going out then coming in.

I just checked and they still have this deal, plus a free hat. The reel is made by Okuma which is quality reel.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Yeah, the Cabela's Salt Striker is the same thing as the Okuma Epixor.

[Random guy]

Lots of good info, thanks. I have a stack of 6500c3 Abus since I stopped using them for musky so I guess I have the reels and I do have the rods but I have a hard time bringing $900 custom made musky rods with custom carved cork grips into a cat boat or rod holder,I would be scared a flathead would shred them for fun. I have noticed that river fishing along with catching cats is a rough tough world that has the ability to destroy gear without much effort. I think if I set up the one of the Ecat rods with an Abu and get another longer rod set up with an Abu I should have it.

I have even gone as far to pick up a more river friendly boat, the twenty foot fiberglass Stratos with the 200hp motor wasn't going to work out to well.

Dark, about being married...she told I fish to much, and I should just shack up with a musky, I haven't seen her since. Oh Well

[hanson]

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$900 custom made musky rods with custom carved cork grips

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I knew there was a reason I didn't musky fish. Wow!!

Berkley Reflex is about $30 a rod!!

As you can tell, catfishing is becoming a rich man's sport.

And man this forum is hopping!!!

[Random guy]

I had a choice;

1)A happy home with fancy furniture and "relationships" that required time and money.

2) Stability with a retirement fund and big savings accounts.

3)Some super sweet musky gear.

I love my musky gear!

[Ralph Wiggum]

Jon,

1) You can toss one of those 6500c3 Abus my way anytime you want to unload one or two .

2) You should check out the Catfish Connection. It's the best place to find gear. Just add the www and the .com

3) Thanks for crankin' up the cats forum! I'm getting very, very excited now.

[Mr Special]

So far my favorite cat rod is a Shakespeare Ugly Cat it's a MH 8' casting. I found it at Walmart for only $25.

Before that I using was my St. Croix Heavy 7'H muskie rod. As ThatGuy was a witness it snapped in half under heavy load of a big cat"hoping". Granted it was 3yrs old and has caught numerous fish, but I've never had a rod snap before. FleetFarm and Sportmans Warehouse also have a pretty rod selection of cat rods.

Good luck

[Guest]

I assume your looking into Flathead tackle.

Your 6500's will work fine as long as they are in good working order. Power pro line is very popular amongst many of us in the 65# and 80#.. I am going to be moving up to 100# on one of my rods this year.. why? Very strong fish in jagged concrete structure(areas I often fish). Some guys are big on mono in the 20#-30# class, with the bright green being a favorite for visibility at night.

Rods, there are many choices out there. It will be impossible to chose your preferred rod without having some fish on the end of the line. You can see many of us recommend rods in the 8' range.. this is mostly because most rods out there carried by retailers are not heavy enough in the 7' lengths. Most *cat rods* are glass rods, which are a softer action. The retail rods that are rated for at least 30# test line are usually a minimum on what you are going to want in your hands with a large fish on the other end of the line.. You can have 10,000# test line and it wont do you a bit of good if the rod doesnt have the power to turn a fish.

Choosing a rod is important. The rod must have some tip action to detect bait movement, and strikes. Often, a flathead will come up and chomp a bait, and eat it before moving. If you dont have a rod that has some tip action, you will have a hard time detecting these bites... resulting in missed fish, or gut-hooked fish. Keep in mind you generally have a bait that is 7"+, and bullheads really kick. A rod that will give a little tip movement before the baitclicker gives is ideal. The baitclicker on a 6500 is pretty light, its much heavier on a 7000 class reel.

Finding the perfect rod is impossible. Anyone serious into catfishing has, or eventually has several rods, all a little different to suit the application.

The best rod I have for circle hooks, or dead sticking is a 8' glow stick. The rod has a moderate action, with a nice slow load to it without too much resistence, but enough to do the job properly. This is a pretty good all around rod, but its not the greatest for power when you have to turn a fish. The handle on the rod is a large diameter and longer than many others, which makes it less abusive on your body fishing a large fish. This is also a good choice for shore fishing because it will cast a mile with a 6500 and cutbait, and flexable enough it doesnt tear up a live bait.

For a heavier rod that your not worried about casting distance, I really recommend some of the Tiger Rods out there. I have checked many of them out, and the rods rated at 50# test, and a couple rated a little heavier have great backbone to them, have some tip action, and have a good handle for fighting fish.

Glow sticks are usually around $40, Tigers in the mid $50 range.. I dont think that scares you if you spent $900 on a custom musky rod/combo.

All I can say is, there is no perfect combo for all situations. Fishing early in the year for channels, light presentations are what is needed to catch fish.. A rig spooled with 10-15# mono that is capable of tossing a lighter weight(1oz or less) a good distance, and be sensitive to detect light bites. This is where I stick to 1 piece graphite rods(St croix 8 1/2")... I could go on forever and explain the use of each of my 14 cat rods..

Are you sure you want to get into catfishing?

The channels will start biting in about a month, the flatheads in 2 months. Your more than welcome to join me at any time and use my gear to get a feel for what I use.

[Ralph Wiggum]

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The baitclicker on a 6500 is pretty light, its much heavier on a 7000 class reel.

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That's another nice thing about the Okuma/Salt Striker baitfeeder spinning reels is that you can adjust how easily line is pulled out with the bail closed. That way you can keep enough tension on it so that current or bait won't pull line off, but if a fish runs on you, your rod/reel don't take a dive.

[Random guy]

Ok we have lots of info on rods and reels, and I like the price range!

Now I have heard a little about line. For Flatheads I have about 3000 yrds of Berkely Stealth (used to be whiplash)in the 65# pound range. Is this something I could use. It is thin diameter, I would think you would want thin stuff for the current? It is camo green for musky fishing, would A high vis line be better?

Also what is the best leader and how long should it be, and do I want it lighter then the main line incase I snag up? I bet I get about twenty answers on this.

[Mr Special]

#65 superline should be good. As for leader I just use the same as my main line. I do have a spool handy instead of cuting it off the reel. I already lose too much line on snags.

Now you'll need sinkers, swivels, beads or surgical tubing, hooks and a new tackle bag. Got ya hooked now.

[DARK30]

I don't always use a leader. Run the line through the sinker, through the bead, and tie right on to the hook. This is my favorite method for live baiting mudeyes. The bait will swim away from the sinker enough to get attention and its only one knot. Also, its sometimes easier to cast without having two heavy points a foot apart.

One of the bartenders at Dangerfield's is gonna show me some Muskie water this year. I have never caught one! I will of course return the favor and show him some nice river mud

[hanson]

Don't forget the "Clonk" either.

[DARK30]

LOL

[Dennis Steele]

See, catfishing isn't all that confusing. Its all so simple.

My suggestion is to pick up one of each rod and reel that everyone has suggested. Then your covered for every situation and technique.

The thing to rember is that you have more control with long rods but you have less leverage on the fish. You can also cast farther with a long rod but with less acuracy.

In some instances distance is immportant. I like to get my baits out there as cats can be sensitive to noise.

You have more leverage on the fish with a short rod but you have less control. Depending on the action, you will have better acuracy casting.

Short rods are best suited for close quarter fishing in heavy cover or for fish that are burried in heavy cover.

Just winch them out!

As for line...

Even though I am not a fan of mono, it is best for circle hook applications as well as abrasive situations like sharp rocky areas.

Superlines like PP and Stealth are great for cutting current, cranking in big mean cats and are easy to manage.

Open area fishing, you can get away with lighter lines like 50 and 60, but if your fihsing in tight woody areas,or where fish are running back into snaggy areas, I'd go with 80 or better.

What was the name that you gave one of your musky rods?

Can you even say it on the forum with out the dirty word filter getting it?

[Random guy]

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What was the name that you gave one of your musky rods?

Can you even say it on the forum with out the dirty word filter getting it?

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Captian Stubby (Contact US Regarding This Word) McSticken'