Catfish rod/reel for the new guy?

[DTro]

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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.

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I totally forgot to mention that adjustable "clicker", I used it many times last year.

Also another thing about the superlines is that they will "sing" to you all night long.

I'm glad you asked about the leader, it reminded me that one thing I wanted to do this offseason is to make up a bunch of leaders to save a little tying time.

[Guest]

I think everyone has made some good points on what to look for. A couple good places to look for rods is sportsmans warehouse, and the new cabelas in Rogers had a fair supply when they 1st opened. I stopped there last week and they had some Whuppin Sticks on clearance which a couple would fit the bill for a entry level cat rod.

Its really hard to order a rod from a catalog when you havent held it in hand.. they often dont meet your expectations.

The next problem your going to run into is finding hooks and weights. Sportsmans warehouse has a good supply of large Gamakatsu hooks which are a very good choice. Most flathead hooks will be from 6/0 to 10/0, channel cat hooks from 2/0 to 6/0. Weights.. catfish connection, cabelas in rogers for bank sinkers in bulk(good buy), and the best is to find someone who pours lead. Swivels are simple.. large and obnoxious are just right, beads.. use thim if it makes you feel better.

Your leader question.. I use a 4"-6" leader.. any longer and I get far fewer strikes, and far more snags.

You are going to have to put overload springs in your truck for your weight box.

I am so particular about my rods I am going to start building my own this year. It is hard to find exactly what you want.

[Dennis Steele]

Jon

I'll take you out again this season if you'll take me musky fishing. Wait a minute...I think I took you musky fishing too!

Looks like you owe me a sailfish trip in the Caribean!

[Ralph Wiggum]

I've also gotten large Gamakatsu circle hooks at Thorne Bros. You know where that is, I'm sure

[icehousebob]

The main requirement for a cat rod is that the handle has to fit in a rod holder so your hands are free to open beer cans as you sit in a lawn chair. All the rest is details.

[Dennis Steele]

That sounds about right.

[Random guy]

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Jon

I'll take you out again this season if you'll take me musky fishing. Wait a minute...I think I took you musky fishing too!

Looks like you owe me a sailfish trip in the Caribean!

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No problem, we talked about going out again but somewhere between mortgages, drywall, and tournaments it got shelfed. We will have to get out for some real musky fishing on a super pond, I don't mind trading trips one bit. As far as fishing sails in the tropical waters I'm game, you would make a great deck hand!

As far as the circle hooks at Thornes I seen them in there last summer after I went out with Dennis for the first time. I bought five packs of each size. I couldn't stop.

[Random guy]

Due to the nasty cold today I went catfish rod shopping...that will make ya grumpy.

Sporting good stores, rod shops, and any other fishing outlet must not like cat fishermen? What did you guys do?

[Guest]

Check Sportsmans Warehouse and Cabelas in Rogers.. its a seasonal transition right now, so I wouldnt doubt the rod racks are somewhat vacant or picked over. There were a few decent rods at Cabelas last time I was there. I havent been to SW for a while. Fleet Farm had a couple decent rods too.. but it was real ugly in there a couple weeks ago.. you can tell the spring orders will be on the shelf soon.

If you think its difficult now.. just wait until you try to find WORTHY bait at the last minute!

One can cover many miles around the metro to find cat gear. I have asked questions at Gander before and they put a real bad taste in my mouth by their comments... more or less..If it wont catch a bass, walleye, musky, or trout?.. they are not going to carry it around the metro. They lost my business because of the poor choice of words they used with me. Not having any bait until a couple days before walleye opener had a lot to do with it too... I will leave it at that.

[Random guy]

Yes I spoke to some good, helpful poeple today, then I had to leave McDonalds and go to that place with the goose.

[DARK30]

The Northwest Sportshow is right around the corner. Check out Dan Gapen's booth for a good cat stick...Or whatever..lots of shopping around.

[Canuck]

I think somebody is really missing the boat on catfishing gear. There are sooooooooooo many different types/methods of catfishing the rod types can and should change from short solid to long and soft tipped.

I know Eddy had the fishing guy from Gander Mtn up catfishing last year and I was really hoping he would see there is a REAL need for a niche for cat as there is musky or trout. It guess it requires people to speak up at the fishing shows and in the stores requesting proper gear. Like it or not $$$$ matter to these suppliers.

Personally I have lost count on the number of cat rods I have and am always looking for more because I really don't feel I have theeeeee perfect rod for each and every type of cattin I do.

[Random guy]

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

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Looks like thats what happened.

This is what I ended up with after a few phone calls and a road trip. Correct me if any of this newbie thinking is wrong.

1) I took one of my 7'6" E-cat rods and put a 6500 Abu on it spooled up with Berkely Stealth. This rod has a solid backbone, black blank, slightly shorter with limited tip action. I figure this would be a good daytime accurate casting channel rod.

2) I picked up a 8' Ugly Stick Tiger That seems to have a a little differant action to it, some tip movement,some strength and seems to load up ok. I stuck another one of my 6500 on that with 65lb Stealth. I figure this set-up is more of a all around rod channels, flats etc.

3) The stumble into deal. I was talking to a musky guy I know and was telling him about my plans for more catfishing. He had a brand new 8'Glowstick stuck in the corner from a inventory buyout he did at a little bait shop in Kentucky. This rod seemed like a joke when I first seen it. After screwing around with it a little and catching a bunch of flack for catfishing, I traded a couple used musky baits for it. The rod not only glows on it's own but is pretty blue with the light on, it should attract bugs for a mile! The action seems a little weak for the size of the rod but it has awesome tip movement and really loads up nice. My rookie thoughts to this was a slow loading longer rod that glows? Put some solar line on it and presto you have a night time circle hook rod for flatheads. So on went the 7000 spooled up with the heaviest solar mono I could find, if nothing else add a blacklight and this thing will tell everbody where I'm sitting.

Also in my boredom from staying home all weekend, ( I knew I had a reason I always left) I found a way to increase the volume on the Abu clickers. Im sure it will raise heck with the warranty but wow! It may just be enough to wake a guy up! After I perfect it I will pass it along. As of now it involves a drill, a sowing needle, a quick hand on the wire feed welder and a peice of filter screen. I really need to get back out fishing.

[Guest]

It sounds to me you have enough to get started and made some wise buys. I think everything you have is worthy of flathead fishing. I wouldnt laugh at that 8' glow stick too much. They play out fish very well and can handle some abuse... not to mention they cast extremely well with 3-4 oz of weight.. ideal for cutbait, and do the job on live too. I was dissapointed with the lights on them.. unless its very dark, you wont see the tip.. but the entire rod shakes when you get a run and it doesnt matter... you can tell its that rod when a strike occurs.

Reel modifications? Thats a little on the scary side!

All you need now is a variety of terminal tackle, and some warmer weather.

I caught my 1st flathead last year in late April when I went back and checked photos, they were on fire starting early May- early July. The channels bit well throughout March and April... It wont be long now!

[Random guy]

I got all sorts of terminal stuff, hooks, circle hooks, spare line, different swivels,etc. I just need to find a bunch of no roll sinkers and figure out the bait trick and its on like donkey kong!

[Ralph Wiggum]

Good luck finding no-rolls anywhere around here. Let us know if you do. You can get them from Jeff at Scenic Tackle or the Catfish Connection, I've never really found any elsewhere. Just placed an order with CC this morning!!!

[fiskyknut]

Iffin you guys ever get up around Grand Forks ND you'll find a halfways decent selection of stuff for the Catfisher. Heck it sit's on the Red so it's a Catfish kinda town eh! Cabelas and Scheels have a good selection of weights, hooks, rods and reels and such for the Mad Catter during summer anyhow.

[Random guy]

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Good luck finding no-rolls anywhere around here.

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Well I think I got the gear down. The no-roll sinkers where the last item on the cat list (other then the boat deal). I ordered a bunch of no-roll sinkers, $100 worth. I figure after I replace the ones I lost last year fishing with Dennis and some of the other guys I should have three left.

As you can tell I'm pretty pumped to get after some cats, it should be entertaining for you cat pros. "Look at the rookie struggle" "We should go help him out but its so fun to watch"

[hanson]

Jon-

I don't think anyone will be laughing... too hard.

When I finally got around to fishing with the "urban cat crew" (Fisher Dave, Manny, Noober & Briank was there), I broke off on 2 flathead runs within about 1/2 hours time. Dude! It was not funny and I was forever known as Mr. Breakoff or Mr. BO for short. Being a man of strong character, I can take that kind of heat. But when Dave landed a flathead a couple nights later with my hook, leader, & swivel in its mouth, that was just insult to injury. Oh yeah, 35 pounder too.

I'm pretty sure you'll do just fine as long as you don't run your RiverPro up a rip-rap bank. Doh!

[Guest]

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When I finally got around to fishing with the "urban cat crew" (Fisher Dave, Manny, Noober & Briank was there), I broke off on 2 flathead runs within about 1/2 hours time. Dude! It was not funny and I was forever known as Mr. Breakoff or Mr. BO for short... Oh yeah, 35 pounder too.

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No Chris.. It was very funny, and still is!

We all have our days/nights with these fish. They are a big, powerful fish that can be easily under-estimated. 1st we usually catch a smaller one (teens) and say "that wasnt so bad". Next thing you know we hook into a real fih and learn just how insignificant our equipment can be if we are not prepared... lines breaking, rods snapping.. fish running into a snag and feel their heads bumping off a log and nothing we can do about it.. or in my case.. why does every fish I catch at that location run into that concrete culvert? I dont mean just into the entrance.. I mean 30' or more.. got to love that line scraping on concrete.

These fish dont always play fair. It seems the heavier the equipment, the hearder the big girls like to pull.. I heard a fitting phrase once.. "like a teen on steroids once they hit the 20's, once they are bigger than that they just pull hard no matter what they do."