Cabelas King Kat Pro - Selling out

[BigSkyCatMan]

It is just typical of a quality catfish rod these days. Cabelas will no longer be designing and selling these type of rods. They will continue with the regular king kats, but these rods are not at the same level as the pros are. That makes atleast four high-quality rods off the shelf in less than five years. (St. Croix Classic Cat, Berkley E-Cat, HT Enterprises Ol' Whiskers Pro, and the Cabelas King Kat Pro.)

I sure wish we could generate a little more interest for these type of catfish specific rods to keep the big companys interested!! Anybody else feel this is a sour deal??

[harvey lee]

One might think that with the growth of cat fishing that they would continue to sell these rods.Looks like these companies dont think it is worth the time to market.I am glad I have all the rods I need.Or at least I think I do.

I know,you never have enough rods.

[Guest]

I think the cabelas line rods are junk compared to others on the market.. but that is my own opinion. I never heard so many scary noises come out of a rod as I did the king cat during sturgeon fishing last fall.. and the king cat pros dont fit my liking... they dont really have any backbone and its difficult to turn a fish.

There are other good rods out there. Rods that come to mind are the Boss Rods, Quantum Big Cat, Nightsticks.. and even glow sticks hold their own weight(and dont make scary noises) although they are a somewhat softer rod.

Cabelas seems to drop everything catfishermen like before long. I dont spend money there unless I have to. They had a whuppin stick that was excellent for flatheads also.. I noticed about a month ago they were selling out what they had left. The next thing to dissapear will probably be the salt striker spinning reels with the baitfeeder(okuma epixor painted white).

[hanson]

Add the Berkley Reflex to that list. Reflex was a surf rod, not a designated cat rod but it works very well for cattin'.

I sure didn't think the King Kat Pro was a bad rod. I've handled them but never used them so cannot speak for the "spooky noises". However "rushing" sure likes his and that rod has landed a good number of 15lb plus flats from shore.

I know another guy on the board here with a King Kat (regular) that has landed sturgeon from 50-60lbs on. That rod is still seeing service I think.

[MachineHead]

I was in Cabelas tonight (Rogers) looking for more Gama circle hooks. No dice, of course. Anyway, I looked at

some their whuppin's sticks or whatever they are called and have come to the conclusion that the cheapo Berkley Big Game rod I purchased at wally world was a much better stick. Given the price that is. There was a lack of guides for the length that would make me nervous in the casting model.

There was one rod that caught my eye however, a Penn boat rod. A 7 footer that looked fairly stout. But you won't be getting that unless you shell out 80-90 bucks. Still wouldn't really phase me to go with a much nicer stick from Loomis or St. Croix though either. Some of their heavier musky and other large class sticks would be more than capable cat rods. Guess it depends on what you can get past Lovey.

[rushing]

My main rod I have used for the past couple of years is a King Kat Pro 8ft MH spinning rod, and this year a 9ft. I have caught flats up to 43lbs on it and never once had any difficulty getting a fish to shore or to a boat. It is a more flexible rod which some people dont care for but I think it makes for more successful hook ups with circle hooks than a stiffer rod. I wanted to get a 7'6 H king kat pro casting rod last month but they were sold out already. Thats too bad they're gonna quit making them.

[hanson]

I guess over the last few years while searching for cat rods, I've come across a good number of decent production rods, and a good number of crappy production rods for cats. Thankfully, I think the list of good ones is bigger and continues to grow.

- Berkley Glowstick

- Jim Moyer "Boss" (replacement for the E-cat)

- Quantum Big Cat

- Ugly Stick Catfish (Ugly Cat)

- Ugly Stick Tiger

- BPS Catmaxx

- Cabela's King Kat & Pro

Pretty sure I'm missing a few but I'd be quite confident with any of those rods in my hands with a big flat on the line. Err... maybe not the Ugly Cat but the rest are a'ight for big flats.

[MachineHead]

I had to check again, and luckily my wife snapped a shot of brother in law while fighting his first flathead. The Berkley here in this shot is the low budget Big Game I bought because, basically, I was in a pinch and needed another big stick in a hurry. The rod didn't make weird noises and performed flawlessly. And has done so on a bunch of occassions.

Though I'd still never head towards that river without that stubby Fenwick musky, errr, catfish rod I so dearly love.

[True]

ive been using king cat and king cat pros for five years. I actually prefer the cheaper king cat to the king cat pro. like rushing said its a good rod for circle hooks.

[DTro]

Hanson, you can add Surge to that list.

I would admit in a second if what I was using was "junk" not only that, but I would replace it ASAP. For example I have Corsair 400 on a Berkely Reflex that works in a pinch, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone (gears slip, drap slips, freespool doesn't engage), yet funny, it landed the biggest cat I've ever caught.

My King Kat's fit me nicely. I'm comfortable using the same pole for Flats and Channels. Yes, in all reality they may be a bit undersized but I've haven't had a problem yet, and the only "noises" they have made is caused by the PP being pulled taught, I think that happens with most spinning rigs spooled with PP.

Anyways, a guy can spend as much or as little on a rig, what I've found in life, is that if you shoot for somewhere in the middle you'll be OK.

Maybe someday when my money tree starts bearing fruit, I can go buy a $200 reel and a custom built rod. Either then, or when I finally realize my equipment is "junk".

[Guest]

Machine Head..

I'll have to grab my whuppin stick(magnum) out of the truck and get the model off it. I believe its a 7'6" rod and its rated from 10#-50# test line(positive on the line) Its a casting model and there is more than enough guides. The tip is soft, but the backbone will stop anything the line can hold.

Hanson has checked that rod out and he made the comment it was very comparible to some of the Tiger rods... which are another subject of their own. The light rods are too light, the heavy rods are beefy, a couple have a great balance.

Dtro.. the noise isnt the power line noise.. its a sound strait from a box of rice crispies. It actually makes fishing more fun with a large fish hearing the fibers in the rod doing crazy things knowing your rod could virtually explode at any given time

[Ralph Wiggum]

Dtro, have you handled a Surge? They look sweet as heck!

[DTro]

Quote:

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Dtro, have you handled a Surge?

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That's a little personal

Actually no I haven't, but the one bad thing I've read is that the guides do not like braided line

[Big Cat Dad]

I own two King Kat Pro's and really like them both....good circle rods. I also own, the "Boss" and feel it is a really good rod but my Abu C3 doesn't snug down very well in the reel seat.... (Have to add a little paper). I guess everything good has to come to an end. Talking to a Cabelas rep they said that the King Kat with the EVA handles was just more popular (and cheaper). I guess that is what caused the discontinuation. I for one like cork handles but that's just me.

[Larry FlatCaster]

Its simple supply and demand for the upper end rods. Most cat guys have a hard time justifying the cost, knowing the wringer they are going to put the equipment through. Especially when in most cases a low to medium end rod will keep you in just as good of standing as an upper end rods. I have to say right now I have two rods I'm getting the feel for. Quantum big Cat (Heavy), and a StCroix. I'm starting to lean towards the Quantum more than my St. Croix. Though I still really miss my $20.00 7 year southbend that was laid to rest by my biggin this year. (The rod was due to be retired)

thanks

Larry

[Ralph Wiggum]

LFC,

I really like my Quantum, too, although to date, it's biggest test has been a 10lb channel cat.

[DTro]

I've just finished reading a long thread elsewhere about the Quantums. Seems like some people have had issues with them breaking in front of the handle (knocking on wood for LFC ) or near the tip. Could just be some bad apples in the bunch. They sure feel like a well built rod. One of the posts mentioned that the blank stops at the handle (doesn't go through).

Who knows, the only time I've ever heard of a pole breaking like that was LFC's the other night.

[Larry FlatCaster]

Dtro

I think that I read the same info that your talking about. The verdict is still out on it for me. Lets see how she performs when I hook into a big one. I do like the solid feeling of it.

[Guest]

LFC.. I had one ofthe 8' south bend catfish special rods break on me earlier this year also. I caught a big sturgeon on the rod just the week before, and many large fish over the last several years... It landed the sturgeon fine(insane fight on 80# power pro), but the following trip I had just cast out and tightened my line pulled slightly and it just snapped into 2 pieces like nothing.