Rods: Berkley, KingKat, CatMaxx, Ugly Stik, St. Croix...

[smallies24]

I gotta go with St Croix. I've been building their rods for a number of years and don't have one complaint. I've tried otehr brands and always go back to St. Croix, their combination of sensitivity to strength is hard to beat. I haven't had a ton of experience with other rods for cats...but I do like the feel of a St Croix with a piggy on the other end !!

[Perch Jerker]

Hello to the regulars & newbies.
It's that time of year when I again come out of my winter sebatical from the Catfish forums and get ready to embark on my kitty chasing endevors.

I'm going to try something new this year in the way of rod testing for the wiskered prizes of the rivers. In the past I have used St Croix Catfish, St Croix Premier Muskie, AbuGarcia Black Max, Downrigger (various makes), Big Fish, and SilStar rods. And while all of them worked well (except for the Big Fish dump which was way too limber), I'm going to try a little something new.

I purchased an Ugly Stick Catfish casting and Berkley Reflex spinning rod so far and plan on getting a Cabelas King Kat, Bass Pro Cat Maxx, and Berkley Lightning Muskie rod in the near future. (The only reason I'm getting the 7' Muskie Lightning rod is that my AbuGarcia Balck Max Muskie rod broke after 12 years of hard use. It broke on a flathead hookset last summer when Flashman and another friend of mine were in the boat.)

I use spinning, casting, and even levelwind reels along with mono and braids. I target flatheads but always have a cutbait rod in the channel for the silver/grey opportunists. I prefer and use 7-8' boat rods and I'll definately report my findings at the end of the season, but was wondering what your experiences/opinions of the rods listed are. Right off, I'm impressed with the Ugly Stik with its 3/4 backbone and 1/4 (near rod tip) sensitivity however I am partial to my St Croix Catfish rods and lament that they are no longer manufactured.

Any thoughts?

PJ

[buzbunni]

I'll be interested to hear of your findings as the season goes on PJ.

I'm coming in new to the sport(at least for proper riggin) and I'm going to come in low budget.

I'm plannig on one of the Rhino baitrunner spinning reels with a Reflex rod.

I'll be looking into more gear as the season goes on, but I figure this is a good place to start.

Also, as I upgrade it's nice to have the extra gear around to lure someone into sharing my addiction.

"You don't need anything, I've got everything. Let's go fishing."

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SERIOUSLY! It was THIS big!

[DARK30]

Jim Moyer's new rods will available soon...can't wait to get my hands on one! He said his samples came in last week and hes really happy with them...I was hoping to bring one back from the trip down there but they were behind in mailing them. I guess they're a step up from the E-Cat.

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cast,cast,cast,cast......

[Perch Jerker]

Dark,
Think you could get a 'bargain price' on that rod for your fellow FM catfish hunters for further testing purposes?
I know you're predominantly a shore fisherman, but sometime this summer we'll have to hit the river in my boat. She's not the prettiest girl in the parade but for river fishing she would make the homecoming court.

PJ

[Flashman]

Hey Matt
I still haven't poured any of sinkers in that mold you loaned me. I'm getting the softwater itch though. I've got one of the king cat rods with an Okuma bait feeder on it and I really like the rod. I too am thinking about picking up a Reflex rod just to have one more big fish rod to use. Besides is it possible to have too many fishing rods?

We're going to have to hook up and do some more fishing this summer. I can't wait until the mesquitos come out and the big flatties start to bite.

[Perch Jerker]

Flashman,
Keep the mold as long as you need to. Heck I think I had your mold for 4 months. I've got plenty to hold me well into the summer.

We'll definately hit the water together again this summer. I'll have to remember to bring some med sized suckers when we do. Sometimes the flaties like suckers over bullies, who'd a thunk?

Cheers,
PJ

[Flashman]

Well, I've got the first softwater, casting experience in for the year. I couldn't stand it any longer so I went down to the east outlet on Black Dog road over lunch yesterday. I couldn't believe how much water was coming out of that thing. I didn't catch anything but I was able to cast. The carp should be up in there soon.

[blacksportsman]

Hey Buzbunni, I'm also a newbie when it comes to chasing flatheads. I'm not new to fishing cats, been fishing for channels since I was 12, but never, ever tangled with a flathead. I can't say I have really tried to either, but this year I'll be putting some time in for those flatheads. Let me know if you're ever interested in teaming up, I think we know some of the same people. I live in Columbia Heights. E-mail me at [email protected]

Manny W.

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"You're gonna need a bigger boat"

-Chief Brody (Jaws)