Cat Fish Reels?

[City_Slicker]

I started to get into cat fishing last year. I want to get a new rod and reel set up. For a rod I am going to have my bro build me a St.Croix but what type of reel should I get. Most of my Cat fishing will be on the river. Thanks

[This message has been edited by City_Slicker (edited 04-03-2004).]

[Canuck]

It depends what weight of kitty U will be tackling. In Manitoba I used to use strickly the Abu 6500 but since I have been guiding and on the river almost every day I have switched to the Abu 7000. The 6500 is alot quicker and OK for kitties in the 10 to 20 lb range but when U are getting into the majority in the 15 to 28 lb range I found the 7000 alot better.
I may have stepped to quick and said any good bait caster with a clicker as it all depends on the amount of time U will be spending on the river.

[City_Slicker]

Well I live right next to the mississippi river so I plan on fishing it alot this summer. I dont think I need the 7000 cause I will be targeting the smaller cats. Thanks for the advice

[Aquaman01]

I have a 6500 that I got last year and so far it's been fantastic for assorted river species up to 15 lbs or so. I'm sure it can handle bigger, and this season will hopefully be utilized for a muskie.
The drag is silky-smooth and the ratio makes pulling rigs back over & out of snags a breeze.

I just got a 5600 C4 that will serve smaller cat/pike/lake bass/lake walleye duty.

[Canuck]

Yes, the 6500 has a 5 to 1 retreive while the 7000 has the 4 to 1. The 6500 is a great reel.