Cattin' guys lurking in here......

[Shack]

Next thing you know, we will be talking a Battle Royal between the two species .

If a monster Flat was put in to a pool/ring with a monster musky and a fight would occur. Who would win ?

Ah, good thoughts.

[cjac]

Hi Tim,

Nice flattie, and Jonesi's walleye is a pig for sure!!!

Check thru your trolling rods, live bait QS rig ones too, you'll likely have some that fit the bill for cats. Softer tip, but still the needed power. Some of the older Croix trolling blanks are popular, along the lines of a cattin' rod that criox used to make but discontinued. Baldy has a couple he uses for trolling 'skis.

Don't get too caught up in the length, most cat rods are in the 7 1/2 to 8 range. The key as mentioned above is to be able to ease a bully on a Gamu Octopus hook out there without watching it fly. Tip sensitivity isn't as much of an issue, these guys live and die by the "clicker" sound. Kind of like Pavlov's dog, they drool at the click-click-click sound!

I picked up a couple King Kat rods for $30 a pop from 'belas, nice sticks that'll do the job. Not bad for crossing over for trolling for guys like me that try to stretch a $ as best as possible.

Hope that helps!

[hanson]

Cjac-

Sounds like ya got it covered!

I FINALLY, FINALLY got a hold of one of those St Croix Classic Cats that you were referring too. Its a 7'-6" MH and I absolutely LOVE the action on that rod. Love it! I wish it wasn't a Spinning model but you don't get many opportunities to buy these so I wasn't going to be picky.

I'm sure you've got some Muskie rods that will work just fine Tim, you'll just have to sort through them to find something with a soft, slow to moderate tip.

[Tim_Anderson]

All of my rods are 7 1/2 to 9 feet now, but I'm thinking of one in particular that should do the trick. It's an older 7 1/2 foot All Star that's got alot softer tip, but still good backbone. If any of my musky rods will work, that'll be the one. Otherwise, I'll just need to buck up and buy another outfit.

Thanks for the help guys. I'm sure I'll be back later with more questions.

[cjac]

Tim,

The old All Star rod should work well! I like the King Kat rods, they have the composite handle that holds up well to going in and out of a rod holder vs. the cork handles while trolling for 'skis, especially since I use more of the KT Pro Edge rods with the thick cork. That said, I really want to put 'em to the test on a flattie!

I used them trolling smaller baits straight-line this Fall for tigers and was quite pleased! Very capable rod for $30!

[Ralph Wiggum]

 Originally Posted By: cjac

...these guys live and die by the "clicker" sound. Kind of like Pavlov's dog, they drool at the click-click-click sound!

Although I love the clicker, my personal favorite is the thud that reverberates through the entire boat as a big-boy thumps your bullhead.

Ohhhh, my blood is pumping!