Spinning reel and a scale?

[rockingroy]

I'm looking for a new catfishing reel for my wife, and would like to buy a scale too. Here is my backstory. We bought a cabin two years ago on the Snake River near Pine City and found out by accident (fishing with leaches)that we can catch some nice kitties in our back yard (2, 31"ers, 1 33" and several upper 20's in the last 2 years). I bought myself a cheap Zebco rod and reel combo with a spinning reel and 20LB test at WalMart. My wife was using an old heavy duty rod and old spinning reel that I've had for years but the screw came loose from the handle and is stripped so that the handle bends and gets in the way when you try to reel it in. I'd like to buy her a new reel with a clicker and was wondering what kind would be the best without spending too much money. ($50.00-75.00 if possible). Usually with mine I let out extra line and attach a bell to the rod tip and this works pretty well, the current is low enough near my place that the extra line isn't taken down stream. I catch only Channels (at least so far)and I'm not sure if there are even Flatheads in that strech of the river (although I hope for a bonus Sturgeon some day, as I know they are there). I would also like advice on a good portable scale so I can find out how much these channels weigh before I let them go. I love to eat a good channel cat, but I like to let the bigger one's go. I saw Hanson's 3 examples on the "Catfishing for beginners" thread but would like more input. I also would prefer a spinning reel as my wife is very uncomfortable with baitcasting reels. Thanks for the help.

[sparcebag]

If ya have the Zebco I think 808 it came with 20 lb test,they work great for the bucks! I'd get another with a 6-7 ft Med. heavy rod.Scales ??? Most all work for what you want a $20.00 scale spring or digital.

That 808 Zebco is what my better half uses after a few different brands it seemed best for a low priced closed face reel.

I caught lots of cats in the snake never broke 18 lbs in the area.Fished the StCroix,Snake & Kettle,there all really good cat waters! But probably the best is in your own yard,Dont catch em all.

[DARK30]

You can search HSOList for a digital scale..lots of cheap ones. I use a normark 50#.

Sounds like you have some nice channels up there! There are a few spinning reels out there that have the "line out/ clicker" feature although the clickers aren't very loud. Last spring I picked up a Penn Live Liner to play with. I haven't put any brutes on the end of it yet but I love this reel. It is a little more money tho.

[aanderud]

I have an okuma 'avenger' bait feader model, size 50. I think the model is ABF-50 or something. I bought it new online for about $40 bucks shipped a couple years back, you should be able to get that and a rod for your target price range.

I will second what Dark30 says, the clicker is not very loud. However, I have found that it makes a good channel cat rod with a circle hook and just locked down, not in bait-feeder mode. They will set the hook on themselves and then I just reel.

[SteveD]

Here is one spinning setup that I am using this spring for channels.

I bought an Okuma Avenger Baitfeeder Spinning Reel ABF30 that I will spool with 30# HiVis PowerPro. The reel costs $45 at Cabela's. It is a small reel that weighs about 12 ounces and would work good for your wife.

I will mount it on a Shakespeare Ugly Stick Catfish rod. It is a white rod, 7' long, Medium Heavy action, rated for 15 - 30 lb line, model# UCSP1170. It has a light action tip perfect rod for fishing circle hooks. You can find this rod at most any WalMart store for about $35 or at CatfishConnection. I use this rod for sturgeon fishing also and it can handle big fish if needed to.

This might be the rig you are looking for and when the wife isn't using it you sure could - if you know what I mean.

[rockingroy]

Thanks for the input guys, I had never heard of Okuma until Hanson recommended an Okuma Epixor EB 50 as a Cat reel so I may have to look into one of those. I just wanted to know if anyone else had any other recommendations. I have a rod for it already, but I may buy one of those Ugly sticks anyways. I have two smaller ugly sticks already, a 5'6" on my ultralight and a 6' on another setup.

[rockingroy]

Sparcebag, I don't think I have an 808 as you said that was a closed face reel, mine is a spinner, I'm not at the cabin so I can't look at the number but both the rod and the reel are orange. Dark30, thanks for the pic, not sure I need to spend the extra $ but I'll keep it in mind. Aanderud and SteveD, I'll definately look into the Okuma, I'll look at the models you mentioned and also the one that Hanson recommended. The best phone call I ever got was my wife calling me on my cell from the dock telling me to bring the net. She had a 28" Channel on the line at 6am while I was sleeping, her personal best. Steve, I like the idea of using the rod when she is not although unless she goes to bed before me that would be hard as when she is awake there is almost always a line in the water. I agree I have a good spot, I seem to catch more off the dock than I do from the boat. I still haven't figured out what is the lesser of two evils, the Sheapshead I occasionally catch with nightcrawlers or the large Snapping and Softshell turtles I catch on cut suckers, especially when I put the head on the end of the hook as I saw on a post here last summer. I have caught 6 fish in excess of 30" off my dock, 3 northerns and 3 Channels, the largest 33", one northern that I estimated at about 12lbs, and one channel that probably went close to 25lbs. The channel bent the end of my frabill net clear over and broke it while my daughter was scooping it up. Frabill told me that that net was made more for Walleye and Bass than large Northerns and Cats but they still sent me a new scoop ring for free forever endearing me to the company. Sorry for rambling on but I love to talk fishing even if I'm typing to noone in particular.

[SteveD]

My brother-in-law lives in Grasston and he has caught some nice channels in his back yard too. You have a good deal going there so enjoy. It would be nice to always have a hook in the water.

Here is something you may want to consider investing in to help you watch your rods while you and the wife are putzing around the yard. It is called a Strike Sensor. You can hook it to your rod holder and when you get a strike it triggers an alarm on a remote pager which you can carry around. It works slick - I use it for my tipups for ice fishing and in the summer for catfishing. Google Strike Sensor

[rockingroy]

Thanks for the tip Steve, I'll try that.

[DARK30]

Wow! Thats purdy high tech....now all we need is a castable under water camera. I got a simple little rig for unattended lines I call the "flying bobber". Take a wine cork and put a slit across one end using a razor. Fit your line through the slit just off the tip of the rod. It falls off when you reel in. You can get creative and dip it in glow paint or drill a small hole in the cork opposite the slit so you can add a glow stick. I fix a short thred to a clip so I can attach the whole thing to the main line...this allows it to slide down the line to the terminal end without loosing it. When using live bait, the cork picks up the slightest movement from the bait and lets you know how well the bait is working.

It sure is fun to watch that flying bobber head for the water

Now if your fishing a low current area like the one here and your getting channels up to 20#... you can always just use a circle hook and lock the reel up. Make sure the drag is set to allow just enough slip to let line out and still get a hook set if you get a hog on. You really don't need any heavy duty rod n reel anyway...could even go with light tackle and have some fun! You might even be out there with the Wife before sunrise

[DTro]

Dark’s wine cork is one of the simplest, but probably one of the best ideas yet, to use for shore fishing. I can still see that glowing cork doing the “Jaws dive” when he caught that 50 a couple of years ago.

It would also work good in a boat for guys that can’t hear their clicker

[A.W.Wolfram]

The D-30 FB. When the bass guys over hear you talking in the bait shop, there ears perk up thinking your talkin about some new deep diving crank

Sweet idea Dark. I use the one you gave me all the time

Thanks

[DARK30]

The "D-30 FB" LOL... Sounds like the name of an old navy airplane.

Anybody want to get together and drink some wine? I could show ya how to make UFO sinkers too

[A.W.Wolfram]

Sounds like a plan

[sparcebag]

I'll buy two cases of wine now! I'm sure I'll remember where one cork is.

[harvey lee]

I also use a Okuma spinning reel and it works great.

[Scott Stein]

right now ive got a spinning reel on my catfish rod,wondering if i should keep it or get a bait clicker? how do the bait clickers work? w/ the spinning reels i just flip the little lever so if a fish takes the hook it will unwind backwards but ive had it get tangled and almost lost my pole

[DTro]

right now ive got a spinning reel on my catfish rod,wondering if i should keep it or get a bait clicker? how do the bait clickers work? w/ the spinning reels i just flip the little lever so if a fish takes the hook it will unwind backwards but ive had it get tangled and almost lost my pole

It's a controlled line out. Similar to having your drag set very low, but yep you have the right idea. Flip the lever and then it engages when you start reeling.

[Scott Stein]

alright thanks dtro,pry gunna look around for one,whats a good brand to look for in the $20-50 range?

[Ralph Wiggum]

alright thanks dtro,pry gunna look around for one,whats a good brand to look for in the $20-50 range?

Look at the Okuma line of reels. If you're near the twin cities, visit Moore's Bait in South Minneapolis. He's got a good selection so you can get your hands on one.

[DTro]

I would also check out the Cabelas Salt Striker BF, basically an Okuma with Cabelas badging.

[spotchecker]

Hey dark you're A scary lookin character . What A brilliant idea.

That will work great in the fishhouse or instead of tipups outside

[DARK30]

I try to shower and change my underwear once in a while

People have been putting tin foil, pieces of foam, clothes pins, paper clips and paper etc. on their lines forever...I just took it a couple steps further.