What is a good rod and reel combo to use?Do you guys use spinning tackle?
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What is a good rod and reel combo to use?Do you guys use spinning tackle?
I usually use fish 3 rods at a time of my 6 catfish rigs,according to circumstances:
1) Abu 6000 reel on an 8' Ugly Stik, 25 lb test
2) Okuma ABF 50 on an 8' Ugly Stik, 17 lb test
3) Zebco 808 on a 7' Rhino, 30 lb test
4) Zebco Hawg Seeker spinning combo 7' rod, 20 lb test
5) Okuma ABF 90 on an Offshore Angler 12' Surf rod, 30 lb test
6) Shakespeare SKP2000 on a 7-1/2' BPS Graphite Series, 25 lb test
abu 6500 c4 on 10 ft nite sticks...spooled with 25lb big game....awsome setups
Or for the big boys 8ft Cat Maxx Rod ...Abu 7000 Spooled with 40lb big game
GOTTA LOVE THE WHISKERS
I use some sort of cat combo (spinning) with 65#braid main line, 20# leader. Have broke a few leaders and straightened a few hooks but havent broke the main line yet :D
hey sos got to heavy leader with a smaller diameter line.....spider wire has like 50lb with 20lb diameter...
What are you going after? Channels? Flatheads? An all purpose rod/reel rig?Quote:
Originally Posted by Len
If you are looking for something that is inexpensive but can work all around as a cattin rig, you can't go wrong with an Ugly Stick rod. I personally reccommend using an Okuma reel with the baitrunner feature. they work great and allow a fish to take line without leaving the bail open. they are also adjustable on the tension so you can use it is current too.
8 ft berkley glow stik,flueger president 6760 with 20#Quote:
Originally Posted by Len
shimano bait-runners are the ticket ....very versatile and has lots of options for use
It really depends on what type of fishing you'll be doing. Chances are that 90% or more of your fishing gear needs can be handled with a spinning reel that holds at least 80 yards, preferably more, of 17 to 20 lb line and a good 7 to 8 foot medium or medium heavy action rod.
Ugly Stik has some excellent 7 to 8 foot medium and medium heavy rods for spinning and baitcasting reels.
If you're out in a lake or major river chasing trophy Blues, then you'll want to move up in the size of gear you use.
The same is true if you'll be chasing big Flatheads.
Most people buy gear that is too big for the size of catfish they'll be catching. Be realistic and match the type of bait and fishing you'll be doing with your tackle. If you routinely catch Cats under 20 lb, then you won't need the 2x4 stiff rod with the Penn offshore reel spooled with 50lb test!
For many years when I was younger, my friends and I thought you had to have ABU 7000's spooled with 30lb line and rods as stiff as 2x4's for catfishing. Many still feel that way and the truth is, most will rarely, if ever, catch a catfish that requires that heavy of tackle.
Back then, we primarily fished creeks, ponds and shoreline of lakes. We used dip baits and worms 80% of the time and cut up baitfish the other times. I don't think we ever caught a cat over 20 lbs doing that kind of fishing.
It wasn't until we bought a boat and started learning how to really find the big Cats in Lakes and major rivers that we really needed that big gear.
My current set up for big water cats are Shakespeare 7 to 8 foot Cat rods and Team Catfish 1/2 and 3/4 ton rods with Quantum 1420's and ABU 6500's spooled with 50lb Power Pro braided line.
If I'll be fishing dip bait, worms or grasshoppers, etc. going after eating size Cats (in the 2 to 10lb range mostly), I'll be using a 7 to 8 foot medium to medium heavy action spinning rod with a Shimano spinning reel spooled with 12 lb test P line.
Just my opinion on Cat gear, your mileage may vary.
I fish the last 100 miles of the mo river, and i use 10 ft berkley glowstix with sheakpere tidewater 30 reels. I try to keep enough takle for a buddy or 2, so I need form over function. the rigs are less than 100$, spooled with 40# big game,Ive yet to break a rod, but the led lights are crap. thiss is ok though because thee things glow from end to end for a good while. Ive broke acouple reels, by throwing too much lead, (I'm hard on my stuff), but all in all thee reels are tough. these cheap outfits have easily hauled in 40 pound blues. I'm still new at this, but the fish are bigger every year.
I usually have 3 rods in my rod holders at a time. My rods are all 7'6": Jim Moyer "The Boss", Berkley E-Cats and Quantum Big Cats. I have 3 Abu Garcia 6500 Catfish Pro Rockets. 50 lb. braid, 2 oz (or larger) no-roll sinker, sinker bumper, lg. swivel, 20 lb. mono (P-Line Premium X) leader and Gamakatsu Octpus Circle hooks (4/0-8/0, depending). I fish in some heavy currents (Atchafalaya River, Intra Coastal Waterway) and have no problem getting the big boys to the boat.
curious why you dont upgarde those 6500 to 7000's....The pro rockets are nice just bought 1 of them in bronze color...
I agree with OkieDon. I think many people gear up for the biggest fish in the lake instead of the fish they're most likely to catch.
we chase the bic cats alot. we constantly catch 40-50lb blues and flatheads..This years biggest so far is 51lbs. So we tend to bulk up...
Im with PBUG. I fish some real nasty cover for some real big cats on the local rivers. 7ft ande tournament rods 6500 abu with power crank handels and bait clickers, 80 lb cortland master braid because it will not break and it last forever, 7/0gamakatsu circle hooks. Some times we fish the bottom some times we use 10 inch pole floats depends on the log jam.
hey fella's, how do you keep your braid from binding up on the spool? I feel like I'm stuck with mono cause every time I"d get snagged and pull too hard, the line would bind. Ive used both 65# spiderwire and and fireline. kinmda gave up on braids,but I feel I do better in the currents with smaller line and I'm tired of line stretch.
I switched to cortland master braid for this reason. Its round and stays round. I use 80lb test and its as thick as 30 pound mono. It will not stretch and if you get hung up it will not burry its self in the spool. I have one reel that has had the same line on it for 6 years. This stuff is tuff as a billy goat on steriroids. Caution though 80 pound braid will snap a bass rod on the hook set like a tooth pick I learned the hard way.
yes sir it will no line stretch....its best to use circles with braided line in my opinion.
The thinner the braid the more it will "burrow" onto the spool when stressed. Most of the musky guys use 80 to 100 pound test cause the extra diameter prevents that. Spiderwire is flat which makes the problem worse.Quote:
Originally Posted by south point
When useing braid you should use some heavy mono for "backing" then just put on as much braid as you think you'll use. Make sure it's tight when you spool your reel up and you should be fine.
If you spool your reel with only braid you should put a piece of electric or duct tape on the spool before you put on the line. I didn't believe it at first but if you don't the no stretch and slickness of the braid will slip on the spool when you set the hook.
I use 40 lb. fireline tracer cause I got a good deal and like the fact that I can tell how much I have out when trolling. I know trolling isn't a big factor in cat fishing but you can see each two and a half feet they pull out tightlining:D
I used to run spiderwire on spinning rigs and I too have had my line spinning on the spool. I never tried the tape trick, but I used cheap mono for backing. didn't seem to dig in as bad on spinners as baitcasters. I really need braid now because I've incorperated planerboards into my catfishing to get a few more hooks at different depths.this works great but 50# mono limits how far out I can get away to the sides. I feel the thinner braid is the ticket. any advice or rude comments are appreciated
I use a cabelas king kat spinning combo, and a ABU 5000 with a berkley big game rod. I have all of my catfish reels spooled with 20 lb. line.