What does your Catfish arsenal consist of?

[01magnatec]

i talking rod, reel and line!!!
My now favorite rod and reel would have to be without a doubt my Rhino spincast combo
Believe me folks, Zebco earns a couple of points for coming up with this rod and reel.
http://www.rhinofishing.com/prod_cmbos.htm   Mine is the first one in line.
the RSC3C
I am currently looking for a baitcasting rhino for bass!!!!

My other usable rod and reel is a light action redwolf rod with a Pinnacle reel.  It's not my favorite to use and i honestly don't particularly like it but the rod pulled in my 17 lber last year so i won't leave it behind.

This year i bought a Cabela KING KAT rod for $20 and i'm still looking for a reel to put on it.  I can't wait to hook onto a lunker with that!!!!
 :eek:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/horizontal-item.jhtml?id=0004947115024a&navAction=jump&navCount=1&indexId=&podId=0004947&catalogCode=ID&parentId=&parentType=&rid=&cmCat=search&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fcatalog%2Fitem-link.jhtml.2_A&_DAV=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcontent%2FPod%2F00%2F49%2F47%2Fp004947ii01.jpg

All reels are filled up with 10 lb Trilene Sensation line. Once i get a reel for the king kat, I have 17 pound sensation line for it.

[KYtrapper17]

I only use baitcasting reels. I really like Ambassadeur reels. I have a Master rod made especially for catfish and another 10' rod that really brings in the cats. I use 17 lb test Stren line. My outfits really work well, but I'm ready for a new one. I don't know if I will get it this year, but definetly for Christmas or birthday!

[01magnatec]

uh oh.......you said the "S" word :cry:   Every time i see someone that uses stren i look to the sky and ask why.  Maybe it's just me but every time i use stren i get knots like you wouldn't believe.  I bought it twice last year both different pounds and style line and both did the same thing.
Sorry....i'm sticking to Trilene Sensation.

[KYtrapper17]

I've never had a problem with Stren, and I've never used Trilene for Cats, but one line I'm sworn to never use again is Spider Line. I have had small channell cats break it and saw it break on many other people.

[01magnatec]

i'll agree with you about the spider wire.  I haven't had luck with it.  I know people that love it and swear by it. And for that fact all braided lines as well.   But i just don't like it.

[chubjerker]

This year I bought a Quantum Big Cat 7 1/2'  medium/heavy rod, Ambassadur 7000 reel, and Stren 30lb Catfish line.  I love it for horseing big ones out.  I have been a Stren man my whole life.  My dad used the bright yellow stuff and I have just always stuck with Stren and never had a reason to change.

[shb]

It don't matter, just get out there and learn. I got a big, cat  specific rod and reel that cost over over $300.00, and I have one that I got at seagull bait and tackle in willmington NC, that only cost $25.00 total for rod reel and line. I keep thinking the ol' junker $25  outfit is going to fall apart any day now, but it just keeps catching fish. It might be the luckiest rod in my arsenal. I have caught flounder, shark, giant redfish, stingray, hardhead cat, sheepshead, big flatheads, big channels, big carp, and bluegills with that old piece of crap rod. Makes my level of practical inteligence somewhat suspect everytime that rod catches another nice fish. But that is why you work, so you can spend money on the toys of interest to you.

[motor]

I use a penn reel and a medium action rod with 17# ande line, with grass shrimp for bait..

[Blackbird612]

I use 8 1/2 ft Medium Heavy Steelhead/Salmon Ugly Sticks with ambassador series reels......they work great have plenty of sensitivity in the tip for smaller cats and more than enough backbone for larger cats.  I personally like stren.....im not really a huge fan of braided lines but my favorite would have to be maxima has low memory and is extremely abrasion resistant.

[shb]

Thanks alot blackbird612, with hunting and trapping seasons winding down Im sure more folks will start getting catfish fever again as we look forward to the prespawn.

If you have any knowledge or info you think might be helpful to others dont be afraid to post it. The no. 1 reason I check out these forums is to learn something I might  of overlooked or not even thought of. Plus, these forums are like a never ending subscription to the greatest outdoor magazines ever.  So if you have any questions or observations please jump right in, don't be the least bit shy. Sincere trading of Ideas is how everyone learns and moves their skills up to the next level.

[James B]

I have a ton of tackle. I use mostly the 6500 Abu reels with a few of the bigger Rhino bait castes reels. I have a few Shakespear and Diawa line counter reels. Ugly stick Big Cat rods and Quantum eight foot big cat rods. I have a few of the Big cat Ugly spinning rods with Diawa bait runner spinning reels. All the reels are filled with thirty pound Berkley  Fire Line. I then use 20 lb mono leaders. With the no stretch fire line it is easy to break the mono leader and just loose one hook on the snags. Most all of my catfishing is in the Red River of the North. North of Fargo ND up to Lake Winnepeg in Manatoba. The fish get bigger as you go North until the last dam where the fish mostly go 20-35 lbs. There are only channel cats in the red river up here. Good fishing fellow cat men. Here in the land where the Walleye is king, Catfish are sort of scorned. That ok with me. Thats more whiskers left for me.

[MATLOCK12C]

I am in favor of JUG fishing mostly, but I did get me a one of those Big Ol rod an reel combos down at the  Supercenter yesterday. Big  reel, a shakespear, with a 7ft rod. It was only $19.97 I figure I can use it gar fishing too. Yea I know Im cheap!
I like to fish yo/yo's and limb lines too.  All I ever fish for is cat's though. Cant Bass fish to save my life! :-D

[10ga.]

 I usually hang out in the NEF centerfire and shotgun forums. It will be nice to talk about fishing also.

Oh man where do I start :grin:  

10' Shakespeare deep sea spinning combo.
7' Southbend Catfish Special Rod with a Penn 209 Level Wind.
6'6" Shakespeare Ugly*Stik with a Southbend Oreno Classic Baitcast Reel.
6'6" Zebco Rhino with a Quantam Baitcast Reel.
6'6" Quantam Concept Graphite Rod with a Quantam Lite Baitcast Reel.(this rod is sensitive which allows you the feel of the slightest hit, I also use this one for Bass).
Numerous Zebco Combos for the kids :grin: .

 A little info on fishing line: the strongest line for the money I have found so far is sold by Bass Pro Shops, If I remember right it is called "Excel".
I use the 20# test and have yet to break it. Three years ago I was fishing for Redfish further down south(saltwater). We were using a jighead with shrimp and I hooked one which pulled like a mule. My drag was tightened down all the way :oops:  so all I could do was play tug of war with it. After a couple of minutes of no give either way my rod flew up. Broken line was what I figured, when I reeled it in it had straightened the hook out enough to slip off :shock: . I'm no small guy and at 6'2" 195lbs I gave this line everything I had and it held up.(I still have the jighead for proof :-).  I have gotten snagged with this line and could not break it leaning back, grabbing the line and pole and pulling with all my weight, I wound up cutting it for fear of breaking my reel or pole. Can you tell I love this Line