What's your favorite rod/reel rig for cats?

[Catfish Man]

Tell us about your favorite rod and reel catfish rig. Where and how do you use it?

For the most part I fish in streams or rivers with flowing water. This is best done from a boat when using a rod to keep from getting hung up. But can be done from a bank if you can find a spot that is clear enough down to some place cats might hang out. For instance under over hanging willow trees is a favorite.

I use either spinning or spin casting reels mostly and appropriate rods. Use an egg sinker on line first followed by a split shot to set where the egg sinker can slip to. Use an appropriate size sinker for current and an appropriate size hook for fish expected. Most often a 2/0 or 3/0 hook works well unless real small cats are all you have. Bait can be most any good catfish bait but in streams and casting it is best to use something that has staying power on a hook. This might include mussels, crawfish, cut bait, catalpa worms, earth worms and many others.

So tell us what your rod rig of choice is.

[nohorse]

Tell us about your favorite rod and reel catfish rig. Where and how do you use it?

For the most part I fish in streams or rivers with flowing water.

I fish oxbow lakes.  Slow sluggish waters influenced mainly by Mississippi River stages. I am using a Basstracker Pro 18.  Typically I tie off to a barge or some other structure.

I use either spinning or spin casting reels mostly and appropriate rods. Use an egg sinker on line first followed by a split shot to set where the egg sinker can slip to. Use an appropriate size sinker for current and an appropriate size hook for fish expected. Most often a 2/0 or 3/0 hook works well unless real small cats are all you have.

Same for me.  Exactly the same set up.  Right now I am using a Rhino rod and a Garcia spinning reel but my real favorite is my Dad's old Zebco 33 classic on an old Shakespeare rod.  Its brought in a lot of fish!!  Had two, but sadly one was pulled out of the boat last season...was a big loss....

[Catfish Man]

Speaking of Zebco 33s did you ever have the pleasure to own the predecessor to that reel? The Zebco 22? Best dang spin cast reel I've ever owned and I sure wish they were still available. We used to all have them when I was a kid but over the years they somehow got away. Lotsa fond memories of using them for catfish from an old home made wooden john boat on the lazy Coosa River.

[Old Syko]

Most of my catfishin is done on the Ohio river from an old 18 1/2' boat.  We sometimes use bait that weighs close to a pound, so I use 9 1/2' riggrods with ambasador 6500C3 reels and at least 17# line.  Flatheads average 30# or so and the biggest I've caught myself was 73#

[nohorse]

I still have 22.  Its pretty warn and hangs up some, but is still in service!


73 lbs is a big cat!   I have friends that bring up some big ones from the Mississippi but I haven't developed the knack for fishing it yet.  My biggest was 48 lbs.  

LOVE to catfish!!

[Wags]

Zebco IR3W with 15# test and a Shakespeare Ugly Stick 7 ft. medium action casting rod ( one piece ).

[Flatlander.54]

Ambassadeur 5000 CL, 20 lb. test Trilene XT, and a berkely Crankin Stick. Casts like a dream and balance feels great.

[John]

In the boat, I like the 7ft. ugly stick with a 6500 C3 on it, and a 7 1/2ft. flippin rod also with 6500. For line, something around 17 pound test. Hooks and weights depend on conditions.

Off the bank, a longer rod, and a 7500 might be the ticket.

[shb]

I used common sense and I ignored common sense. First I blew 260 or so dollars on a St. Croix classic cat, w/ a Daiwa sl20sh conventional reel.  And I bought  a quantum Big Cat with a penn 209 level wind for 95.00 dollars total. And I don't think the stupid fish can tell the difference.  But my classic cat rig sure is stylish,....when I scrape all the shad scales and bait guts off the handle.

[chubjerker]

I am using a Quantum Big Cat 7'6" Med. Heavy one piece rod with a Ambassadur 7000C reel spooled with Stren 30 lb catfish line.  I am looking for a good big spinning outfit for long casting slipfloat rigs.  Any Suggestions?

[John]

For long casting, I'd think that 7000 would be as good as any, maybe a 7500. Coarse they're not spinning reels, but they hold a bunch of line, and with a good rod, maybe a 12-14 footer, they will cast as far as anything.

[shb]

I have a pretty sizeable library of quality reading material in my sanctuary (bathroom). You know, hunting and fishing catalogs, Trapper and Predator Caller, Field and Stream, Saltwater Fishing Magazines, baisically all the essentials. And, while perusing the Cabela's Saltwater Catalog I noticed that you could get a 10ft Daiwa entry level surf rod for 50 or 60 bucks  and a Daiwa Black Gold spinning reel for about 90 bucks. This combo should cast a slip rigged float, keep your line off the water for drifting your float through the rocky holes on the Salt River, and also do a suitable job of fishing the surf if you go down to Rocky Point or over to San Diego. Give it a look and see what you think.