Catfish rod n reel

[ncboman]

What do you think of this rig?

bass pro page (http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_10202747_100003000_100000000_100003000_100-3-0)

:)

[Bill Gunn]

I think it would be good for heavy cover (Rocks, and trees), but I catch the ones I get ( up to 9 pounds) where cover isn't a problem. I use a "light" action rod with 6# test.
It's fun to let them fight, and run the drag out a bit.

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

My favorite catfish rig is a $20 AbuGarcia spinning Reel, a $12 Shakespear 2-piece rod, and $10 60# PowerPro braided line. If you get hung up just don't grab and pull on the line with your hand.

Alan

[Sidekick]

It's probably fine but I've never been crazy about two piece rods. I've always liked the Ugly Stik rods. Plus 1 on the Power Pro line. I have it on all my reels.

[LeeInSC]

If you are used to spinning reels, or think you might use if to saltwater, too, then get a big saltwater spinning reel and a 7 foot rod.

For live and cut bait, and big catfish, I like an Abu Garcia 6500 or 5000 series, C4 (4 ball bearings). Super drag, bait clicker, casts heavy baits and lures well. Some people like a carbon rod for the feel, but a soft rod means the fish can't feel it as easily. I use an Ugly Stick and circle hooks, let them hook themselves in the jaw, and you can release them without damaging the from a deep hook. I am using 30-lb Power Pro braid in 10-lb diameter, with a 30 or 20-lb flourocarbon leader. 20 give more action to the bait, 30 is more abrasion and tooth resistant.

[Just a Hunter]

It all depends if your going after 10lb channel cats or 100lb flatheads.

[Bill Gunn]

I use an Ugly Stick and circle hooks, let them hook themselves in the jaw, and you can release them without damaging the from a deep hook.

Ugly Sticks...

A few years back, I picked up an ugly stick (at Dicks sporting goods) to be used for drift fishing for lake trout.
I mounted a reel on it, and started to thread the line through the eyes. Before I bought the rod, I of course looked it all over, and it was fine in the store. While threading the rod, I noticed two of the ceramic inserts inside the eyes were gone !!
My wife happen to be going to town, so I showed her the problem (she fishes, and understood exactly what the problem was) . She took the rod back to Dicks, and they were very good at replacing the rod. My Wife, and the guy at the counter, checked out the eye inserts on the new rod and it was perfect when it left the store. By the time she got home, 2 inserts fell out, and were laying in the back of her Explorer truck !! I started checking the rod, and found that with just a very slight side pressure all but the insert on the eyelet at the tip of the rod fell out.
I really liked the action of the rod and the "toughness" of it (laker drifting is very tough on rods, they pull so hard that the rod often slams the gunnel of the boat) so I thought I'd just remove the existing
eyes, and replace them with a set of good Fugi eyelets.
When about 1/4 into removing the old eyelets, I asked myself, why am I messing with a $29.00 or $39.00 rod.

I went to the local Gander Mountain store and picked up a Diawa Heartland rod. I now have 4 of the Diawa's 7 1/2, and 8 footers with Diawa 17c line counter reels that I use for trolling and drift fishing. I love them. This laker was caught drift fishing with the Diawa...

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2250/777751/2652330/382083520.jpg

I later was talking to a neighbor that fishes a lot, and he had the exact same thing happen to 2 Ugly Sticks he bought.
This was a few years back, so I would think by now they would have fixed the problem, but if you buy an Ugly Stick, check out the eyelets, it could be an older one.