Thread: Rod and Reel Combo

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.

Originally Posted by south point

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.

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.

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