Thread: Catfish rod?

What size cats are you targeting? Almost any light to medium spinning rod will handle cats up to about ten pounds. I’ve caught lots of 3-5 pounders on UL rods.

Ugly Stiks make good catfish rods.

Originally Posted by deathb4disco

What size cats are you targeting? Almost any light to medium spinning rod will handle cats up to about ten pounds. I’ve caught lots of 3-5 pounders on UL rods.

Ugly Stiks make good catfish rods.

I agree. When you are using a "dedicated catfish rod", you're talking about some pretty decent sized fish. If all you are targeting are "eating sized" catfish, then you shouldn't be using a rod labeled "catfish". You are much better off with bass or walleye sized tackle (including reels and line).

You can get the berkley big game rods in lighter action. That is what I use. I like the lighter action for striper fishing and works good on cats. I have caught two over 50 lbs this year so they can still handle the big uns. You can order them from walmart. I think it is the 7.5 medium action.

Honestly for eating-sized cats I use a crappie rod. Or a 9 wt fly rod blank that I've built into a spinning rod. Even a salmon/steelhead rod is better for most catfishing than dedicated catfish rod. Most catmen use too heavy of gear. A catfish a super fun fish to finesse fish with.

Originally Posted by funbun

Most catmen use too heavy of gear. A catfish a super fun fish to finesse fish with.

Yep. I regular see guys catfishing with rods that could land small sharks.

Never ceases to amaze me.

Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Yep. I regular see guys catfishing with rods that could land small sharks.

Never ceases to amaze me.

I think most of those you are seeing can be divided into two camps. First is perhaps like the original poster who gets "fooled" into thinking that they need a "catfish" rod just for eating sized catfish. The second is those who are genuinely hoping that all of their catfish are 30+lb flatheads.

Originally Posted by DoyleAlley

I think most of those you are seeing can be divided into two camps. First is perhaps like the original poster who gets "fooled" into thinking that they need a "catfish" rod just for eating sized catfish. The second is those who are genuinely hoping that all of their catfish are 30+lb flatheads.

Agreed. I match my tackle to what I'm likely to catch, not for the monster I might catch.

I usually catch 2 to 5 lbs ever once in a while 10 lbs