Steelhead\salmon rods...

[DitchPanda]

So I'm thinking of getting one of these rods for slip bobber fishing catfish. They are long so they should be good to steer the bobber around things and keep line off the water. Also they seem to have a parabolic type action from what I've seen which I like. Anybody use one as described? If so any brand recommendations?

[islandbass]

There are salmon/steelhead rods designed for float fishing. They usually are about 10’ long to maximize line control and setting the hook from a distance. And while they can cast floats, they are powerful enough to handle and tame king salmon. Consequently, that also means they should be able to handle catfish. 
 

I’d look at Lamiglas and Loomis but there are a few other rod makers out there.

[Columbia Craw]

Jig and bobber rods are common in the PNW.  Rods of 9’6” are the most popular.  As stated, Lamiglas, G Loomis, Okuma, Edge/NFC are popular.  

[MassBass]

I used to use these primarily for surf casting. I had an 8' 6'' Ugly Stick E-lite 2 piece for quite a while. It was a good rod but kind of heavy. Eventually the screw to secure the reel seat stripped. 

[casts_by_fly]

How big of catfish and how much cover?  Some steelhead rods have been specialized for Great Lakes fish while some are east coast style. West coast tend to be heavier power with more power down low.  Great Lakes style tends to be slower action or less power down low. A normal Great Lakes rod is designed for 4-8 lb test and light floats. Two specific rods I’ve fished are the st croix 10’6” UL /slow and the 9’ L/mod and they are typical of the style. I’ve landed big fish with both, but in open water with no major cover. Both make for great big stream float rods and if you’re only talking undercut tree roots and 5 lb cats then I think the 9’ light would be a good choice. If you’re fishing log jams and bigger fish then you’ll need to up the power a bit. 

[bulldog1935]

Lamiglas has been making steelhead rods longer than anybody else out there, and deserve their PNW reputation. 

[DitchPanda]

8 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

How big of catfish and how much cover?  Some steelhead rods have been specialized for Great Lakes fish while some are east coast style. West coast tend to be heavier power with more power down low.  Great Lakes style tends to be slower action or less power down low. A normal Great Lakes rod is designed for 4-8 lb test and light floats. Two specific rods I’ve fished are the st croix 10’6” UL /slow and the 9’ L/mod and they are typical of the style. I’ve landed big fish with both, but in open water with no major cover. Both make for great big stream float rods and if you’re only talking undercut tree roots and 5 lb cats then I think the 9’ light would be a good choice. If you’re fishing log jams and bigger fish then you’ll need to up the power a bit. 

Id say up to 10lbs with moderate cover.

[Dwight Hottle]

St Croix has a line up for steelhead as well as the previous mentioned. 

[Further North]

I'd check out Temple Forks outfitters.

I don't know if they still make them, but I've got a 9 ft. baitcaster set up for lobbing spoons and it's a heck of a rod.

[Craig P]

This is what I have been using for Salmon / Steelhead in Pulaski NY for many many years. I mostly just Salmon fish a few days a year now but it has never felt underpowered. I don’t catfish much anymore but when I did, an 8’-6” Ugly Stick was always my goto for Flatheads from shore.

 

[casts_by_fly]

8 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

Id say up to 10lbs with moderate cover.

In that case, I’d suggest the next power up, something 6-12 and medium power. It’s a big jump in heft in the rod but a 4-8 lb test lite action steelhead rod is t going to turn a 10 lb channel cat heading for a logjam in time. 

[DitchPanda]

Was looking for a rod in the 8 -9 ft  range and I ended up finding something non steelhead related that I kinda forgot about. I was cruising on cabelas and ran on across the whuppin stik...an ugly stik clone basically. Did some research on a few cat fishing sites about the newer models...I had one years ago and liked it....and all I saw was positive reviews. These things are only $30 and wouldn't you know they have an 8ft 2 piece spinning model in medium fast action...so I ordered it this morning.

[DitchPanda]

Received the rod last night and this morning I looked it over. Let me first say this is a 30 dollar rod so as you can imagine the guides and reel seats leave something to be desired and its heavy. That said it has a nice mod fast action that will work great for bobber cats. Plus at $30 if I break it I'm not out much.