catfish rig

[Jake P]

Went fishin with some buddies and after a couple hours of no bass bites i grabbed some chicken livers and a spare zebco 808 and hooked up on 8 channel cats within an hour and a half. After the 8th fish the reel is acting a little funny like the gears are burned out but im not exactly sure. I was curious what you guys use for catchin cats.

None were more than 7 lbs so i dont think i need a 10' saltwater rod like a few have suggested. I just want something affordable and reliable, not trying to catch trophy cats. This is just for fun. What line do you suggest also. Thanks guys!

[Nibbles]

Shakespeare Ugly Stik MH 7' rod - 20-30 bucks at your local wal-mart.

Abu Garcia BCX 5600 - around 50 bucks online.

[Nice_Bass]

Use an old bass rod.  Caught plenty big fish on them and they hold up fine.  Put on 20# big game. 

[bass or bass ?]

My channel cat rig is a medium action  Shakespere Uglystick rod with a BPS MegaCast MCM1000 reel spooled with @ 175 yards of 16 pound Trilene XT.

My flathead cat rig is a medium heavy Rhino Kevlar rod with a Penn 209 levelwind reel spooled with @ 200 yards of 50 pound Trilene Big Game.

[Red Bear]

Went fishin with some buddies and after a couple hours of no bass bites i grabbed some chicken livers and a spare zebco 808 and hooked up on 8 channel cats within an hour and a half. After the 8th fish the reel is acting a little funny like the gears are burned out but im not exactly sure. I was curious what you guys use for catchin cats.

None were more than 7 lbs so i dont think i need a 10' saltwater rod like a few have suggested. I just want something affordable and reliable, not trying to catch trophy cats. This is just for fun. What line do you suggest also. Thanks guys!

i have an 808 and the drags on them are for crap, i swear it seems the 33s have better drags on them. the drag on my 808 was shot in less than a year, the only positives are it seems to cast really good and far and holds big line compared to most spincasts

[River_angler]

I have an Ugly Stick Lite 7' MH with an Abu Garcia 5500C3. I love it. I like to use Mono or Fluorocarbon in 12 - 15 lb. Stren original in 15lb test has been pretty good for me.

Ugly stick $40

Abu Garcia $89

[tholmes]

I use an old Berkley Roughneck 6' MH casting rod and an even older Shakespeare President II reel spooled with 20lb. Berkley Big Game mono.

Tom

[gobig]

I like to use my dropshot rod. Its a ton of fun. You have to really play the fish. I just throw out a weightless single hook with a chunk of anchovy or mackerel. If there is current I go as light as I can with a sliding sinker. I have caught them up to 17lbs on this set up. I am still waiting to break 20.