Gear 
kill3ducks1deer
Expert Angler
- Total Posts : 699
- Reward points: 0
- Joined: 2008/06/20 22:48:50
- Location: Washington County
- Status: offline
Gear
I want to start fishing in the river for cats, any chance someone could tell me what kind of equipment i should use, such as what type of rod and line, how big the hooks should be and other essential info?
"Fishermen are born honest, but they get over it." Ed Zern
|
joebaker79
Expert Angler
- Total Posts : 805
- Reward points: 0
- Joined: 2003/11/13 14:58:47
- Status: offline
Here is what I go with and it's pretty standard for the most part. 2 9 foot medium heavy rods rated for 12-30 lb test. I use 25 lb Berkley Big Game. I use two large Okuma baitfeeder reels. This allows the bait to be taken and the reel is in freespool, as soon as I start to reel the normal drag engages and the fight is on. I use mostly circle hooks up to 8/0 depending on size of bait. I mostly use live bluegills and creek chubs, sometimes suckers. This is for flatheads. Channel cats you can go much lighter, but I don't bother.
Most guys use rods between 8 and 10 feet, med heavy or heavy, 20-50 lb mono, 50-80 lb braid (thinnner diameter), regular spinning reels, baitfeeder spinning reels, large baitcasters, straight hooks or circles. It depends on what you are comfortable with. With circles you don't have to swing for the fences on the hookset with all the heavy gear. For me the best thing I ever did was buy the baitfeeder reels.
Most guys use sinker rigs with 2-6 oz of lead above the leader. I stick with 4 most of the time.
|
PATCAT50
New Angler
- Total Posts : 32
- Reward points: 0
- Joined: 2009/02/15 04:08:08
- Status: offline
Do you use baitcasters or spinning?For baitcasters I would go with a reel in the ABU 6500 to 7000 range.For spinning I,d go with a reel in the 65 range,preferably one with bait feeding ability.Cabelas salt striker baitfeeder is pretty reasonable.For rods 8-12 ft-your preference.It depends on how far your gonna want to cast.I like braid for all my catfishing,anywhere from 50-65 for channels & 80-120 for big flats.I mainly use hooks in size 2-4/0 for channels and 6/0-10/0 for flats.For bait I,ll use cut fish,livers,crawlers,or smaller live bait for channels,for flats I usually always have a nice size livebait on.For the flats , I like whatevers easiest to catch at the time & place I,m at.I,ve had sucess on bluegills,whitebass,bullheads,suckers,smaller carp.My personal favorite is a nice lively creek chub.Just get out there,catfishermen are a pretty friendly group,someone will give you a hand when your first starting out.If you don,t want to invest the money in braided line right away,I,d go with Berkley big game line in 20-40#.Hope this helps. 
LIVE TO FISH. FISH TO LIVE. SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE
|
kill3ducks1deer
Expert Angler
- Total Posts : 699
- Reward points: 0
- Joined: 2008/06/20 22:48:50
- Location: Washington County
- Status: offline
ok i have 2 rods both 7 feet spinning rods, 25 pound test on each, good or bad? I am thinking about getting another when i save the money up for it.
"Fishermen are born honest, but they get over it." Ed Zern
|
PATCAT50
New Angler
- Total Posts : 32
- Reward points: 0
- Joined: 2009/02/15 04:08:08
- Status: offline
What you got will be fine to get you going.Once you get out there and know what size waters you,re gonna be fishing and how far you,ll have to be casting,then you,ll be able to determine what exactly you,re gonna need.Find out what kind of cats are in the water you,ll be fishing.
LIVE TO FISH. FISH TO LIVE. SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE
|
rapala11 
Pro Angler
- Total Posts : 6218
- Reward points: 0
- Joined: 2006/03/05 21:53:36
- Status: offline
what type of cats are you guys after, flatheads? been a few years, but i used abu 5500s and bionix med. (really a mh) 6.6 rods for channel cats. 10 test line. found this more than enough, but i fish lakes, not rivers.
|
tanner12oz
Avid Angler
- Total Posts : 114
- Reward points: 0
- Joined: 2003/10/01 18:20:32
- Status: offline
my best flathead setup is an abu 6500 on a quantum big cat rod....i think i have 50# powerpro or something along those lines. the big cat rod is a beast. nice backbone...lots of support for bringing monsters out logjams and such
|
joebaker79
Expert Angler
- Total Posts : 805
- Reward points: 0
- Joined: 2003/11/13 14:58:47
- Status: offline
I was only referring to flatheads in the three rivers. Just to clarify.
|
rapala11
Pro Angler
- Total Posts : 6218
- Reward points: 0
- Joined: 2006/03/05 21:53:36
- Status: offline
thanks joe. my gear would be a pretty poor choice against those monsters.
|
vinestbrew
Expert Angler
- Total Posts : 418
- Reward points: 0
- Joined: 2006/11/08 16:55:26
- Location: Pittsburgh
- Status: offline
You will probably want a longer rod
|
joebaker79
Expert Angler
- Total Posts : 805
- Reward points: 0
- Joined: 2003/11/13 14:58:47
- Status: offline
You'd be surprised, both of my biggest flatheads, 30 and 35 lbs were on a bass rod with 8 and 10 lb test. The both hit crankbaits below a dam. Took a while but got em in. Wouldn't want to purposely do that but it was fun. Now I can't seem to catch a bigger one on the right equipment. ORIGINAL: rapala11
thanks joe. my gear would be a pretty poor choice against those monsters.
|
|
|