Help me with catfishing rod/reel info.

[Lucky]

I am going to be in Oklahoma soon, and plan on fishing for catfish. I would like to buy a nice rod/reel for it, but I haven't really been catfishing. If you could I would like to get a big rod/reel, and a smaller one. Please help me with my choices.

Thanks,
Lucky

[mulebelly]

6 1/2 foot ugly stick,most any ambassadeur reel---20 lb. test,better off jug lining--real addictive.

[TXPalerider]

I use 7 ft Uglies, but, mulebelly is on the right track. I wouldn't go any bigger than a 6500 though.

[Lucky]

Thanks. Seems to be the choice from a lot of catfisherman.

[GTO John]

I use 7 ft ugly stiks w/ 6500 ambassadeurs & 7 ft ugly stiks w/ shimano spheros 5000s. I put 20 lbs. big game green line on them.

[TXPalerider]

I back with mono, but, prefer spider wire or power pro on all my kitty gear.

[shadslinger]

To each his own. I have 4 ugly sticks from 7' to 6' and in different actions, dang fine rods for whatever bites, I especially like them for white bass trolling and when I need some heavy sinkers to get down in strong current. But I also like a 6' graphite lighter action stick whenever they bite subtle. 5ooos most of the time for me, the low cost red ones, and a 6500 for the 7' ugly stick when things get serious. I really like Berkly big game 20lb & 30lb in the flourescent green. I use cast net sinkers most of the time since I fish alot and go through a net about once evry 2 years. When I have to buy weights I like the 1oz round flat ones in current or about 1/2 once in the still water. Shad is bait. Don't let them fool you with store bought poo.

[bigreave]

i would run abu 5500 with 12 or 14lb for avrage little kittys and then 20 pound on a6500 for the big ones abus are simple and time tested and you can work on them, as for rod the skys the limit but i run 8 to 9 ft home moddified trigger or surf rods i cut back for real longroding from the bank. Fresh shad always works but perch crawfish almost anything is good bait as shad slinger shad stay away from the store bait unless you carry it as back up

[TXPalerider]

Guys I generally agree with the last 2 posts. However, staying away from store bought is a little misleading. Because, in my opinion, punch bait is hands down the best channel cat bait out there. While that doesn't apply to blue cats, it's been my experience, punch bait has outfished shad, shrimp, etc. for channels every time.

Here is my list of #1 baits by species:

Channel cats - Punch bait
Blue cats - shad
Yellows - live perch

It just depends on what you are targeting at the time.

Jsut my 2 cents.

[shadslinger]

The pale one is correct on the fish-bait match up. But I will take a stob in the eye with a sharp stick before I fish with industrial poo bait. I fish Livingston almost exclusivly and for some reason decent sized channels are rare. 10" are common, but I think big blues must eat them before they have a chance to get big, they are the finest eating catfish,IMHBO.

[Parkerpa]

I live in Oklahoma. Channels up to 8lbs. are common. But most run in the 1-3lb.
range. for a beginner, lets just go with a nice zebco 33 classic. 12lb. line is fine.
Nobody starting out should even have to think about a backlash. The object is
to want to do this again. As for bait, get a cheap package of hotdogs. Dont think
a over 8lb. cat wont take one. Ive got many pics. of huge catfish on the lowly, easy
to use, not real messy, hotdog.

[crosbykayak]

ive been hearing a lot about range cubes. anyone use them?

[TXPalerider]

ive been hearing a lot about range cubes. anyone use them?
Yes, but, really only in a pinch. Have ahad mixed results.

pinch= when I don't have any soured milo. :D

[Sir Fishalots]

Since were off the selection of rod-n-reel and on the bait usage. It goes to show ya, it depends on were you are fishing, river,lake,creek. I've got a place on Whites Creek off the Trinity River and you can catch a lot more off fresh shad than any other bait. And buy the way, in the creeks you will catch 3# channels.

[shadslinger]

I'm an old dog who just don't even care about new tricks, as long as my old ones work. When they don't, I try to get hip to any new trick that will work, ASAP. One of the simple truths to fishing success is to listen to the locals in regard to baits/lures etc..on a given body of water. They fish there all of time and they know what works. If someone told me that spam was catching catfish at such and such river, and I heard it from more than one reliable local source, Wal-Mart here I come for some spam.
That's a simple truth that works sometimes. Never say always.

[McBuck]

As most have already said, I use 6 1/2' (medium action) or 7' (medium light action) Ugly stick rods with Amb. 5500 or 6500 reels. I prefer Spider Wire for the line choice to pull those kitties through the stick ups and timber. It also reduces the amount of lost tackle because you can straighten the hook with the Spider Wire when you get hung up. For some reason, there always seems to be something to get hung up on in the best fishing holes. :biggrin:

[rainbowrunner]

It's kinda like Ford or Chevy, Merc or Evinrude. To each his own. A lot of good advise here.

I personally like light tackle, and use a Shimano Stradic 4000 on a medium action Shimano spinning rod, and Shimano Curado with T40x medium rods. And I usually use 15* Big Game line. Haven't seen the need yet to start using cable yet, although I did use the early spectra type line bass fishing until I started busting eyes on my rod tips.

When catfishing I would always prefer to use shad, but I guess I really don't have the spots to get em so I will use cheesebait with excellent results I might add, when I have to.

Dale