Cat Rods

What are some of your favorite cat rods?Length,action,for what etc.

You can get away with any bass tackle for smaller channel cats. For bigger channel cats, I like a 7′ or and 8′ Medium- heavy fiberglass or E-glass rod. Ugly Stik Catfish is an ok rod rated for 30lb line. The 7′ is a one piece, the 8′ is a two piece. If I were buying a new catfish rod, I would probably check out Quantum’s Big Cat series and Cabela’s King Kat Pro series. The nice thing about fiberglass rods is they are fairly cheap and durable. I usually avoid the graphite rods because they are more expensive and break easier. I like a slower action tip with a stong butt section for live bait fishing. As for flatheads, I’ve heard good things about the Ugly Stik Tiger rods, they are the same thing only heavier. 7′ or 8′ rods with 50lb ratings are fine. Hope my two cents helps! Good luck!

I love my king Kats. I have 4 of them and they double as excellent muskie trollers.

Thanks guys been using a flipping stick 7’6″MH with a 6500 ambassdor.Want to go a little heavier,I’ll check them out. (also going to double for skies)

I use circle hooks almost exclusively for channels. A Longer rod with a soft tip is a must. If I was using J hooks for channels I’d use a lighter graphite rod because they are easier to get a quick hook set on. In addition to king cats, Berkley reflex rods are good circle hook rods.

I like to set the hook on flatheads so my rods are all 7-8ft heavy action. More the “pool cue” style. Graphite is much more enjoyable to cast with and set the hook with for me because its lighter. But realistically your rod sits in a holder most of the time so the economically priced fiberglass rods are a good choice. My best flathead rods are the St. Croix cat rods but they have been discontinued.

Jim Moyer has his new rods in the new Catfish Connection catalogue…I’m looking forward to getting my hands on one or two. I guess they are replacing the “E-Cat” rods but I have no problems with them either. Yes, its fun as heck to put the bend in a pool cue!

I have a couple E-Cats and I think they are a little heavy, I mean the actual weight of the rod. My St. Croix Classic Cats are my favorite. They are no longer in production but are basicaly the same rod as their Premier Musky rods.

I just got a couple St. Croix Tidemaster Inshore rods that I think will be perfect.

I picked up a couple custom St Croix rods at Hooked on Fishing last fall. Both are a little differant in construction. Both are Med Heavy action graphite but one is re enforced with fiberglass. It’s going to be interesting to compare them to an Ugly Stick, Quantum and Big Cat rods.

Appreciate the imput guys.Going through some of my basspro and cabelas mags see what matches up.

Dark30 does the catfish connection have an internet site or a address where I can get my hands on a catalog? Thanks

Catfish Connection

Thanks !

I was just looking at mine again….could spend some serious pinga in there! I was going to say also…I like the Gapen rods too. There’s also a couple of guys in Prior Lake making some real nice sticks(Midwest Rod n Reel). With all the rods around, I’d have to say the best rod is one that gets used a lot .. whatever it is.

Hey RB. Is that a Blue your holding? Where do you fish mostly?

That is a Red River channel.

My favorite cattin’ rod is connected to my shoulder!

A NOODLER!?

Welcome to the board Mr Flathead Mike!

Po’ Boy coming thru. Lots of Croix and custom rods being discussed, but I’m wondering if anybody uses the lower end rods? I’m making a run to Cabelas and want to check out their Whoopin Sticks. Also, their E-Glass rods that are half price.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/horizontal-item.jhtml?id=0002772115021a&navAction=push&navCount=1&indexId=cat20372&podId=0002772&catalogCode=IF&parentId=cat20372&parentType=index&rid=&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fcatalog%2Fitem-link.jhtml.1_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166&hasJS=true

For channels i have used the 7′ berkley big game rods (20 bucks at wallmart) and have not broken out yet even on the sumo kittys at Stu’s, great rod for the buck. I have hauled in a couple flats with them, but prefer my croix’s when targeting the biggen’s.

Cattin_Addict

I have four rods from South Bend that cost me a total of 40 bucks. I like 7 foot rods with stiff action for flats. Beyond the action and the reel seat, the only feature I insist on is that the guides are double seated. I haven’t used graphite rods for flatheads and haven’t ever felt the need for greater sensitivity. My favorite rod is a now discontinued Zebco Rhino rod with a very stout lower two thirds and a rather fast tip, but the cheapos I’m using now have been very reliable.

Last fall I picked up a Shakespeare “Catera” rod on a closeout at Gander Mountain for $20. It was mixed in with their muskie rods that they were trying to clear out. I think the regular price was $40. It is a 6’3″ 1-piece IM-8 graphite rod, Heavy Action, rated for 20 – 50 lb line. I caught a couple of nice sturgeon on it late in the season and it is a great rod. It has a number on it (CAM6063 1H).
My main heavy cover flathead rod is a Shakespeare Ugly Stick Tiger rod, 7′ long, 1 piece rod, Medium Heavy, rated for 30#-60# line, its number is a “BWC/AO 2202”. I picked it up at Sportsmans Wharehouse in Coon Rapids. This is a great rod, coupled with an Ambassadeur 6500 with 80# PowerPro, you could pull a water skier with it.