Catfish ?

This Walleye guy would like to try some catfishing this year. I was wondering if spinning reels would work for catfishing & if so would a Shimano Symetre 4000 work. I was able to pickup a couple real cheap. Also what rod would work good for these if those reels would work. Thanks in advance.

Should work fine for channel cats, but will probably be overmatched for flatheads. For channel cats, there are tons of good rods out there. Try and Uglystik Catfish as a good starter rod.

Those reels will work well for channel cat fishing. If your looking for a more universal rod than just a catfish rod, I would focus on a longer rod from 7′-8′ long rated for 10-20# line is usually about the right action. If you want something a with a little more muscle, a Tiger Rod(rated 15-40?) is a very good universal big fish rod… along with many others out there.

For line, a good general choice is 15# big game mono, or 30-40# power pro is a great starter line(for channels), or lighter power pro if you intend to se that rod for walleye fishing too will work, but willl limited in the abbraison resistence dept.

I have a blast fishing for channel cats with my walleye gear. I like the 10# Power Pro spooled on a Shimano Sedona which has held up very well. Most my rods are Berkley Lightning IM6 Med action. Not an expensive set up by any means but it landed a lot of 8-11lb channels for me last year. Catching them on walleye gear is a hoot

Hope you are planning on fishing for channels Mark.

A good size flat or two will send that reel to an early death. Grossly too small for flats.

I wouldn’t recommend that reel for channels either…but you could get by…I picked up a St Croix TideMaster (although mine is a bait caster) it’s a good dual perpose channel cat/walleye rod. It’s the one that In-DepthOutdoors featured in the DVD Night Trolling for Trophy Walleyes.

Light tip for detecting a bit and strong enough for pulling in a bone fish. Like all St Croix’s, sensitive enough to “feel” the bottom composition, detect if your bait is still on or it’s covered with weeds/leaves.

More money than the run of the mill rod. Yup…but they also have a five year warrenty.

Head down to Everts and try the “On the Water Demo”.

/End of commercial….

Channel cats that what I was thinking, my middle daughter wants more than anything to catch a Catfish. So I was going to try lake Bylessby because I’ve caught enough there trolling for Walleyes & those buggers just crash the crank baits & then I’m thinking Whoa I’ve got a big one, but it’s only a catfish.

Mark – I agree with Bret Clark. Your walleye gear will be adequate for the catfishing you will be doing. As your interest in chasing cats grows you can expand your gear. You sure don’t need any $100+ graphite rods.

Those Shimano Symetre 4000 reels will work fine – spool them with about 20# HiVis PowerPro and you can take on just about any channel cat. I use spinning gear for channels and it works great – and like Bret said it is fun to catch them on. If you want to get a channel cat rod to balance out your Shimano spinning reels I would recommend the Shakespeare Ugly Stick “Catfish” spinning rods, Model UCSP1170. My spinning rods are 7′ rods in a Medium Heavy action rated for 15 – 30 lb line. They are white rods and easy to see in the dark which is a plus. I’ve caught tons of channels and big sturgeon on my spinning gear with no problems. Those Shakespeare rods will run you about $25 – $30. Catfish Connection on-line catalog has these rods for less than $35. Here is the link to the catalog: Catfish Connection

Just stop in at Moore’s bait website (just a few blocks off of 35W) and talk to Bob! Not only will you be able to pick up a great rod/reel combo but all the circle hooks and sinkers of any size and shape you could ever want. Also Bob’s is the only bait shop I know of that has shad, which is one of the best baits for channels.

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You sure don’t need any $100+ graphite rods.

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Now don’t go telling anything like that to my wife

I second what all these guys are saying. Use what you have, and build your collection as time goes by. You can get a good cat combo for under $100, and under $50 if you want.

One word of warning, Catfishing is addicting, and not easy to get over

If my little infomercial implied that one NEEDs a $140.00 rod…I’m very sorry…not at all.

However you’re close enough to try an on the water demo…so what do you have to loose? Might find a cat on P4 in between all the walleye/saugers too.

No, you dont need $140 per rod.. unless your BrianK! I only spend that on reels

Brian can do that because he write it off on his taxes every year.

Nothing but the best for the guide clients!

The new Field & Stream suggested this for Flatheads:

Reel: Abu Garcia 6500C3

Rod: 8′ Ugly

Line: 65# Power Pro

Terminal: 4oz bank sinker, 60# Berkley Big game leader, 10/0 Mustad Demon

I’m thinking F&S guys fish differantly than I do… Not saying that I fish the only “right” way. Just saying they fish differantly.

I must say that the way F&S set it up, the page looked sort of like an ad for all the different gear.

I can’t say that I agree with all of their choices for channels, flats and blues. I was just glad that my new 6500C3 was mentioned

What? There is advertising in fishing? Ah, so that’s why when I watch a fishing shows they always feel the need to tell me what rod, reel, line, tacklebox, beverage, sunblock, clothing, towel, snack, sunglasses, binoculars, trailer tires, footwear, resort, net, cooler, anchor and cellphone they are using.