European Rods

After occasionally fishing for catfish on a local lake for many years I have decided to finally start targeting them on rivers. I have had an Abu Garcia 6501 and a 7 foot Daiwa medium-heavy rod for a few years. After using this setup a few times this year for channel catfish on a small river I’ve found it works fine for bottom rigs, but it was too short for drifting slip floats. I am looking at getting a Cabela’s European Predator rod because it was so highly recommended by Doug Stange and others at In-Fisherman back in the day. Has anyone here used these rods or is there something better on the market nowadays?

Welcome Hank!

I’m running late for my cat nap, but I’ll have an answer for you tomorrow.

Are there any cats in Swan Lake?

I have 3 of the Cabela’s European rods that I purchased while I was stationed in Europe. Used them for fishing pike and zander in Holland and Germany. They worked GREAT for that. I have used them for fishing catfish in the Wisconsin River and they work great for that also. I highly endorse these rods.

Well I thought St Croix had a rod that fit your needs…but…

From the boys at St Croix:

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We have a new Avid carp rod coming out this fall. 12’ spinning rod, 8-25 lb test and ½ to 4 ounce lure rating. Action is medium heavy moderate fast. Also have a 9’6” in the same series, 8-25, ½ to 3 ounce. Medium moderate fast action.

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I have an 8′ Shimano Talora spinnning rod that I use for catting and northern fishing. It works incredibly well for both fishing slip floats (which I do for both cats and northerns) and for fishing bottom rigs.

I highly recommend the Talora… it’s medium-heavy, moderately fast action, and actually originally produced for trolling leadcore line, so it’s fricking tough. I can cast a good 100 yards with a 6 oz no-roll and a chunk of sucker. I can usually toss a slip bobber rig a good 20-30 yards with no real trouble.

Thanks for the advice, guys! I can’t wait for that St. Croix rod to come out. I was lucky enough to get one of their 7’6″ heavy Classic Cat rods a few years ago on sale at Gander Mountain with the intention of using it for flatheads some day. I have been admiring it since then, but haven’t used it yet. I intend to pair it up with an Abu Garcia 7000 sometime soon. I think I will probably order the Predator in the near future then look into getting a St. Croix when it comes out.

Brian, I was referring to Swan. It seems to have quite a large population of cats. I caught a few 3 and 4 pounders this spring while fishing for crappies. My best was about a 10 pounder six years ago. I take it you are familiar with the area?

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My best was about a 10 pounder six years ago. I take it you are familiar with the area?

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You are kidding me! The only place I thought there were cats out that way was the Crow and Ripley! Ten pounds must be HUGE for that lake!

Dad and I fish Swan with a fly rod for crappies and gills a number of springs..and sat through a number of Polcezchsky (sp?) day parades too.

I’m an apricot kolachki type of guy.