Looking to buy a new rod/reel/line for trophy flatheads

Right now i have an ugly stik catfish spinning rod, shimano sahara 3000, and 40 lb power pro braid.

The rod is only rated to 30 lb line. The reel has 15 lb max drag and holds 110 yards of 40 lb braid.

So ive done a little research and im looking for a good spinning rod and reel to go with some 80 lb braid.

Looking at shimano sahara 5000 and the st croix premier musky spinning rod. The rod is rated to 65 lbs. The reel has max drag of like 26 lbs.

I want something thatll land a 80 lb flathead if im ever lucky enough to hook into one. Any advice is greatly appreciated

Don’t you want a bait clicker?

I don’t think the Sahara’s have a bait clicker/baitrunner function, do they?

If you like Shimano’s I’d recommend taking a look at the Shimano Baitrunner 8000. Just a beautiful reel.

I will preface this with I have never targeted flathead but I have targeted channel catfish and target sturgeon often.

I feel like most people will talk about casting and baitcast reels. I prefer spinning rods and reels.

Ugly Stik Tiger Rods are great rods for sturgeon and would probably work well for flatheads as well. I’ve already seen 80lb plus fish caught on these rods with no problem.

I’ve paired these rods with an Okuma Avenger ABF series reel in the 65b model. These are baitfeeder reels that have the clicker function and 33lbs of max drag pressure.

I’ve been very happy with this setup and have never felt underpowered. I put 80lb test braid on the reels. Holds a lot of line.

https://www.okumafishing.com/en/product/Avenger-Baitfeeder-Spinning-Reel/avenger-baitfeeder-spinning-reel.html

http://www.uglystik.com/uglystik-rods-spinning-rods/ugly-stik-tiger-spinning-rod/1415329.html#specifications

RS, do you use the bait-feeder when you’re sturgeon fishing?

For flatheads I do, but not so much for sturgeon.

IMO there’s multiple ways to Target flatheads…. Average sized cut bait, huge cut bait, small live bait, big live bait, huge live bait.

And then, are you fishing in bottom, or vertically.

Last year I caught them on jigging raps, crank baits, cut bait, big live bait on bottom, big live bait under a bobber and big live bait hung vertically like shown in picture. Many ways to skin that flat cat!

Attachments:

1. 

   CameraZOOM-201606151830503851.jpg
   

I plan to fish for flatheads using live bluegill or live green sunfish on a drop shot rig

Tim Huston wrote:

RS, do you use the bait-feeder when you’re sturgeon fishing?

For flatheads I do, but not so much for sturgeon.

I don’t use it for sturgeon but I have wanted to target flatheads so when I upgraded my reels I wanted something that could do both.

Beyond what fbmr said, what types of hooks do you use? Do you fish from a boat or shore? Hard to just give a blanket statement as to the best setup. Most importantly, what is your budget? I know people who run st. Croix rods with shimano Calcutta reels as well as people who run Wal-Mart shelf set ups. All can catch fish, just gotta figure out what works for you and your fishing style.

From shore. I was thinking of using treble hooks but after doing some research it seems that circle hooks are better for flatheads.

Im willing to spend like 2 – 300

I strongly suggest getting a bait feeder reel like the okuma avenger especially if you shore fish.

x4 on the Okuma. My little brother uses them as he doesn’t like baitcasters. He’s cranked in some nice flatheads with it. I personally prefer baitcasters, the Abu Garcia C3 and C4 in 6500 or 7000 is my preferred reel. Just bought an Okuma Komodo 364 with a power handle, gonna give it a try this year. I liked that it was low profile and still offered a power handle. Good luck this year! Bite should be starting in a few weeks!

okuma reels are one of the best for the price. the Trios series are very very nice. i would recommend an 80s if you plan to spool it with 80 superline. 65 will wrk but if your shore fishing id go with the bigger spool.
if you like baitcasters is hard to go wrong with an Abu 7000 but many more that are good.
“if i had the cash id go with a toro Winch”
as for rods id go atleast an 8′ if not 9′ MH or Heavy that can handle lures atleast 5oz or more, with a softer slower tip esp if your using C-hooks.
i know a few peeps using 10-12′ surf rods “with longer rods watch your back cast ive learned this the hard way lol”
those combos should lob your baits a ways out there

sidenote,
drop shot will wrk but id probably just go with a slip sinker rig

Thanks for the replies folks.

So its soundin like the consensus on the spinning reel is the okuma avenger baitfeeder ABF-80b.

Might be able to get a st croix muskie rod for relatively cheap from a buddy. Muskies dont get bigger than like 60 lbs. Will a st croix muskie rod be able to handle an 80 lb flathead?

As far as the slip sinker rig, ive never used a slip sinker before. What line should i use for the leader? What specific slip sinker should i use? The rivers im going to fish this with have lots of snags

Also, what size circle hooks?

the avengers are nice i own a few of them but if you have the $$ id go with the Trios.
technically and rod will can catch any size fish. but to be able to horse them such as get them in quickly, turn them on around, pull em out of snags… a stiffer H or even XH rod is what you want.

slip sinker rig is pretty much a weight, swivel and leader tied to a hook
heres a pretty good read

Slip Sinker Rig: The One “Must Know” Catfish Rig

sinker style is user preference i like to use bank sinkers. size will be depend on current and bait size.
i like to use 8/0 gama for flats

Ed M L wrote:

Thanks for the replies folks.

So its soundin like the consensus on the spinning reel is the okuma avenger baitfeeder ABF-80b.

Might be able to get a st croix muskie rod for relatively cheap from a buddy. Muskies dont get bigger than like 60 lbs. Will a st croix <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>muskie rod be able to handle an 80 lb flathead?

As far as the slip sinker rig, ive never used a slip sinker before. What line should i use for the leader? What specific slip sinker should i use? The rivers im going to fish this with have lots of snags

Also, what size circle hooks?

That rod should do the trick. The little flathead fishing I’ve done has been with similar rods and large spinning reels. They were spooled with 80# PP. We always used circle hooks in the 8/0 range.

Looked into the trio baitfeeder and it only has 22 lbs max drag. Is that high enough? I remember reading somewhere that you want the drag set at 1/3 the pound test. 80 lb test would be 26.666

I’d like to throw my vote in for:

Instead of circle hooks, go with a 8/0 – 10/0 kahle hook. I use Eagle Claws.

Imo more then plenty. Abuc7000 are only at 20 and most peeps can’t pull that by hand.

Hooks are also personnel preferance
At times they’ll run at you. That’s where a set hook will wrk better then a C-hook

Sometime I use 10/0 gama octo hooks
Lots of peeps like the gama BigRiver hooks

For the most part I leave it in rod holder til doubles over
Takes the guess wrk out lol

I have a variety of rods from cheapo $15 Rhino rods to $200+ St Croix Premiers for fishing. I enjoy them all and they all have their own strengths in certain circumstances. The slower rods will keep a fish hooked up even with a poorly hooked spot. The stiffer rods will turn a fish head and pull them off bottom snags and prevent them from getting down there again.

I don’t get way overboard on actual drag lbs. I can always thumb down the spool if necessary.

Get a Mitchell 302 on eBay, clean and grease it up. Then order a one piece Tiger spinning rod in medium power. Now you have a rod that can handle any fish that swims in MN. For $200 you can probably get 2