I was a devoted ugly stick cat fisherman for years. This past year I bought a pro Angler rod and received a Chad Ferguson model as a gift from my kids. I like both the pro angler and chads rod better than my old ugly sticks. I have convinced myself that I hook up better with the Chad Ferguson Whisker Seeker rods when fishing treble hooks and cheese bait. The rod makes a big difference when fishing vertically for the channels. I think this may be because of the lighter action. Now for drift fishing I refer the pro angler. It seems that I get hung up less with the heavier pro angler. It took me several years to be willing to try different rods. In short I think I will be buying fewer ugly sticks in the future.

I just started targeting cats and picked up one of Chad's rods and so far so good. Alls I had before is a Shakespeare tiger to compare it to. I'd like to get a baitcast model once I get a baitcast reel. Heard good thing about Pro Angler too so maybe I'll try one of those next instead.

I have managed to get almost all of my rods PA rods. I still need a few more medium actions and I'll be happy. Until I get more rod holders that is.

Those pro angler mediums rods are awesome.

As a avid avid avid catfish ugly stik user for catfish, I highly recommend NOT USING THEM for punch bait fishing for channels.

I haven't used the CF rod before, but any light action soft tip rod is going to get the job done better for that application vs. the catfish ugly stik!

I been using a Berkley Lightening Rod Shock series made for using braided line. I mainly fish under a cork with trebles and dough bait. Best hook sets I have ever gotten and the rods are super light weight for what they do. Best part they are only $40 at Walmart. http://www.berkley-fishing.com/berkley-rods-casting-rods-berkley-lightning-rod/1365019.html
I still like my Ugly Stiks for bottom big bait fishing.

I agree, if I'm just using punch bait under a cork. I have a couple Mitchell Pro series reels on a Berkley Lightning medium Rod. Plenty of hook set and lots of fun reeling in a fighting channel. I'll even throw punch bait on a Carolina rig with the same rig. Big baits and big weights or drifting I use the 400 Corvalus on a medium pro angler Rod.

I also enjoy my PA rods and my CF rod, that's a very nice gift from your kids, I'm sure you were pretty excited when you got it. I have the rod that came out last year but this year there is a heavier version that came out.

All due respect to the Ugly Stik Catfish Rod & CAL 1101, as they paved the way for my early catfishin' adventures (as i'm sure for many of us) they are awesome rods and def get the job done in a big way but I have not fished with a rod that I like better than PA's medium action. My ONLY criticism is handle length.

I use nothing but light to med actions rods.I t think the lighter action help to feel the cheese bite.Just my THOughts.

Prepared bait is a another ball game. I like the old Ugly Lite 7' M ins they used to sell at academy. I don't think they make them anymore, unfortunately.