I am totally new to fishing. I have no idea about fishing. I want to get some idea about fishing and I want to be an expert in fishing. Please help me.

My preference is the Abu Garcia 7000 series. 6500 is a solid second choice.

Depends on how you are fishing and what you are fishing for. Bank fishing or boat fishing?
I use spinning equipment for most of my catfishing since I can pitch my bait into tight cover better when after eater blues and channels. Open water drifting or bottom fishing I may use casting reels mostly or a big spincast Zebco 808.
Spinning reels---------Mitchell 300, Shakespear, Shimano and Penn
Casting reels----------CatMax, Diawa, Garcia, Penn, Lews
Spincast---------------Zebco

Lots of stuff to chose from.

Then you have to look at which kind and type of rod to use. All rods are not created equal.

I haven't met an expert yet, but no advice will help you more than time on the water.

As far as reels, your bread and butter Catfish reel for this part of the country is an Abu Garcia 6500 C3.

What kind of Catfishing?

Time on the water is great, but if you really want to learn, hire a guide who specializes in the fishing you want to pursue.

I like Shimano Sienna 4000 for channels and Cabelas Salt Striker SBF65 for Big Blues. 7' medium rods for channels and 7'6" or 8' MH for Big Blues.

I like this one:

I like these Willie

Mud cat reel.

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/7318733/1
.

I like the garcia C3's but I bought a shimano tekato and I believe its gonna be hard to beat but its pricy

The Tekota's aren't perfect but beat the socks off tha' Abus!

ha, you aint got no hooks

Shhhh, didn't want to sore-lip'em!!! Lol

Akios S-Line 757CS

He's just starting and we're trying to get him to buy some high priced reels. Lmao.

I did find the Tekota for $150 on eBay though.

I like my Abu 6500c3's

Abu Garcia 6500 C3 is an investment that will last a long, long time and can be repaired infinitely with parts that are readily available. 5500 C3 will work as well, but you will have less line on the spool if a big one makes a run. Also, if you are bank fishing you can cast the line off of the 5500 if you know how to sling them.

Abu Garcia 6500 C3 here too,

Zebco 202

I like my Abu 5 and 6000's. still waiting for that big one to break them!!

I was visiting at my parent�s home many years ago and found my childhood rod and reel with a Zebco 202. Brought it home and went to the lake shore a couple days later. I had a chartreuse spinner bait tied on and landed a 10 lb. buffalo carp on that old rod and reel. Once I got it in shallow water, I just started walking backwards to drag it up the bank. There was no way I was going to try lifting that fish on that old rod and reel.

The Zebco 202 has probably been the beginning of many childhood fishing adventures over the years.

I have 7 at Southwestern Parts being fixed. Customers were reeling in fish and the reel came off the seat.

Maybe I'll have that problem one day Mike, may...lol!!

I can see that happening they way most of them are just tack welded together. I�m sure that makes a good impression on the customers! That just gave me an idea, I should set try to make a machined stainless frame for an Abu on one of the Mazek CNC machines here in the shop

Ctk, careful with that cnc machine! You might be going into the reel business if you aren't careful. I can't wait to see the prototype.

I just ordered a Kastking Rover 50R. Just in case my 40 year old Diawa Millionaire 5H(brown)gives out.

LOL... I probably will never have time to shut that machine down for this kind of stuff

Got this in the mail today. That was only 3 days ago that I ordered it. Fast shipping!
Anyway, this thing looks well made. No surface tool marks and anodizing and chrome are smooth and shiny.
The aluminum handle is polished and no rough edges anywhere.
Reel turns easy and bearings are almost silent. The lock is instant and positive with no slack forward or back. Haven't opened it up to look at the insides and probably won't unless it breaks. This one is the 50 size and looks like it will hold a lot of braid.
It's sorta purdy for an el cheapo reel. Less than $50

$118 plus shipping from the other side of the pond

I hope you'll give us all a test report after you take that reel out a couple times. I've always been curious about those and the reviews are so mixed that I've never bought one to try out.

I do have three KastKing spinning reels with the bait clickers and don't think they are terrible for the cost. Bought them in frustration after going to Cabelas a couple times for the Salt Strikers that were on sale, those never seemed to be in stock when the website said they were.

Looks just like the old Ming Yang reels. I�ve got two and never had a problem with them. They are a little heavier than the Abu�s, but at half the price I�ll take a couple of extras ounces.
Has anyone else had the reel seats break on the Abu�s???