Putting together 2 or 3 dedicated channel cat setups.
Would you go with the $30 Shimano Sienna spinning reel or step up to Abu 4600s?

These will be on like 7' or 7.5" ugly sticks or pro angler rods.

I love my Abus! I'd go with the 4600 or even something bigger

These will mostly be used at the river in the summer casting like 20 yards so won't need a lot of line or anything. That was my thoughts on the 4600.

I do have some 6500 setups already. They just seem to big and bulky when I go to fish for channels.

Sienna 4000 are on Clearance for $18.98 at Academy. I put them on $20 TC Black Rods from Academy for Channels/Hybrids. Or the $14 Green Rods.

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/tourname...ldCatid=1004378

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/shimano-sienna-spinning-reel-convertible#repChildCatid=135432

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/tourname...ildCatid=763864

I use Mitchell 300 spinner on a Berkley Lightning Rod shock series with 30lb yellow braid.
Also a Penn Fierce on the same rod with same line.
These are great setups for fishing under a float or tight line.

I would stay with the 6500 C3s. You have the line capacity if you need it plus a bait clicker for driftfishing and they are tanks, good for everything from channels to Stripers.

No offense but I find eater size channels a pretty varied wants. I have used light weight bass gear for a very long time. I always am holding it waiting for a very light bite

What does this mean?

I'm saying I use light bass gear for eater size channel like a Lewis speed spool and a st croix 6'6 medium fast action

Sienna ALL the way...we use 40 of them and rarely have em fail.

The 4000 series with 40-50lb braid is perfect...

I use the H2O Maxxim 300's from Academy with 30lb Power Pro Slick 8 braid. It is a spinning reel . I put them on an Ugly Stik Lite-Pro medium heavy 6' rod from Wally World. I have 12 of these setups for channels. Works well for me. Around 100.00 for complete setup with the braided line.

Specifically for channel cats you really only need a good sensitive 7' graphite rod and a spinning reel. If you plan on catching trophy catfish from a boat, I might suggest upgrading to 7'6 pro angler rods with a larger abu garcia 6500 or catmaxx baitcaster.

Just left academy. Two Siennas (one 2500 and one 4000) and two TC rods (an angler edition 6' for the 2500 and a classic edition 6'6" for the 4000). I think these will be perfect for wading up and down the river. Best part, with a spool of 12lb big game mono the price was only 74 bucks.

Reason I got different size reels is that it was all they had. Otherwise I would have gotten two 2500s.

Not a fan of the Tournament Choice Classic Edition - fiberglass, moderate taper, and very poor sensitivity