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What rod and reel setups? #14480024 09/17/22 12:54 AM
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Rowdy Offline OP
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Guys,
I have been seeing all these monster catfish you have been catching and of course admiring them...

So it begs the question, what rod and reel setups are you guys bringing these big fish in to the boat with?

The size of these I have been seeing on here are so big I am not at all sure my tackle would stand up to these fish.
What I am sure the fish I usually catch is nothing even close lol. You won't see me posting any of the fish I am lucky enough to catch, no pix of mine as heck they are going to look like bait to these lol...

Man some of these big bluecats I have seen you guys haul in for a quick pic or two, I would normally call this combat fishing, you know where you have the drag down hard as it can lol... I have done some fishing that I called combat fishing, but was in the saltwater and I had to just follow them with my boat to help land them, yet even those fish fail in comparison to you guys fish.

It's really quite impressive if you ask me. The fish and the friendship you guys seem to enjoy showing and telling what and the where. Way cool guys...

So what are your rigs you count on here, and then does this include a hammer to drive the drag down on the reel lol???

Wet Rooster Jigs Fishing Super Store
Re: What rod and reel setups? [Re: Rowdy] #14480149 09/17/22 04:39 AM
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littlewheel Offline
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If I was going to rig up for trophy blues, I would have a Mad Katz rod and a Shimano Tekota reel with some 30lb mono. There are less expensive setups, but I would rather buy once.


Shannon Wheeler
Lake Fork Channel Catfish Guide
Cheeseologist at Stubbys Cheesebait
903-987-2315
Re: What rod and reel setups? [Re: Rowdy] #14480183 09/17/22 10:43 AM
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Catfish Tim Offline
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Shannon, you took the words right out of my mouth... There are other much less expensive ways to rig for big blues. As I started out, I used a $17.00 Shakespeare Wildcat rod with a $40.00 Kast King Rover in 40 size. I caught loads of 20 and 30 pound blues with that set up. My first professional rods were Warrior Cat MH. Put some Lews Speedcast 600 on them. Same result lots of 20, 30 and 40 pounders. Tried the Ugly Sticks, didn't care for them, tried a Big Cat Fever, it was a good rod. What really got me stuck on the Mad Katz was the people. First class bunch of guys running that company.

In addition to the Tekota which I agree with Shannon is the pinnacle of reels for the type of fishing we do, I have used the Penn Squall LW, the Kast King Rovers in 40, 60 and 70 size. Slimecat 7000, Lews Speedcast 600, and a few others that were real disappointments. All of the reels listed here worked fine... for a while. I fish every week and most of them lasted about 2 years before I started having trouble with them. I have to give props to the Slimecat 7000. That thing has held up well. Still have it on the boat for a backup. And, it looks great on the Green Signature Series with some slime green braid too!

The adedge "buy once cry once" applies here. The Mad Katz and Tekota combo is North of $300. It is not cheap. But, IMHO, it will outlast $600 worth of any of those other set ups. It's not the rod, it's the reel that is gonna give you trouble.

[Linked Image]
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Catfish Tim
๐ŸŸ๐ŸŸ"If it doesn't have whiskers, it's just bait"๐ŸŸ๐ŸŸ
Romans 8:1

Re: What rod and reel setups? [Re: Rowdy] #14480198 09/17/22 11:28 AM
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skeetmaster Offline
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Well said Tim. You just about covered it. I absolutely agree with you about the reel. There's quite a few rods out there that are well built and will last but it seems there's not as many choices when it comes to the reel. At least not when it comes to affordability. I just have to remind myself that I can either spend a couple of hundred bucks once for a good reel and be happy for years, or I can spend a couple of hundred bucks every other season and be constantly flustered with reels breaking. It's a no-brainer for me now but I spent years pulling my hair out. I'm sure some guys are like me, when it comes to pulling out the wallet I have a natural tendency to not want to spend it up front!

Just curious Tim, was that last pic the rod holder setup you had on Sandy Too before the homemade pipe setup?

Re: What rod and reel setups? [Re: Rowdy] #14480453 09/17/22 05:25 PM
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Rowdy Offline OP
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All you are exactly like me. I want to buy once take care and do the cleaning and service and then take care of them. I have all Shimano reels and G Loomis GLX rods, even four GLX Fly rods with one exception of a spinning rod that is their Green Water series and love them all. I would not part with any of them either, long as I can still physically still fish anyway. LOL

I do have a Shimano Calcutta on one of my sticks and while the 400 will be solid I think the Loomis stick won't, least my fear. I have been trolling on a Loomis Blue water series that I want one casting and one spinning style. I already think I have the reels for them.

I have been dying to know what you guys are using though. I feel like it's just like Tim to tack up all this class act porn of this stuff too... lol You guys are freaking great fellows, and hope there would be interest to share.I fish with a few older guys that have used these old big gray Zebco's with 30 lb line and when they tear up either fix or replace them. Heck they land more and bigger fish than I do lol.

To be honest here I love messing around with all this and the knots as I do my boat and the fishing and playing with my sonar/GPS lol... now is that messed up. I don't even have the new sonar/GPS or one of the new trolling motors, once that happens the spot lock is on lol and the sonar is on the hunt for 3-4" shad...

You guys share what you are using, doesn't matter what, if your using it let's here it and/or see it. I also think the next thread I want to make is going to be the knots and lines we all use. Don't you think it's worthy as much as the rest of this? The boat and/or bank and where next would be cool too. Thanks for sharing also, some of you guys have landed some really big fish and for me just begged the question.

Re: What rod and reel setups? [Re: Rowdy] #14480467 09/17/22 06:05 PM
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littlewheel Offline
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Tim is a show off! Just kidding , he is a class act. Most people donโ€™t mind sharing info, myself included. One thing I have learned years ago is that anyone can tell you how to be an expert on a certain subject. Listen to the oneโ€™s that can prove it.

Last edited by littlewheel; 09/17/22 06:06 PM.

Shannon Wheeler
Lake Fork Channel Catfish Guide
Cheeseologist at Stubbys Cheesebait
903-987-2315
Re: What rod and reel setups? [Re: skeetmaster] #14480486 09/17/22 06:31 PM
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Catfish Tim Offline
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Geno, I have had several set ups on Sandy Too before the black pipe set up. The one in that picture was an early one just a piece of 1 5/8" strut with carabiners for the rods to sit in.

Shannon, You are the show off, lol. Anybody that limits out with a boat full of clients every single day is walking the walk!

Rowdy, I will jump in on the terminal rig details. I have been fussing with the clips on my planer boards lately, but I'll save that for the next thread...


Catfish Tim
๐ŸŸ๐ŸŸ"If it doesn't have whiskers, it's just bait"๐ŸŸ๐ŸŸ
Romans 8:1

Re: What rod and reel setups? [Re: Rowdy] #14480559 09/17/22 09:00 PM
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Rowdy Offline OP
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Shannon,

Man, you are so right about the armchair quarter backs, I have had to fix so many fubars of them on there boats over the years and you just have to laugh about it. It use to really torque me off so much when they would bring me their outboard in a box of parts and wanted me to put humpty-dumbty back together lol...

One thing I tend to do is over do things, one of the reasons I started this thread. Point in mind right of the top of my pointed head, once I was out bait fishing. Not cast netting, actually fishing for my bait and really had me a hot spot.

Every so often I would catch one of the paper plate sized bream, and on my super lite spinning rig that even crappie are to big lol these monster bream was really a blast to try and land. Caught a few small 1-2lb bass that had come to see what the feeding frenzy was all about, they was jumping out of the water and burning the drag off my small spinning rig on this stick. Make sure you know I never keep these sort of fish.

I had more fun trying to catch enough bait all on that super light rig lol... So you see all the porn of fish I have only hoped to catch and I just asked myself do I have big enough tackle. Years ago at some new boating show for new products of the new year, I meet Gary Loomis, he even put a new stick of his in my hand to keep of coarse. Coarse he has since sold his products to business men let's just say, broke my heart, but completely understand. I have once sent him a rod I broke on a hookset , he replaced all his rods and without changing his reel seat to the Fuji reel seat as Gloomis does now. Anyway I get totally off track so easy and about some subjects that are not always good.

I just thought maybe I may be thinking my current extra heavy GLX sticks I do combat fishing in the cat tails fishing for big bass. These sticks of mine may not be enough to boat this sort of maybe 30 lb or bigger fish, I have not ever caught something of that capability of being a tractor in there underwater world. I have landed some really monster carp and Buffalo at the 20-25lb size on one of my GLX Flyrods, but those are not even in the same area code of a 30lb bluecat...
Nor do I want to rig up a pool cue size rod and not need it. I just remember the excitement of those 2lb blackbass on the superlite bait rig I have lol. But I don't want my sticks I think so much of shredded or I can't land one of these fish if I am ever so blessed to have one hooked and on line and left up to me to boat, pic and release .

Re: What rod and reel setups? [Re: Rowdy] #14480650 09/17/22 11:31 PM
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Bluecat Bob Offline
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Nice thread!

I am new to catching big Blues and frankly without the help and coaching from Catfish Tim and others I would probably still be floundering around to be honest.

Big Bluecat's are like freshwater sharks. They are huge and they will pull your arms out of their sockets! I have had a number of occasions with the rod bent double in the rod rest with the drag screaming and hardly able to get the rod out of the rest. Exciting!!

Gear needs to be strong, any weak links and you're toast.

I initially bought a couple of Ugly Stick medium heaving two piece rods. At under $40 they are awesome, really tough and sensitive to show bites, but they don't have the backbone of some of the more expensive heavy duty rods. I bought a couple of Abu Ambassador reels, and they worked fine but I am not a big fan, as the drag is not great on them and the level winds are flimsy and bend.

I later invested in some medium heavy Whisker Seeker medium heavy action rods, and I love them. One piece, with heavy duty eyes, a sensitive tip and a nice cork handle which I find very comfortable. I also purchased some Daiwa Seagate reels. They are big heavy reels and beautifully made with a rock solid drag. They don't have level wind which I like for the simplicity, and I just use my thumb.

[Linked Image]

Strong rod rests are also essential. Big Blues with turn the boat around and I am not kidding.

For line I use 30Ib mono (I'm old and cant handle braid) and my leaders are 50Ib mono. Large size 10/0 circle hooks are also essential, as well as good quality swivels.

It's an addiction, and I blame Catfish Tim!

Last edited by Bluecat Bob; 09/17/22 11:35 PM.

Retired from the grind and enjoying life and the great outdoors ### Formerly Texas Brit ###
Re: What rod and reel setups? [Re: Rowdy] #14480680 09/18/22 12:12 AM
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So Abu reels don't hold up? News to me I have some 5000 going on 25 years old and they work just fine, now I have been limited to only catching blues up to 64.8#. I also fish about 150 days a year. I use Ande 20# test line with a 40# test Ande leader Rosco swivles on Medium Action Pro Angler rods on BeeReady rod holders. I've been catching and releasing trophy blues on Cedar Creek, Limestone, Fairfield, Tawakoni, and Richland Chambers for a little over 25 years. I'm down in the little league still using a 17 year old boat. Poor folks have poor ways.

Last edited by jackiekennedyfishingguide; 09/18/22 12:13 AM.

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Re: What rod and reel setups? [Re: Rowdy] #14480700 09/18/22 12:39 AM
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Bluecat Bob Offline
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^ yeah, fish over 80 pounds and those Abu's fall to bits!

hammer

Only joking!!! (my biggest fish is 60Ib).

Obviously just personal opinion, and granted my experience is limited, but I found the guides for the level winds would bend and go out of line> They never broke, and I realize I am very hard on my gear as my rods are left on the floor of my boat.


Last edited by Bluecat Bob; 09/18/22 12:39 AM.

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Re: What rod and reel setups? [Re: Rowdy] #14480859 09/18/22 10:55 AM
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Catfish Tim Offline
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Jackie, this is the old Chevy - Ford - Dodge argument. If you like one and you have confidence in it, use it and enjoy it. I know a lot of guys who, like you have had Abus for years and years. Like anything else the old "they don't make 'em like they used to" Comes into play. Abu is still the default high end reel IMHO. When I was working my way up, I went right past them as I kept hearing that you had to get a swedish made reel or it was junk, etc. I don't know if there is any truth in that but it was enough to steer me around them. You see them on a lot of guide boats which should tell us something.

I like your comment about only 64 pounders... lol. I am not familiar with the Pro Angler rods. I am gonna have to look them up!
TL & GB...


Catfish Tim
๐ŸŸ๐ŸŸ"If it doesn't have whiskers, it's just bait"๐ŸŸ๐ŸŸ
Romans 8:1

Re: What rod and reel setups? [Re: Rowdy] #14481550 09/19/22 01:24 AM
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KEGracing Offline
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I have been lucky enough to fish with some of Mr. Jackie's Abu's and Pro Anglers, and they are solid setups. I have not tested them anywhere near the limit yet, but still trying.
I have 3 Abu's, and while I wish they pulled more line per turn when pulling in boards or checking the lines, when there is a fish on them I never notice! I have a miss match of stuff, some I have bought recently some older stuff I had. I have fished with the Tekota's and they are super, but expensive. Will probably end up with some down the road as I replace other stuff, but cant see just parking other stuff to buy new.
Love these conversations... always good info. Makes us think.

Good luck - tight lines all.

Ken


2014 Premier Alante 235 RF tritoon. Momma's boat. But I get to fish on her.

A country boy will survive... but those who cross him?

Cedar Creek personal best:
Blue Cat 31.55 lbs
Hybrid 6.2 lbs
Crappie 2.1 lbs
Re: What rod and reel setups? [Re: Rowdy] #14481691 09/19/22 03:56 AM
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Rowdy Offline OP
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Money gets in the way around my house all the time. So things I can build and or fix I am all over that. Plus the fact I usually like the stuff I do myself better anyway. Sounds kind of snobby, but it's not that at all really.
I need to put a for instance up on here and let you guys see what I did to my dip net, guess I should say had to do. It had never been in the water. So sad. Now it's like I love it and have no worry it not working, ever; unless I feel it necessary to do something stupid with it, I got something else on my boat for that too. So the net is solid... lol

Here is the button that locks the scope out handle in place. It's broke through the pivot pin you can see

broken handle lock button

I think about this much of a chunk of some stainless 316L...

raw material start

Where it fits in a module that fits into the yoke

fitment to module

Button all roughed out to fit with new Allen socket head pin to keep the handle locked in place

roughed out

Side view of the rough button

side view


Rough mock up fitment

mock fitment

Better fit

better fit


Here we go with comparison of the two

comparison

Case colored the button after the file,sanding and the polish. Better matches the net frame with the case colored finish.

case colored and together

This freaking net is really big, it also scopes out to 6 and a 1/2 foot. I never wanted to build the freak'n button, the place I bought it didn't have another and the manufacturer was no help either so after exhausting all that, I have been wanting this dip net for a long time. The spring loaded button should out last me and the net now lol.

Sorry I had to share all this, guess I needed you guy to see it. Talk about hijacked my own thread...



Last edited by Rowdy; 09/19/22 05:06 AM.
Re: What rod and reel setups? [Re: Rowdy] #14482340 09/19/22 08:46 PM
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KEGracing Offline
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Rowdy - thanks for sharing! Looks nice! Good work!
I enjoy the design and fab side... along with hunting and fishing I drag race. Getting to a point the building is as fun as the driving.
You will appreciate and enjoy that net more now than you ever would have before.

Ken


2014 Premier Alante 235 RF tritoon. Momma's boat. But I get to fish on her.

A country boy will survive... but those who cross him?

Cedar Creek personal best:
Blue Cat 31.55 lbs
Hybrid 6.2 lbs
Crappie 2.1 lbs
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