i just had a question on what u guys thought was the best rod and reel for me. the main cat fishing i do is at lake texoma where i tube fish the rocks along the bank. in the past i have borrowed my friends old old automatic fly reel on a 8 ft heavy duty rod and at least 30 and somtimes 50 lb test line. i want to get my own rod and reel but these kinds of rigs are so hard to find and are not very practical. i was wonderin if any of yall could tell me what u think i should use. remember we are catchin big cat up to 50+ lbs so i need adiquit stuff. thanks for the help.

Fish on.

I would look at a small Penn reel I have had a few of them for salt water for big redfish and shark and they perform pretty good considering their cost. Very reasonable indeed.
BassPro $69.99 38-318-201-00* 3:1 GEAR RATIO
26 OZ 30 LB/350 YDS 309M

Get a heavy ugly stick big water if you don't want to spend alot of cash
BassPro$69.95 38-133-655-00 12-40 LB
2 - 12 OZ 10' H 2-PIECE BWC1100

or get a little bit higher end graphite rod if you wish. It is kind of hard to say because some people will think $150 is wayyyy alooot for a fishing rod while the next guy has several $250 setups.
I have caught several small 30 to 40# tarpon on this setup and as well as numerous shark and trout redfish etc. They last good in salt and should be fairly bullet proof on freshwater.

I highly recomend a Shimano Corsair paired with an UglyStick Intercoastal larger casting rod. You can get a corsair for around $40 on Ebay. I think I paid around $30-40 for my intercoastal at walmart. I like it better than my more expensive combos for large catfish and bull reds. I have caught a 50+ flathead and a 51"(my personal best) red on this rod with no problems. The Corsairs are way underrated.

I like ambassadeur 6500s myself, maybe better are the 7000s if you want to cast a little further or are really optimistic about catching some really big cats. I buy ugly sticks.

Garcia bait caster and a ugly stick. I also like the rod that Danny King sells. The rod that gets loaded in the boat every time though is a Lamiglass 9' M/H 1 peice custome rod made by CountryKatfishing in Lima Ohio. This rod is so sensitive you can feel the fish swim by it but so strong I can make a 50lb flatt head kiss his own arse.

I gotta agree on the Garcia on a Ugly Stick.

Rednecksooner....You actually get in a little old tube, then proceed to go play in the deep water boulder fields on Texoma, in search of kitties big enough to tow you for miles??

I suspect you don't need to waste your money on a new rod and reel, but in fact should spend it on some mental health services.

In all seriousness, I do wish you guys would consider wearing hunting orange vests when you are out bobbing around in those tubes on that big lake. All too often you blend into one of those big rocks and I worry about running over one of you.

well we dont go out in the middle of the lake. we only stay around the bank fishing the rocks and holes in the rocks. so u dont have to worry about runnin in to us. but thanks for ur concern.