I mainly go for catfish in local ponds and lakes what do y'all recommend as good tackle? I've been looking into some combo rod n reel 12ft ugly stick with a spin-cast. What else would y'all recommend, no crazy $110 dollar rod please. Kid on a budget trying to catch some fish Thank you!

*open face spinner combo

I bought Cabela's Classic Spinning Combo a couple weeks ago and absolutely love the reel on it. Unfortunately, someone tripped and stepped on the pole and it cracked..so if you buy this set, start looking for a better pole.

bass pro is having a spring sale on their site right now. Also walmarts are having in store sales at some locations for fishing gear.

I use and like Academys inexpensive 10 to 15 dollar rods. Shimano, Tournament Choice, 6 1/2 to 7 ft MH. Use them for Hybrids , Striper, Catfish, Sandbass, Crappie, turtles, what ever.

So you think a 10ft like would be too much? I've got some 6'6" and those are average but I've been limited to how far I can cast with the amount of weight I want.

10ft or longer rods tend to be very stiff... stay away from Ugly Stick Big Water 12ft rod (at $79.99 per rod not cheap either) IMO, is the worst designed rod out there, the E-glass main pole is stiff like a telephone pole, the last 18" or so at the tip is so soft like an ultralite rod, it is so disconnected you can't feel the fish at all! I lost more fish with this pole than I ever lost with my other 7 surf rods combined.

If you just want one versatile rod&reel combo that will handle anything from sandbass to hybrids/stripers and big blue catfish, I recommend these:

$19.99 Shimano FX 9ft spiinning rod

$69.99 Shimano� Socorro� Offshore Spinning Reels (SOC8000F model)

You can pair it with a cheaper reel, but I think you'll more please with the Shimano reel in the long run... it cast far, and powerful enough to real in a 10lb hybrid or a 20lb blue catfish, no problem whatsoever...


Bass Pro Shop in Garland carries them.

8-10' spinning combos ranging from $45-$100 new. Qauntum Optix 60 reel for $24.99 (Academy) hard to beat for price! Eagle Claw WaterEagle rods run $24-$28 at Cabelas nice rods for the money. I got a Qauntum Optix 60 on a 8' Cabelas King Kat rod rigged up ready to fish in very good condition I'd let go for $40.

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A 7' spinning combo will work for most applications. That's what I use for probably 90% of my fishing. I'm not real picky on rods, usually won't spend more than $30-$40 on one. As far as reels, I've always enjoyed the Abu Cardinals. They last forever and I don't think you can beat them for under $50.

Cabelas king kat combos 10' are a perfect catfish combo and at about $50 you cant go wrong. Perfect starter combo. You buy cheap combos from walmart you are gonna be paying for cheap quality.

Also I use a 12' uglystik and I have no problem with catching catfish on it. If you are using rods that size you shouldnt have to "feel" a bite. Set it in a rod holder, tighten the line and I gaurantee you will know if a fish takes the bait.

Wow guys thanks for the input I do believe I am leaning towards a 8-10 ft pole with a spinning reel for sure. Exact brands I am unsure, I do try and buy American made so that should narrow it down. Also I have noticed the longer the pole the stiffer but as catfishguy85 said I have seen others as well tight lining it on the bottom and watching that rod bend a little.
Thanks for the input again. Will let y'all know what I go with and how they do!

Thr bigger the fish the more the rod will bend! Make sure drag settings are not too tight and you are using circle hooks and you will have a better hook up rate

Buyin American with rods and reels is hard to do- very little to choose from and most is High $. Affordable American Catfish rods would be MeatHunter rods out of Tulsa area :(not 100% American but better than 0% and they are BadAzz Rods)
http://www.rfsportsinc.com/store/store_product_detail.cfm?Product_ID=4&Category_ID=1

It's all Made in China, and y'all can thank Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton for this "Globalism" thangs! The funny thing about globalism is foreigners can buy American company stocks and make money off of it, but American company are employing foreigners and no Americans benefits from "buying Americans" except some high paying executives...

I say buy what's best for you.

Ugly Sticks are good. I would go with spinning over spin cast though.