[foxsmeller]

Hey guys, I just wanna start off by how much I appreciate the new catfish forum. I only use huntingpa forum so this is a big plus! Thank You!! Anyways, I've been doing a fair amount of cat fishing the past couple years and I'm ready to step up my game. I mainly fish down by raystown lake in the raystown branch of the juniata around riddleburg/saxton area. Caught some nice channel cats. Nothing bigger than 32" though. I use medium tackle mainly. Medium weight rod, medium sized reel. About 200yds of 12lb test. But my friend lives by the Susquehanna and has invited me up. Told me he can hook me up on some 20-40lb flat heads. He said we would be chuckin weights anywhere from 2-5 ounces. So I'm trying to say here is, what for casting reels would you choose, and what rod. Looking into something 7-8'6 in length and maybe a Abu Garcia reel but don't know what models or anything to go with. Thanks for all your guys' help in advance.

 

[huntnfish4life]

Depends on your budget. How experienced are you with casting reels? Do you want/need a level wind? Bank or boat fishing?

 

[foxsmeller]

Bank fishing. But also going to use at ocean for like stripers n drum. I'm only 23. I have a Abu Garcia 5000 level wind and about 6 low profile baitcasters. I don't have a budget Really. . I want quality. (Get what you pay for) I was thinkin probably no more than 150-175 for a rod and no more than probably 200 for a reel. Want something I can spool up about 20lb mono or so. I looked at the abu Garcia 7000C3 catfish special. And a tangling catfish rod. Anyone have expierance with the tangling with catfish Rods? Never owned a custom rod before. And I seen Okuma had a catfish rod out. The "battle cat" I believe.

 

[huntnfish4life]

Would not buy any made in us Garcia. Big game 7000 that's an older made in Sweden would be good. I like the Penn fathom 15 star but it is harder to throw bait. Can't go wrong with a diawa sealine x 20 or 30. Great overall and easy to throw with the red brakes installed. I like longer rods for what you mentioned. 11 or 12 foot surf rods. For an off the shelf rod, look at the Penn battalion. I use a mix of 8 to 12 foot rods but if I could only have one it would be a 3 to 8 oz 11 or 12 footer.

 

[foxsmeller]

Okay. Thanks for the info!