Best rod and reel combo for catfish in 2022 reviewed
| Brand | Rod size | Reel size |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Garcia Catfish Commando combo | 7′ medium heavy | 6000 |
| Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 combo | 7′ medium heavy | 5000 |
| Penn Battle III combo | 7′ medium heavy | 5000 |
| Abu Garcia Ambassadeur S combo | 8.6′ medium heavy | 6500 |
What type of rod is best for catfishing?
Fishing rods made from e-glass are very popular with catfish anglers because the material is very strong and durable and the rods hold up well. They are strong and powerful but heavier in weight and less sensitive than other styles of fishing rods.
What size rod is best for catfish?
If you’re targeting eating-size catfish weighing less than 5lb / 2.3kg, a short, light, or ultralight spinning rod paired with a compatible reel will do the job. But a 9–12ft / 2.7–3.7m model made from the most robust materials is needed if you hope to catch a trophy flathead or blue cat weighing 50lb / 22.7kg or more.
What’s the best fishing reels for catfishing?
The best choice for a catfish reel is the Abu Garcia Ambassadeur fishing reel. The cheaper alternatives claiming they are “just as good” as the Abu Garcia reels simply aren’t no matter what you may have heard. Cheap reels are not the same quality and they won’t last.
What is the best gear ratio for catfishing?
The lower gear ratio provides the torque required for winching in a heavyweight catfish or striped bass or a wide variety of saltwater surf behemoths. Spinning reels with 5.2:1 gear ratios are recommended for most ice fishing presentations.
How do you set up a catfish rod?
Use a three-way rig with a 20-pound-test main line and a 17-pound-test leader. Secure a 2- to 4-ounce bell sinker to one ring of a barrel swivel or the bottom ring of a three-way swivel with 6-pound-test line. Cast this rig into place, and the sinker hangs on the bottom and holds the rig in place until a fish strikes.
What size hooks for catfish?
The optimal size for channel catfish is typically a 2/0 or 3/0 hook when using a Kahle hook. If you choose circle hooks for small to medium-sized channel catfish then a 5/0 or 6/0 size will usually work best.
What are Big Cat fever rods made of?
Double locking solid aluminum reel seat 8″ cork foregrip handle Oversized Stainless Steel hook keeper perfect for any size hook 9 reinforced stainless steel guides plus tip.
In Stock.
| Power | Lure Weight | Line Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Medium | 1-6 Oz | 10-40 LB |
| Medium-Heavy | 1-10 Oz | 10-50 LB |
| Heavy | 2-16 Oz | 20-60 LB |
| Extra Heavy | 4-20 Oz | 30-80 LB |
What is good catfish bait?
Worms are classic catfish bait. Okay, they’re classic everything bait. They perform well suspended under bobbers or resting on the bottom behind a sinker. They’ll catch catfish in creeks, rivers, ponds or reservoirs.
What is bumping for catfish?
Bumping is a natural presentation that mimics food washing down current where catfish will lay facing upstream, waiting for something to come by.
Are baitcaster reels good for catfish?
If you’ve been looking for the perfect catfish baitcaster reel, your search is over. Our baitcaster reels are a great choice for targeting every species of catfish and with any technique you use.
What color fishing line is best for catfish?
Bright colors such as neon green, yellow or orange help keep the lines in order and enable you to see what is going on. Most catfish live in dark or muddy water, and with their aggression, they just don’t care about line color. So do yourself a favor and spool up bright line.
What time of the day is best to catch catfish?
The best time of day to catch catfish is from sunrise until 10 am. This time window is before the sun gets directly overhead and water temperatures are still cool from the evening prior. Catfish will be more active as they seek to feed before the overhead sun warms the water and prey fish seek cover.
What is a 5.4 1 reel used for?
Low gear ratio reels | 5.1:1 thru 5.4:1
The low gear ratio helps you reel the bait slower, keeping it in the strike zone longer when fishing moving baits in the deep water. These reels have the highest amount of torque, allowing you to put less effort into retrieving the bait and more energy towards finding the fish.
What weights should I use for catfish?
A half-ounce sinker might be sufficient in still water, but 3 to 8 ounces are needed to drift around the tips of wing dams for blue and channel cats.
How do you rig big catfish?
The 3 Catfish Rigs You Need To Know
- Tie your mainline to one eye of a three-way swivel.
- To one of the remaining two eyes, attach a short 12-18 inch piece of line and then secure a ½ to 2-ounce sinker (depending on depth and current).
- To the last eye, tie another 2-4 foot piece of line, and then your hook.
Do you need a leader line for catfish?
Catfish leader line also serves as a “shock absorber” when a catfish strikes. This absorbs the force of aggressive strikes from big catfish. That shock absorption is important with mono and braid but due to the lack of stretch in braided fishing line you should always use a monofilament leader.
Should I use a bobber when fishing for catfish?
When catfishing with these techniques the sound of the float hitting the water helps draw in fish and gets them to strike. Using a streamlined float that doesn’t make a good “splash” in the water would actually work against you so the traditional bobber rig is preferred.
Are circle hooks better for catfish?
Using circle hooks for catfish can result in more hook-ups and reduce mortality of caught-and-released fish. If you had checked the end of a catfisherman’s line just 20 years ago, you might have found almost any type of hook tied on.
What bait is irresistible to catfish?
For catfish scents, the smellier the better. Ingredients like chicken liver, gutted fish, Limburger cheese and rotting shrimp are examples of things that can be combined together. The best stink bait is left to marinade for a few days and “ripen” so that the blend of scents is irresistible to the catfish.
How deep do you fish for catfish?
The best depth for catching catfish is between 15 and 20 feet deep in lakes. This is known as the catfish zone because they reside within such depths in most lakes. However, depending on the time of the year and the temperature of the water, they can also reside in shallow areas.