What Kind Of Rod And Reel Should I Use For Catfishing?

What size rod do you need 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 is a

good reel

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.

Can you use spinning reels for catfish?

Economy-level spincasting reels are still good reels for inexperienced fishermen, but the Zebco 808 and 888, and spinning reels like our Quantum’s Boca and Cabo saltwater reels, are big enough and tough enough to easily handle the biggest flathead or blue catfish.”.

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.

Are Baitcasters good for catfishing?

Q: What reel is best for catfish? There is no best reel to use for catfish. Spinning, baitcast, and even spincast reels all work well , given they are used in the right situation. A spincast reel on an inexpensive rod won’t hold up against giant blue cats on a big river or lake.

Are Penn reels good for catfishing?

The Penn Squall LevelWind doesn’t make the top of our list for nothing. This is the ideal choice for catfishing because it’s got the backbone to handle large cats but it’s not overly heavy so you can use it in canals and large lakes as well.

What

color fishing line

is best for catfish?

Many times, catfish anglers fish multiple lines and spend much of their

fishing time

during low-light conditions. Bright colors such as neon green, yellow or orange help keep the lines in order and enable you to see what is going on.

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.

Do you use a bobber for catfish?

Most catfish anglers are aware of the effectiveness of slip bobbers or slip bobber rigs They’re much better adapted for many catfishing techniques, much more versatile and also easier to fish with.

What Tackle do I need for catfishing?

  • A 6- to 7-foot, medium-heavy spinning rod and a reel spooled with 14-pound or stronger abrasion-resistant monofilament.
  • Terminal tackle including: 1/0 to 3/0 circle or bait hooks, # 2 to #6 treble hooks, 0.5- to 2-ounce egg sinkers, split shots, #7 to #10 swivels, bobbers, beads and jig heads.

How much drag do I need for a 30lb line?

As a general rule, the proper drag setting for nylon mono lines up to 20-pound test is 20 percent of the

breaking strength

of the line. For 30- through 50-pound mono, it’s 25 percent of the breaking strength , and for 80- through 130-pound mono, it’s 30 percent.

How tight should your drag be?

For best results, the drag setting should be able at the point where the line holds a third to half of its weight before moving (e.g., a 20-pound line should not move until the hook holds seven to ten pounds).

How much drag is enough?

The rule of thumb for drag setting is 30% (or 1/3) of the line breaking strength So for example, if you are using a 15 lb test line, then the optimal drag for your reel should be around 5 pounds.

What are Baitcast reels used for?

Baitcasters are used for a wide variety of applications, ranging from casting lures, to surf casting and big game fishing The most popular use of baitcasters in North America is for freshwater fishing for bass.

Sources


https://www.academy.com/p/academy-sports-outdoors-pro-cat-7-ft-catfish-casting-rod-and-reel-combo


https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/spinning-reels-for-catfish/374530