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Post by CatfishHunter on Jul 27, 2013 4:54:34 GMT -5
What exactly are the differences between the takedown edition and the original? How much better is it and what exactly should they be used for? Trophy size catfish or..?
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Post by Chuck on Jul 27, 2013 7:49:11 GMT -5
I don't really think one or the other is actually better, just different rods for different uses. I haven't used the Original myself, but from talking to friends I have heard it has similar characteristics to the Ugly Stick Tiger MH. It is rated for 2-5 oz. of weight, where as the Takedown is rated for 2-12 oz. The Original is also 3 inches shorter, that doesn't make much difference really. The original has a graphite reel seat, the Takedown aluminum. I prefer aluminum. The other differences are cosmetic. gun smoke guides and reel seat on the Takedown, chrome and graphite with chrome seat on the Original. I like the gun smoke. The only minor negative about the Takedown for me is the fat grips. I prefer a smaller grip. But it is a big deal really. Just a personal preference.
For my use the Takedown is better. I use mostly 3-4 oz. sinkers with bait up to maybe 8 oz. or a little more at times.
A few weeks ago I was fishing a favorite spot I haven't fished in a few years. I was using a 3 oz. sinker and a longear sunfish about 6" long, maybe 5-6 oz. for bait. That little sunfish was bouncing the tip of the Takedown rod so much I couldn't tell when the 2 lb. flathead ate him. When I went to reel in the flathead was hooked. He wasn't strong enough to pull out the clicker on the Penn Fathom. I had to get out the bolt cutters and perform surgery to get the Team Catfish double action hook out of him. But he wasn't bleeding when I released him, so I think he was fine. So a small sunfish was moving the tip of the Takedown enough that I couldn't tell when a baby flathead bit. That's plenty of tip action as far as I'm concerned. Other guys prefer an even lighter tip action.
I can tell you this. Big Dave at Bottom Dwellers can use any equipment he wants. For fishing the James River in Virginia with it's massive blues, his choice is the Takedown rod with a Penn Fathom spooled up with Hi-Seas mono. That says it all to me. Dave tells me the Takedown rod will take every bit of the 30 lbs. of drag the Penn Fathom can put out. He has tested it on the massive blues he catches. I have this exact set up, and it is a great combo. It can cast farther than I will ever need, a light enough tip and it has tons of backbone. The reel has more drag than I will ever need. It's a toss up between the Hi-Seas mono, and Ande Monster Yellow for the line. I might slightly prefer the Ande personally.
So to sum it up. The Takedown seems more suited to heavier weights, although still having a light enough tip to detect lighter bites. The Original is more suited to lighter weights. For fishing the Missouri River with it's raging current and monster cats, I know which one I would choose.
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Post by CatfishHunter on Jul 27, 2013 9:27:55 GMT -5
I don't really think one or the other is actually better, just different rods for different uses. I haven't used the Original myself, but from talking to friends I have heard it has similar characteristics to the Ugly Stick Tiger MH. It is rated for 2-5 oz. of weight, where as the Takedown is rated for 2-12 oz. The Original is also 3 inches shorter, that doesn't make much difference really. The original has a graphite reel seat, the Takedown aluminum. I prefer aluminum. The other differences are cosmetic. gun smoke guides and reel seat on the Takedown, chrome and graphite with chrome seat on the Original. I like the gun smoke. The only minor negative about the Takedown for me is the fat grips. I prefer a smaller grip. But it is a big deal really. Just a personal preference. For my use the Takedown is better. I use mostly 3-4 oz. sinkers with bait up to maybe 8 oz. or a little more at times. A few weeks ago I was fishing a favorite spot I haven't fished in a few years. I was using a 3 oz. sinker and a longear sunfish about 6" long, maybe 5-6 oz. for bait. That little sunfish was bouncing the tip of the Takedown rod so much I couldn't tell when the 2 lb. flathead ate him. When I went to reel in the flathead was hooked. He wasn't strong enough to pull out the clicker on the Penn Fathom. I had to get out the bolt cutters and perform surgery to get the Team Catfish double action hook out of him. But he wasn't bleeding when I released him, so I think he was fine. So a small sunfish was moving the tip of the Takedown enough that I couldn't tell when a baby flathead bit. That's plenty of tip action as far as I'm concerned. Other guys prefer an even lighter tip action. I can tell you this. Big Dave at Bottom Dwellers can use any equipment he wants. For fishing the James River in Virginia with it's massive blues, his choice is the Takedown rod with a Penn Fathom spooled up with Hi-Seas mono. That says it all to me. Dave tells me the Takedown rod will take every bit of the 30 lbs. of drag the Penn Fathom can put out. He has tested it on the massive blues he catches. I have this exact set up, and it is a great combo. It can cast farther than I will ever need, a light enough tip and it has tons of backbone. The reel has more drag than I will ever need. It's a toss up between the Hi-Seas mono, and Ande Monster Yellow for the line. I might slightly prefer the Ande personally. So to sum it up. The Takedown seems more suited to heavier weights, although still having a light enough tip to detect lighter bites. The Original is more suited to lighter weights. For fishing the Missouri River with it's raging current and monster cats, I know which one I would choose. I've decided I'm letting the reel choice depend on if I get the job at bass pro or not. And I'm kinda stuck between the takedown and the Team Catfish Catfish Warrior. (10') If I get the job, I'm getting a fathom, and if I don't, I'm getting the Alphamar. |
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Post by Chuck on Jul 27, 2013 10:08:28 GMT -5
I have never seen or used the Team Catfish rods, so I can't give many comments. I can tell you I prefer more guides on my rods than those have. 7 plus tip on a 10' casting doesn't seem like it would keep the line off the blank very well under a deep bend. But that is just a guess. I would think 11 guides plus tip would be better.
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Post by CatfishHunter on Jul 27, 2013 10:12:41 GMT -5
Agreed. I'll just have to wait and see what happens with this job.  |
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Post by Skyline1506 on Jul 27, 2013 11:28:39 GMT -5
yea i like at least 1 guide for each foot of the rod. that would need at least 10 to be efficient
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Post by CatfishHunter on Jul 27, 2013 12:02:59 GMT -5
yea i like at least 1 guide for each foot of the rod. that would need at least 10 to be efficient I've got that problem on an old rod I got from a garage sale. It's got amazing sensitivity and backbone but it doesn't have enough guides at all. And the vintage penn No. 9 that's on it is stuck on until I get the corrosion off the reel seat, which surprisingly, didn't happen on the reel itself. |
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Post by Chuck on Jul 27, 2013 12:29:57 GMT -5
You know what though, the most important thing in catfishing is location. The best tackle in the world won't catch a big fish if they don't exist where we are fishing. I have 0% chance of catching a world record size catfish where I live. The river I'm fishing the most this year because of finances isn't big enough or deep enough to support big fish. I would be shocked beyond belief if a 50 lb. flathead exists anywhere in this river in the town I live in. But the Missouri has lots of big fish. You could fish with a stick and have a better chance catching a monster than I do this year. So whatever tackle you choose remember that.
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Post by Chuck on Jul 27, 2013 12:32:53 GMT -5
yea i like at least 1 guide for each foot of the rod. that would need at least 10 to be efficient I've got that problem on an old rod I got from a garage sale. It's got amazing sensitivity and backbone but it doesn't have enough guides at all. And the vintage penn No. 9 that's on it is stuck on until I get the corrosion off the reel seat, which surprisingly, didn't happen on the reel itself. That little Penn 9 is a decent little reel. You could do a lot worse. Those old Penn's last forever. Not much in the drag department, and aren't the best casting reels, but inexpensive, and easy to repair, and solid. |
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Post by Skyline1506 on Jul 27, 2013 12:57:42 GMT -5
thats the one thing that i love about penn reels in general. they are bullet prrof and really easy to work on
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Post by CatfishHunter on Jul 27, 2013 14:21:53 GMT -5
I've got that problem on an old rod I got from a garage sale. It's got amazing sensitivity and backbone but it doesn't have enough guides at all. And the vintage penn No. 9 that's on it is stuck on until I get the corrosion off the reel seat, which surprisingly, didn't happen on the reel itself. That little Penn 9 is a decent little reel. You could do a lot worse. Those old Penn's last forever. Not much in the drag department, and aren't the best casting reels, but inexpensive, and easy to repair, and solid. I haven't quite had the chance to get it out but I'm definitely planning to soon. |
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Post by bobbybobber on Jul 30, 2013 18:58:08 GMT -5
if you want bang for your buck,70 bucks will buy a complete setup.i forget the model number but shakesphere power rod 20-40,with a shakesphere tidewater 30l,spooled up with 40lb big game,me and several other guys got the same rod there right at 25-30 bucks and the reel runs about 25-30 bucks.they will handle any bluecat you would want to catch.and they take abuse im and hard on stuff
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Post by CatfishHunter on Aug 2, 2013 10:37:20 GMT -5
if you want bang for your buck,70 bucks will buy a complete setup.i forget the model number but shakesphere power rod 20-40,with a shakesphere tidewater 30l,spooled up with 40lb big game,me and several other guys got the same rod there right at 25-30 bucks and the reel runs about 25-30 bucks.they will handle any bluecat you would want to catch.and they take abuse im and hard on stuff Is that the one they sell as a combo at like dick's/academy? |
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Post by Skyline1506 on Aug 3, 2013 7:37:52 GMT -5
i think the combo is on a sturdy stick but i could be wrong. power rods are black, sturdy sticks are white. those power rods are sweet rods
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bigdav
Member
Bottom Dwellers Tackle
Posts: 244
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Post by bigdav on Aug 3, 2013 9:53:16 GMT -5
What exactly are the differences between the takedown edition and the original? How much better is it and what exactly should they be used for? Trophy size catfish or..? The rod bank is one of the biggest difference. Both are composite blanks, just different composites, weight class, and actions. The power and action: Original Cat Fight= Fast action tip with heavy backbone and a lighter line class than the Take-Down. Take Down Edition= Moderate action tip with heavy backbone and a heavier line call than the Original. Finish and components: Both rods are finished with gunmetal guides and reel seats. The Take Down has the aluminum reel seat and the Original has the stainless hooded composite reels seat. Both rods now have solid stainless double footed reinforced guides (we just got in the first run of original Cat Fights with the reinforced guides a couple weeks ago, all our rods in the future will have this style guide). Both are finished with camo and black and gold wrappings. With the Take Down you get a heavier weight class/longer blank, an aluminum reel seat, and a little slower action tip with a lot more backbone than with the Original but the Original isn't a light weight rod by any means. The largest blue I know of caught on an original to date was just over 102lbs out of the Mighty Mississippi last year, as well as landing many other large, tough species of when we have a few videos on our site. The Take-Downs are in Costa Rica right now landing some big sailfish as I type this reply.  I just shared some of those pics on our FB page. Bottom Dwellers Tackle Facebook pageEither rod has proven themselves to handle just about anything that swims in fresh water and even lots of beast in salt water. If you have any specific questions please give me a call or an email. I try to check the boards often but sometimes I don't see or forget to reply to a post when I get distracted with work. LOL Thanks David |
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I just shared some of those pics on our FB page. 