new cat gear

[gotmehooked]

I'm gettin ready to get a new rod and reel; do you guys prefer spinning or casting? I'm gonna go with a glowstick but reel I'm undecided. I'm left handed to so that limits my choices of casting reels.

[catfishhunter]

really it depends on what you are fishing for. Give us an idea of what you are targeting and where at you will be fishing.

[ducky]

That depends on what you are fishing for, channels, a spinning reel would be fine but for flatheads 30lbs and up i would go with a good casting reel. most left hand guys do fine with a casting reel because you use your left hand to hold on to the pole.

[Seanstone]

Under the Rods and Reels sections in this forum alot of the guys give their favorite choices for each. You could try looking there.

It really depends on what kind of fishing your talking about. In my opinion, if you want to catch channel cats use a abu garcia ambasaduer 6000/6500 spooled with 20lb big game paired with a catfish ugly stick. I have found this set up to be one of the best all around set ups. I have seen these reels for lefties so I know there out there. If you wanna target blues or flats move up to a abu garcia 7000 spooled with heavier line and get a beefier pole. Alot of guys on here like the omotto reels as well, they seem to run a little cheaper. Again if you let us know what your targeting we could tailor to those needs.

[Catfishrollo]

Depends on how you fish. Are you a bank fisherman? Or fish from a boat? You can chose either way for your setups anyhow. I have always reccomended use what "your comfortable with". In my opinion, people read too much into what others are saying to buy as in rod actions, rod lengths, and reels. If you prefer a spinning reel over a round style casting reel thats fine. Now, that said .. There are many quality baitcasting reels that do offer the right and left handed models to fisherman. If you don't have a set style or preference set already. How do you mainly fish? Im sure we can get enough opinions to steer you towards trying something that you will like to try. rollo

[gotmehooked]

sorry, mainly for flatheads is what I want to target.

[Catfishrollo]

Do you mainly bank fish, or fish from a boat? And what is your current rod and reel setup you like or use? rollo

[gotmehooked]

I fish mostly from bank. My current setup is, get ready, an 11 foot predator rod a friend gave me that I cut down to probably 10 foot which I caught my biggest one on so far about 25 pounds; and a 7 foot shimano rod. Both spinning rods that have worked so far because I haven't got a giant yet, but I'm in need of a new setup as my friend bought a boat and I hope to get me a giant this year. I was looking into the cabela's salt striker series spinning reels with the bait clicker setup.

[katfish]

I have fished a variety of gear for flathead over the years.
One thing I have found is that long rods are not an advantage for flathead. A big fish will use the leverage on a long rod to beat you to death.
If you argue that longer rods aid in casting, then I will point out that casting large live baits with heavy sinkers is a short range affair. I want lively large baits and long casts injure or kill large baits.

Spinning reels don't have the tough gears and drags necessary for good control of mature flathead.

For several years Don Wise and I used baitrunners as second rigs for flathead. If we caught fish on the levelwinds we figured lobbing baits back out on baitrunners was better than casting with levelwinds or having no baits at all set out.
We caught several big flats on the baitrunners. My best one on a lobbed bait was a 61 pound cat.

There is good reason that most catmen prefer levelwinds for big flathead. Your experience and confidence in spinning gear may make that choice a better one for you to fish with.

I consider all spinning gear as light tackle. When flathead fishing with light tackle you must stay very patient and focussed when playing the big fish. If you lose big fish to snags or just wearing hooks loose you can expect absolutely no pity from other flathead fishermen

[dreadnaught]

Mar 19, 2011 8:46:53 GMT -5 katfish said:

I have fished a variety of gear for flathead over the years.
One thing I have found is that long rods are not an advantage for flathead. A big fish will use the leverage on a long rod to beat you to death.
If you argue that longer rods aid in casting, then I will point out that casting large live baits with heavy sinkers is a short range affair. I want lively large baits and long casts injure or kill large baits.

Spinning reels don't have the tough gears and drags necessary for good control of mature flathead.

For several years Don Wise and I used baitrunners as second rigs for flathead. If we caught fish on the levelwinds we figured lobbing baits back out on baitrunners was better than casting with levelwinds or having no baits at all set out.
We caught several big flats on the baitrunners. My best one on a lobbed bait was a 61 pound cat.

There is good reason that most catmen prefer levelwinds for big flathead. Your experience and confidence in spinning gear may make that choice a better one for you to fish with.

I consider all spinning gear as light tackle. When flathead fishing with light tackle you must stay very patient and focussed when playing the big fish. If you lose big fish to snags or just wearing hooks loose you can expect absolutely no pity from other flathead fishermen

I have been saying this for years but, not quite as elliquintly, LOL!!!

Great post!!!

[gotmehooked]

Thanks for the advice, I probably will go with a casting setup. Berkley glowstick and probably an Abu reel unless their are some better choices out there.