Review of Rippin Lips SuperCat Rods

Rippin Lips SuperCat Rods
By Brad Durick
The Rippin Lips SuperCat rods have been on the market for a couple years now yet many people don’t know much about them. The SuperCat comes in three casting models: Medium, Medium Heavy, and Heavy. The price range on them is $35.99-$49.99 for the rods only. They are made of select S-Glass Blanks so they are lighter and a bit stiffer than their E-Glass counterparts.  This allows for more sensitivity when trying to feel fish or detect hits.
I had the opportunity to test the medium and medium heavy bait cast models as well as the medium spinning model for about half of the 2014 season.  When my rods arrived I was into a very busy part of the guiding season and did something that I don’t normally do, I put two of the rods in with my guiding rods having not tested them myself (other than in the driveway when I was setting them up).
I am one that has a superstition about new rods having a bad omen until they catch a good fish and sometimes don’t like to introduce new rods into the mix for guests until they have caught fish. So in the heat of battle two new medium rods went into the mix and we were off. Casting the rods felt very good and the sensitivity of just reeling in sinkers and bait felt good but fighting a fish would tell the real story.
It did not take long to get a bite on one and see the action on the hook set in the holder. Ok test one PASSED. Then I watched my guest fight a trophy channel cat on the rod. As a bystander it had a good looking bend and fought the fish very well. The client said he liked the fight too. I watched for a few days before I finally had the opportunity to get into a fish myself. We were shooting a television show and that meant I got to play some fish. Over the course of two or three 12-18 pound fish I was really liking the action and feel. Toward the end of the shoot we had a thunderous hit from what I knew was a big fish and I told the crew I wanted to fight it to see how the rod handled it. Test two PASSED. I was very impressed with the action the bend and the fight that the medium had on this fish in pretty good current. The fish was 21 pounds and as far as I was concerned the SuperCat was a winner.
Later in the season I was also able to test the medium heavy in heavier current and fight many 18-25 pound channel cats on it. Again I was very happy with the action and the fight that the rod produced.
My personal opinion is if you are fishing for cats up to 25 pounds in a normal current or lake the medium is perfect for you. If you are needing a little more backbone, needing to run sinkers bigger than 5 ounces or are fishing catfish in that 15+-pound range the medium heavy will be the rod for you. The heavy version is for the flathead and big blue cat guys.
These rods are also available in the SuperCat Spinning Combo.

The New Old Rig by Scott Ross

When spending time on the water your mind can wonder. Spend enough time, and it just might wonder in the right direction. Every once in a while someone comes up with a design or breakthrough that makes you go "why didn't I think of that?"
I use a rig that consists of the basics. It's a pole, line, and a HOOK. That's all!!! No sliders, no bobbers, no sinkers, no nothing.

Why does it work so well? Well, to begin, It's easy to setup. All you gotta do is tie on a hook. What makes it so special? Lots of things. When you hook on a chunk of cut bait, The bait can fall at it's own natural speed as if a bird dropped it. Every little bounce of the water pressure makes the bait move as natural as any other chunk of dead fish in the water. If your throwing live bait, without a sinker weighing it down it can stay alive and healthy a lot longer. And a live bait is gonna swim to wherever a live bait is gonna hide. A large fish knows where to look for food.  However if you are in tight areas that can be a downfall.

This rig does work well in slower current as well. The lighter weight allows the bait to follow the natural current seam and fall wherever a chunk of food would land on any given day. The fish in these areas know where this is at and will sit there and wait.
Any body that fishes a lot or even a little knows that snags happen. If you never get a snag, It probably means your not fishing the right habitat. The slower movements of this rig prevents as many snag hookups.  But if you do get stuck, and break the line. Your cost is at it's bare minimum.
Wind can be the worst enemy for this setup. Windy days can blow your line and pull your bait around where you don't want it. If your trying to drift, the wind can blow your boat fast enough to pull your bait off the bottom and cause it to spin and damage your line.
Fast current can also prevent the effectiveness of the bait. It can prevent it from falling and settling in a current seem.
To make this rig more efficient you need to keep the rest of your gear at peak performance. If you can't cast it, Your gonna have trouble fishing it. Also a decent line, preferably braid, that can sink with the bait can help keep it down better and let if fall naturally. Not to mention how much better the braid will allow you to cast.
Give it a shot. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Okuma Makaira MK-10IISEa Preview, by Chuck

Most people I know have a few things they spend way more money on than is required to get the job done. I have buddies that spend thousands of dollars on new rims and tires for their trucks, when the one's that came on it are all that is needed. Some guys put thousands of dollars in the stereo systems in their rides, pumping out thousands of watts of power and vibrating their trunk with massive subwoofers, when the system that came in their vehicle played music just fine. Still others spend thousands on top of the line guns from Kimber, Sig, or Wilson Combat, when an old Smith or Colt would get the job done.
For me, it's monster catfish gear. Could I get by with an old Abu, Penn, or Shimano? Sure I could, but I want more. I want rods and reels that perform far above what is required to get the job done for monster catfish. I feel pushing gear to it's limits will eventually cause a failure of some sort. Stripped gears, broken anti-reverse systems, level wind failure, etc. To go along with this, I feel like I should have some top of the line gear to compare other gear to.



That's where the Okuma Makaira MK10IISEa comes in. At a retail price of $479.99 each, the Mak's are way beyond what is normally spent on a catfish reel. You could get 2 or 3 new Abu's, Penn's, or Shimano's. Or outfit your whole boat with used reels for that price. You could probably get 10 Abu 6500's, or Penn 209's for that.
But like I said earlier, monster catfish tackle is my thing. By the same token a guy could outfit a whole gun cabinet with Colt's or Smith's for what a Wilson Combat costs. You pay your money and you make your choices.
I chose the Mak's because I believe they are the best fishing reels ever manufactured. For 2015 the SEa models are available in the Limited Edition black. When I found out about this, I could wait no longer. I had to make it happen, and so I did.



I'm sure you have heard the old saying that an old Penn reel could winch a barge off the bottom of the river. Well, with one of these Mak's, you would have a lot better chance of getting that done. I have no doubt at all you could winch any catfish in North America off the bottom, assuming the rest of your gear was up to the task. With 34lb. of available drag, (although I will never need or use that much), and a gear ratio of 2.1:1 in low gear, (4.7:1 in high), these reels really are made to winch.
At 26.1 oz they are a serious chunk of forged and machined 6160-T6 aluminum. The Mak 10-2's are only a few oz's heavier than the Abu 7000 is at 21.5 oz's. The big difference between these and other reels though is just how solid they feel. Like picking up a solid block of aluminum.
The Mak's are designed to handle extended runs of hundreds of yards by fish much more powerful than any catfish in North America. The Dual Force Drag system is made up of a carbon fiber drag washer sandwiched between 2 thick stainless steel plates that help dissipate heat. This reel operates by pulling the drag pressure to the handle side of the reel. This applies the force of the drag to the strongest part of the reel. The custom designed thrust bearing alleviates side load at high drag pressures. Most reels on the market become harder to turn and lose freespool as the drag pressure is increased, not the Mak.



4 ABEC-5 stainless bearings keep things spinning smoothly. The silent double dog anti - reverse system is as good as it gets for the type of system. Bullet proof for sure. The ratcheting drag lever makes adjusting drag pressure a precise affair. This can also add in casting the heavy baits and sinkers sometimes used for monster catfish. Add a couple clicks on the drag lever to cut down on the freespool. Once you know how many clicks to put on for the weight you are casting any worry of backlash should disappear. You may not be able to cast that 2lb. chunk of skipjack or 2 lb. live carp with an 18 oz sinker very far, but you should be able to do it without backlashing half a spool of line, or burning all the skin off your thumb.
I especially like the clicker sound of the Mak's. There will be no doubt when line is going out on this reel. The clicker button is also nice sized and easy to get to. It's operation is a little stiffer than most catfish reels, although over time it will most likely loosen up a bit. Although the bottom is stiff, the clicker puts just the right amount of pressure on the spool. If more is needed it's as simple as adding a few clicks of drag pressure to cope with heavy river current or a huge live bait. On a star drag reel this would mean tightening the spool control and loosening it to cast again. Making the lever drag much more versatile.
These reels are so smooth with 18 lb. of drag set fighting a 41 lb. flathead I couldn't tell when it was pulling drag in the dark. I turned the clicker back on to help with this. I know, it sounds unbelievable that a 41 lb. flathead could pull 18 lb. of drag. But it, and every other 30+ lb. flathead I caught in the river this year did just that. It's amazing how smooth line goes out against a greased carbon fiber drag washer. The grease allows for a smooth start up of the drag slipping. As opposed to a non greased washer that will cause the drag pressure to soar way above the pressure set while slipping. This will keep most catfish from pulling drag because they can't overcome the initial higher drag pressure.



There are many more features of the Mak's that could be discussed, but I have highlighted the features most important for a catfish reel. Bullet proof in every way, super smooth, with a loud clicker, smooth drag over 30 lb., and built like a brick (although not all that heavy). Sure, they are really expensive. But the next time you think about what you spend your money on, consider if you need a different kind of expensive toy, or a couple of the best reels ever made, the Okuma Makaira. For me, I will keep my car stereo stock, as well as my wheels and tires, and just look at pics of the new Wilson Combat pistols. I prefer to spend my money on Mak's.



This is just a preview of the Okuma Makaira reels. I will have more about them in late spring - early summer next year, as I got them very late in the season this year. Stay tuned for more.
Chuck.

Okuma Metaloid M-5S Product Review by Joe Shaw

For the majority of my catfishing career, I have relied heavily on star drag reels of various makes and sizes to get the job done.  My preferences have evolved from the early beginnings of Abu Garcia 6500's and whatever else I could get my hands on to larger, more powerful reels like the Penn Squall 20's and Shimano Tekota 600's.  Though I'd read about the merits of lever drag reels, I'd never taken the plunge to try one out. Until now, that is.  I'd like to introduce the new for 2014 Okuma Metaloid series of reels, focusing on the model M-5S for this particular review. 
As seen in this first picture, the Metaloid M-5S is a small framed reel. Don't let the first glance fool you, though. This reel is roughly the width of an Abu 6500 size reel, but holds an impressive 340 yards of 20 pound test monofilament line. This little powerhouse weighs in at 15.6 ounces, and has the feel of a very solid, well made machine. Making a maximum of 24 pounds of drag pressure (15 pounds in strike/freespool), it will test the bend in any of the catfish rods readily available today.  This non-levelwind reel  also recovers 42.1" of line per handle revolution (assuming the spool is full). Now, on to the components.

The Okuma Metaloid M-5S consists of a 1 piece frame and solid left side plate machined from 6061-T6 aluminum.  The spool itself is cold forged, type-II anodized, machined aluminum.  This reel is also treated with Okuma's CRC (Corrosion Resistant Coating) process to ensure that it stands up to the rigors of both fresh and salt water applications.  The M-5S contains 4 corrosion resistant stainless steel ball bearings, and 17-4 grade stainless steel helical cut gears. Rounded off by a carbonite, greased lever drag system (greased with Cal's drag grease), Ergo grip handle, on/off bait clicker with silent retrieve, and a 3 year warranty, this little dude packs a punch.  I mentioned earlier in this article that there are separate max drag settings for full and strike settings.  As with many lever drag reels, the operator can set the desired amount of max drag for a hookset prior to fighting a fish by use of a stopper button along the lever rail. Sliding the lever all the way to this stopper button will put the drag into its "strike" setting, which is adjusted by rotating the knob at the base of the drag lever.  The maximum "strike" drag pressure available is 15 pounds, but if more drag pressure is needed, the operator can depress the stopper button and further engage the lever drag (up to 24 pounds of drag pressure).  I've found this stopper button to be very useful, as it makes switching from freespool (running the clicker) to "strike" as simple as manually closing the bail on a star drag reel like the Penn Sqall, Fathom, etc.  The clicker on this reel is fairly light and quiet when engaged in absolute freespool, but tension can be added to the clicker by lightly engaging the drag lever. With very lively bait or moderate current, I normally fish the clicker on with the drag lever engaged 2-3 clicks above absolute free. The clicker knob is a bit stiff, but ergonomic and seated well into the side plate. In my opinion, it would be nearly impossible to accidentally engage this clicker while casting or fighting a fish.


Now, on to the fun part...Application.

As many of you know, much of my fishing is done on several large, Ohio reservoirs for flathead catfish.  Though these fish are large and brutish when hooked, fishing for them in a still system like a reservoir can require of degree of delicate finesse.  Flathead will often completely inhale a bait and move off with it steadily. Which direction they move, though, isn't always consistent.  In a river, tension placed on the line by a running fish will normally engage the bait clicker regardless of where the fish is moving due to current. In a lake, fish will sometimes inhale a bait and swim directly towards us.  I've found the light clicker on this reel sensitive enough to pick up the initial inhalation of a bait, and the 40+ inches of line recover per handle revolution handy in catching up with a fish that's consumed a bait and come back under the boat. With very lively baits, I normally run the clicker with the drag engaged 2 or 3 clicks. This provides enough tension to keep a wild bullhead or carp under control, but will not turn a flathead away from easily taking line.  Our rigging with these live baits varies quite a bit, but I've had absolutely no trouble casting any of them with this reel. In absolute free, the spool on this thing spins like a top. I normally cast in this setting, but I recommend doing so with care your first few times out with the reel.  Now that I'm used to this extreme free spool, I can readily outcast most of my other reels with the Metaloid.

Each year we take a trip or two to fish for blue catfish on the mighty James River.  Fishing this river requires varying your technique between locked down, rod loading strikes in heavy current to fishing still barge pits in freespool with clickers engaged.  The Metaloid was more than up to either task.  I fished the reel in heavy flow with the drag set to the "strike" setting, and fish were able to bury the rod and engage the large circle hooks used here fully.  Back in the pits, running lighter weights and detecting light strikes was no problem either.  The reel heaved both presentations well, from 12 ounces of lead and a whole 12" shad, to small shad fillets and 2 ounce weights.  Fighting fish was no problem either, as I never had to increase the drag beyond its max strike setting. I will note, though, that the greased drag system means drastic tension reduction when the drag is lessened under load.  I wasn't prepared for this, and reduced the drag too much while fighting the first fish. The resulting slack line was a bit of a panic, but the fish was landed. All part of familiarizing yourself with your new gear.


In conclusion, the Okuma Metaloid M-5S has quickly become an integral part of my catfishing arsenal.  I prefer this single speed model for its simplicity, and have not been left wanting for a lower gearing in any of my fishing excursions yet. For those who would like the option to drop into a more powerful gear setting, 2-speed models are available. I've found the 5 size to adequately meet my line capacity needs, but the larger 12 size is available for those wanting more.  This reel is compact, powerful, and performs smoothly under any load I've put it against.  I'd recommend one for any of the applications described above, and many more.  The Okuma Metaloid is available at a growing number of Okuma dealers, with a suggested MSRP of $189.99-$259.99 depending on model.
Thanks for reading and until next time, follow the Quest...

Okuma EVx Musky EVx-C-741H by Chuck

Have you been searching for the ultimate monster catfish rod?
I know I sure have. It's been a 20 year journey for me. I've tried so many, I don't even remember them all. St. Croix Classic Cat, E-Cat, Big Cat, Ugly Tiger, Takedown, the list just goes on and on. Most of them were adequate or better, but none of them the ONE.
Well, that has all changed now, kind of.
The Okuma EVx Musky 7' 4" Heavy casting model is as close as I have ever gotten to the perfect monster catfish rod.
The Evx Musky models are built on an IM-8 graphite blank using Fuji premium graphite reel seats, Alps stainless guides with Zirconium inserts (the inserts are exposed), Alps welded Tungsten Carbide tip, and cork grips. The total weight of this rod is a feather light 10.4 ounces. Price $109.99.
While the components used on these rods are certainly top notch, and exactly what is needed by musky anglers casting heavy lures all day, I do prefer a slightly different (and more expensive) set of components. I would prefer the Alps XN deep press guides used on the more expensive Okuma rods, as well as their Alps aluminum reel seats. If you have read my other rod reviews, you know I don't like cork grips. I would prefer any other material for my grips. The shrink tube grips used on the Okuma Makaira rod series are my favorite.
But for a musky rod, these components are perfectly fine, and preferred by someone casting all day.
It's the blank used in this Heavy action rod, rated 30-80#, and 2-10 oz. that's the star here. If I could get several of these blanks and have them wrapped with my preferred components listed above, these would be my ultimate monster catfish rods without a doubt.

Catfishermen like to talk about how much backbone different rods have. Well let me tell you, if you think your rods have good backbone, you really don't know what that is, until you try one of these. The EVx Musky 30-80 while light as a feather, has a backbone that just won't quit. If your average catfish rod has a normal human backbone, this rod would be like having a titanium backbone.
The top 2-3' of this rod has a beautiful bend under heavy pressure, and in the mid section it just shuts down. No bending back to the front grip here. This is the very definition of stout. What does this titanium backbone do for you? It makes fighting average sized fish just a little too easy. While I didn't catch any true monster on these rods, I did catch some flatheads approaching 40#'s, and the EVx Musky made it no contest. At any time I could do whatever I wanted with the fish. Flathead heads for cover, nope, stop him on a dime. Flathead tries to dig the bottom, nope, you're coming up buster. Flathead tries to run around the anchor rope or motor, no way. All of these happened to me while fighting big flatheads using the EVx, and none of the fish were successful.
The backbone of this rod also makes for an brutal hook set. You will definitely want to watch the force you use when setting the hook in shallow water, unless you want to pull 20# fish out of the water without a fight. This rod is the opposite of a feel the fight type rod, with their mushy feel, and floppy tip, and backbone that bends back to the front grip.
Here is the only pic I was able to get of this rod in action, as all of our flatheads this year came in the dark. This pic is late in the fight with a 17# channel cat. This fish tired fast, but tried to make one last dive for the bottom, right at the boat when this pic was snapped. You can see the bend of the rod pretty well, although earlier in the fight it was bent a little further down the blank.

Now for casting. As this is a musky rod, it was built with casting in mind. It did seem to prefer a heavy weight when used with 50# mono. To put a good bend in it for a cast, 3 ounces really isn't going to do it. 5 ounces plus bait is when it starts to come in to it's own. I used this rod with 18 ounces plus bait on the Wabash River this fall, and it handled it just fine, and casted very well. In short, this rod casts just fine for what I need, and handles more weight than I normally use.
So what we have here is what I consider to be the best monster catfish rod I have ever used, without a doubt. While I wouldn't change a single thing about the blank, I would change the other components for catfishing duty, and the grips for personal preference. If you can't move a big fish with this rod, it simply can't be moved.
For right now, as of November 2014, the Okuma EVx-C-741 gets my highest recommendation for a monster catfish rod. 2 of these will be in my boat on every single trip in 2015. I am in the process of testing a few other rods, but these will be with me for sure. Finally a monster catfish rod with the perfect bend.
Chuck.

7/0 Owner K hooks by Chuck

The 7/0 Owner K hook was the primary hook I used in 2014. While talking with a friend about hooks about a year ago, he mentioned Owner hooks. He asked if I ever used them. I told him I had, but quit using them years ago because of cost. Once I found the Eagle Claw King Kahle hooks, I made the switch and have used them ever since as my primary hook. After the conversation with my friend I went to the Owner site and began looking through their hooks. I found the K hooks and thought they would be a good hook to get in for review.
Similar to the Eagle Claw King Kahle but with a slightly different bend, the K hook is a great choice when a wide gap hook is needed. Here is a shot of the 7/0 K hook next to a couple of the Eagle Claw King Kahle hooks.

7/0 Owner K on the left next to the 7/0 King Kahle. 4 or 5/0 on the right.

Over the course of 2014 the Owner K hook has become my favorite hook for flathead fishing. These hooks are extremely sharp out of the package. They will instantly penetrate anything they come in contact with, including your finger. Don't ask me how I know this. However, just as with anything else the extreme sharpness comes at a cost. If the K hook comes in contact with anything solid, it dulls rather quickly. Even slightly dull though, it's sharper than many hooks out of the box. Just keep an eye on them when fishing around cover, or after hooking a big fish. Contact with the jaw bone of a big flathead and it may be time to tie on a new hook.
Owner hooks have always been on the higher end of the cost scale for hooks, and the K hooks is no exception. A 12 pack of the 7/0 hooks is $12 if purchased directly from Owner. At a buck a piece this certainly puts them in the premium price category. The Eagle Claw King Kahle in 7/0 can be had for $6.60 for a box of 50 from Bottom Dwellers Tackle. That's 13 cents a piece. The price of the K hooks is certainly inline with other premium priced catfish hooks though. The Charlie Brown hooks are around a buck a piece, and the Team Catfish Double Action hooks are about 75 cents a piece, after the reduction in price on these. When I was buying them, they were about a buck a piece.
Are the Owner K hooks worth the substantial difference in cost? I can't really answer that. All I can say is they worked great for me in 2014. I did have to throw away a few hooks, but not that many. Fishing suspended over cover in deep holes most of the year, my K hooks didn't come in contact with much to dull them. When I did fish on bottom, I would generally tie on a King Kahle.
The 7/0 Owner K hooks worked great no matter the bait used. Whether it was a snout hooked 10" sucker, or a piece of cut bait. A hookset resulted in a flathead in the boat. No quick releases this year when the Owner K hook was on the line.


So if you are looking for a premium catfish hook, maybe money is on the line in a big tournament, give the Owner K hooks a try. Just keep a close eye on that point. As for me, I plan to keep a few packs of the K hooks in my box, but don't plan on spending hundreds of dollars on them. When contact with cover is possible, the trusty Eagle Claw King Kahle will be on the end of my line.


Chuck

True Grit by Scott Ross

As I sit by the river bank or on the boat. Or walking around scouting out new areas. I wonder WHY? Why can't I find a Flathead here? Why do I hear them rolling and fighting all around me? What am I doing wrong? Well, chances are, nothing. Many anglers in a quest for Monsters go through a dry spell. But during that time you can't help but to question everything you do. You question your gear, your bait, your Knowledge, and before long you start to wonder why your even there at all.
If you target one specific body of water, it can become even rougher. As I did. I chose a body of water in north central Ohio that has been known to be home to some truly giant Flatheads. I spent two years trying to find some here. I caught many large channels. And run after run, then pulling up another channel. I grew more obsessed, and more concerned. As I began to question everything I knew, I decided to test out my practices. Every time I would wonder, I would just take a trip to where they were plentiful and give it a shot. And would usually turn out good.
During this struggle I knew most of my friends wouldn't have the same determination that I did. They couldn't. Nobody close new what I was going through. And I didn't expect them to. I spent many nights alone on the water. Just staring into the darkness. Nothing to do but sit there and stew in your own thoughts. Many of those nights were noisy from the many fish jumping all around and bugs singing. Other nights were eary and hollow, Not a single noise around. It was hard to tell which was worse, Knowing the fish were there but wouldn't bite. Or wondering if there was even anything around at all.
It was one these warm dark nights of silence that breathed a sigh of relief. A nibble on the line. As I reeled in a heavy fish, It put up a good fight. But that feeling I felt before, every time a channel would surface, started to set in. My mind started to think, It's just another channel. But as his face broke the surface a feeling like no other set over me. A relief mixed with excitement and satisfaction all mixed together.
After It was all over I sit back and remember the struggles. The fish was no monster. In fact it was just over 22 pounds. But what that fish meant, and what I went through was all combined to make it larger than life. When I look back and wonder if it was all worth it. YES. Would I change a thing? You bet your hiney. Do I really want it to change? Nah.