***Revisions have been made here on June 1, 2017***
Some products that aren't available have been removed. We also have some recent additions, including a couple budget friendly items.
The System
The key to putting together a tackle system is synergy. In other words, matching all the components in the chain to work optimally together.
Reels
20# of drag should be the minimum for fishing in or near cover. Just a few short years ago, it would have cost much more to put together a true giant fish system. The only reels that had more than 20# of drag were big, costly saltwater reels. Now we have some resonably priced reels to choose from. For fishing where cover isn't an issue, we have a few more options. The reels with lower drag numbers would be best matched to some of the lighter action rods featured here such as the Okuma Makaira.
Okuma Komodo SS
Low profile powerhouse with plenty of drag. Review
here.
Shimano TLD Star
Budget reel for fishing away from cover. Review
here.
Shimano Tekota
A favorite of a couple of the contributors here, the Tek falls a little short of the 20# drag minimum with only 18#,
but is an excellent choice when not fishing directly in cover.
Non level wind lever drag reels
Okuma
For the braid users, the Andros 5-2. With 15# of drag at strike, and 24# at full, this tiny reel (15 oz.) is a real powerhouse.
Gear ratios are 6.4:1 for high, and 3.8:1 for low. It also features a cast control, greased carbonite drag washer,
and helical cut stainless steel gears, and nice sized clicker button. These tiny powerhouse reels are around $350.
Okuma Makaira 10-2 SEa
The Okuma Makaira is considered by many to be the finest reel ever made. The Makaira comes in two different series. The gold reels are the original design,
and the gunmetal colored reels are the newest addition to the the line, the SEa. Both models offer absolutely brutal drag numbers with the
smallest models offering 27# at strike, and 34# at full, the bigger models go way past drag numbers we could ever use for catfish.
Greased carbonite dual force drag, machined aluminum frame and forged side plates, helical cut stainless gears, stainless drive and spool shafts,
stainless clicker system, and innovative pull bar system that puts the drag pressure on the handle side of the reel where it is the strongest,
cuppled with a thrust bearing to keep the pressure off the other bearings, and a double dog anti-reverse.
These are just some of what makes these reels the so great. Prices start at around $480 for the 8-2. Review
here.
Line
A matching line for this system needs to have a few key features. Stand up to the maximum drag being used, have low memory and low stretch.
Ande
The company with the most World Record catches of any line manufacturer. Ande Ghost is a reasonably priced line from Ande
, that is said to be nearly invisible under water, similar to Fluorocarbon. It has low stretch, low memory, and exceptional abrasion resistance
and knot strength.In a test done by Sport Fishing Magazine a few years back, the Ande Monster Yellow has the
highest knot break strength of over 70 lines tested, when used with the palomar knot. The Monster also has very good abrasion resistance.
It also has low memory and low stretch. The yellow is also florescent, for use with the ultraviolet and blacklights. Ande has also added Blue to the Monster line.
*** Cortland Master Braid ***
Superior abrasion resistance, no memory and only 4% stretch for skull jarring hook sets on those monster catfish. Read the review here.
Sufix Performance Braid and 832.
Sufix is becoming the brand of choice around these parts with several of our contributors using the brand as their mainline of choice.
Joe Shaw reports 100# Performance Braid is now his goto line for fishing around bridge pilings especially, after landing a flathead that ran him around one.
He feels his Ande mono would have been toast.
Knots
Palomar
Used with the Ande lines listed above, this is the best knot available. Super easy to tie. In the line test mentioned above, the Ande broke at 108%
of the the lines actual break strength. That's right, the knot was actually stronger than the line itself. What more needs to be said. If you use
Ande Monster, Premium, or Ghost, and you aren't using the palomar, you aren't getting the most out of your line. That's it for knots.
Snell
A favorite of many of the writers here for connecting hook to leader. So many variations of the snell, finding one that suits you should be easy.
Swivels
Crane
Crane 4/0 and 6/0 swivels. They do the job, and haven't had any break or distort, even under 30# of drag. The 6/0 are 385# test. The 4/0 are 308# test.
The Crane's work great, unlike the cheap brass swivels you can get at all the mega stores.
Hooks
Eagle Claw King Kahle Hooks
Great hooks used by many contributors here.
Owner K Hooks
They are expensive, but then again, top quality usually is.
*** The Owner K hook. Incredibly sharp! Wicked sharp! However, incredible sharpness does come at some cost. When they come into
contact with rock or trees or even a flatheads jaw they do dull somewhat. If you want one of the best hooks available for catfishing
I can't recommend any hook more highly. *** Review here.
Charlie Brown Hooks
Another favorite around here. Used by everyone who uses circles. Wicked sharp and strong as hell.
Rods
One rod to rule them all
Warrior Cat XH
*** Okuma Rods ***
The EV-x Musky 7' 4" Heavy. Review here. This 30-80 rod offers incredible power, truly incredible!
Okuma Makaira MK-ST-801MH. Review here.
Amazing all around catfishing rod.
MudbuM Railsplitter
Custom rod level components on a production rod. Read the review
here
Warrior Cat Rods
With an expanding line of badass rods one of the Warrior Cat rods is sure to meet your needs. Read about a few of the models
here.
Customs
If you can determine the exact components and blank you want, customs can be great. But guessing can be an expensive proposition.
Customs can cost as little as $150 up to the 4 digit range.
That pretty much covers the system for now. If you match the rods, reels, line, swivels, hooks, listed here together with the palomar knot,
you will have a tackle system that will handle any fish you will encounter in North America. I just want to point out that most of this equipment isn't meant for all around catfishing.
It's meant for monster hunting.
Chuck
Chuck Luck[/caption]
Scott Ross[/caption]
Marc Cooper[/caption]
Matt Lynch[/caption]
Jake Houser[/caption]
I received the BCF Heavy rod as a birthday gift in 2015. Needless to say I was very excited as Catch the Fever and BCF had just recently introduced their line of rods. With the hype comes expectations, and here's how the Heavy measured up to mine.
The action of this rod may not be as "Heavy" as one may expect. The S-glass provides an interesting property. The rod holds up 12-16 oz very well, even when suspending in current. But, apply much load, and you'll get a quick bend to the second guide. 15-18 lbs of drag had it bent pretty much to the cork. This is where my expectations of the rod fell a little short. I had "med/heavy" rated rods in my boat that I felt offered more control under 15+ lbs of drag than this Heavy model. I prefer the feeling of a noticeable backbone on any rod I am targeting large fish with, and with this particular model you will get more of a "full bend" blank. I believe on lakes with BIG blues, and rivers with a more fishable current than I find myself on, most guys will love the casting ability and circle hook setting properties of this blank. However the current I find myself in will sometimes load the rod itself more than I prefer.
