Bottom Dwellers Tackle: Catfight Series - Knockout Rod Review

The relatively new Catfight series of rods offered by Bottom Dwellers Tackle are quickly gaining popularity across the catfishing community, and for good reason.  These rods offer good components, solid construction, and fit in a wide range of applications.  The first two rods in the series (the original "Catfight" and the "Take Down" editions) have swept the blue cat scene and quickly proved their worth fishing large cut and live baits on circle hooks.  Both rods feature a relatively soft tip, backed up by plenty of power through the middle and butt sections of the rod.  They've become popular among flathead fishermen as well, with the soft tip proving to be forgiving on those hard, charging runs that large flatheads are notorious for.  Those looking for a bit more "oomph" from a catfish rod, and a bit more rigidity for heavy hooksets with large J-style hooks may have been left wanting by the first two rods in this series, though.  Until now, that is.  Que the Bottom Dwellers Tackle "Knockout" rod.
[caption id="attachment_510" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Bottom Dwellers "Knockout" rod with a Shimano Tekota 600.[/caption]
Lets take a quick look at some of the specs:

• a one piece blank through handle construction (just like its two "little" brothers in the Catfight family)
•  solid stainless steel "gunsmoke" guides and tip
• matching "gunsmoke" aluminum reel seat that screws up from the bottom (towards the reel)
• a 14" cork handle and 8" cork foregrip
• a 7'9" composite blank rated for 20-60 pound test line and a 2-20 ounce casting capability
• an innovative black/white/gray digital camo wrap finished with a high-vis, white tip that glows when charged by a light source

Lets start with the initial impressions and appearance of the rod:
When I first un-boxed the knockout rod, I'll admit I was impressed.  The "gunsmoke" metal accents really set off of the blacks and grays in the digital camo wrap.  Couple this with a classy cork handle and a white tip and this rod was not hard to look at.  Holding the Knockout rod feels a bit like holding a battle ax without a reel on it.  It's not overly heavy, but it is a very solid piece of gear.  The cork handle is thicker than I expected it to be, and at first I thought this would be a hindrance.  After fishing the rod in several applications, I've not been hindered by the handle size by any means, and it offers a solid grip on the rod.  I've fished this rod coupled with anything from Shimano Tekota 600's and Abu Garcia Alphamar 20's, up to a big Penn GT 330, and all appeared (and felt) balanced on this stick.
[caption id="attachment_517" align="aligncenter" width="300"] "Gunsmoke" aluminum reel seat.[/caption]
The reel seat on this rod provides a very solid lock on your reel, as it screws up towards the reel from behind.  Be careful the first time or two you change reels with this handle though, as it seems to take a few passes for the threads to get "broken in."  As far as looks go, this rod is a head turner, and easy to spot in the dark.  Be prepared to field questions and compliments when showing up to the lake or river with this one.
Now, the down and dirty: Performance
My first impressions of this rod while fishing were that it was almost "too heavy" for my style of fishing.  I generally fish J-style or Kahle hooks for flatheads in reservoirs, so a good hook set is crucial.  This rod will certainly pack the punch you need in this situation, but has a more forgiving tip than I originally thought before putting a few fish on the rod.  Fishing the rod with braided line, I found myself setting the hook a bit too hard on a few fish.  I had no worry of breaking the line by doing this, but immediate drag slip and a bent hook or two later I found myself taming down my usual hook set.  Fished with monofilament line such as Berkley Big Game or Ande Premium, this rod provides the power and "swing" to overcome line stretch and drive those big hooks home.
[caption id="attachment_514" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Putting a bend in the Knockout rod with about 15 pounds of drag.[/caption]
Fishing this rod with large circle hooks for big river blues is effective as well, as the tip section dips under light takes and buries when a fish slams your bait.  For light biting fish in cold water, I noticed that the tip may not be as forgiving in this sense as the original Catfight and the Catfight "Takedown" rods.  Remember, though, that this is a rod designed for heavy applications.  If a very soft rod tip is necessary for the conditions you face, other rods provide that more effectively (i.e. the first two Catfight series rods, the Ugly Stick Tiger Rods, etc.) In one instance on the James River in Virginia, I hooked a fish directly in a large snag in around 40 feet of water.  Putting maximum pressure on the fish, I thought I was moving both the snag and fish towards the boat.  After several hard pumps of the rod, it was directly below the boat. Or were we above the snag?  I had pulled the 24' Carolina skiff, along with the anchor, downriver to the snag.  The 40 pound test Berkley Big Game had to be broken eventually and the fish was lost, but this demonstrated the true power of the 60 pound line rating on this blank.
[caption id="attachment_520" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Locked in battle with a James River blue in some lumber, pulling the boat and anchor.[/caption]
Casting the Knockout is a pleasure, as the 7'9" length and moderate tip easily catapult baits up to 22 ounces.  I've fished large livebaits that combined with their rig certainly pressed past this 22 ounce rating without issue, but I never recommend fishing a rod beyond its ratings.
While fighting fish, the Knockout proves its name. The power through the butt and middle of this stick is impressive, putting the brakes on angry flatheads without issue.  The moderate tip of this rod came in handy with angry fish nearing the net, as it provides some shock absorbency when a large fish makes that one final run.
[caption id="attachment_513" align="aligncenter" width="300"] A tip view of the Knockout rod, showing its taper towards the butt section.[/caption]
Applications:
As I mentioned above, my primary focus throughout the season is targeting large reservoir flatheads in my home state of Ohio.  The Knockout rod is well designed for this task.  Fishing either float or bottom rigs, casting baits or dropping baits from a boat at distance, the power and length of the Knockout rod perform these tasks with ease.  I personally prefer to fish this rod with monofilament line, as my hooksets with this rod in combination with heavy braid have been detrimental. I do enjoy the power of this rod when setting the hook on flatheads a good way away from the bank, though, as it takes away from some of the walking or "running" hooksets sometimes necessary with mono from over 70 yards away.
[caption id="attachment_518" align="aligncenter" width="225"] A solid Ohio flathead that fell victim to the Knockout rod.[/caption]
For river blue cat fishing, this rod certainly has the power to lift stubborn fish in heavy flows or cast the heavy lead necessary to hold baits in said flows. The tip is supple enough to signal light bites, but may leave you wanting more tip flex if fish are not in a rod-burying mood.  This rod does bend nicely under immense strain, though, and does not act like a complete broom stick while fighting fish.
[caption id="attachment_519" align="aligncenter" width="225"] A view of the Knockout rod on the James River, alongside the Black and Blue 7'6" and the Black and Blue 7'10" rods for comparison.[/caption]
Remember, this is a rod built for targeting the largest trophy catfish that swim in our waters.  Consider your objectives before purchasing a rod, and choose accordingly.  If gaining the upper hand on fish above 40 pounds is your goal, then the Catfight "Knockout" edition may be the rod for you.  I would not, however, expect a rod with a 60 pound line rating and 22 ounce lure rating to be the best choice for channel cat fishing, or catching a mess of smaller fish for the table.  This rod was designed to complete the Catfight series of rods from Bottom Dwellers Tackle as the heavy hitter in their lineup, and I think it fits that description perfectly.  These rods are available from Dave Ashby over at bottomdwellerstackle.com, and fetch a price tag of $79.95.