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Like with nearly every species of fish, there are specific catfish rod and reel combos designed for the catfish fishing fanatic, with many pre-matched, pre-rigged options for the perfect pairing. A quick Google search will reveal that catfish, along with their bullhead cousins, rank fourth in popularity when it comes to fishing in the United States. They make for fine table fare, especially when freshly filleted and are a blast to catch, with a twisting and bulldogging battle from the moment they’re hooked to the moment they’re safely scooped into a net or slid onto the shoreline.
Use this guide to find the best catfish rod and reel combos to up your chances of landing more of these barbal-lipped fish.
Best Overall: Ugly Stik Catch Ugly Fish Catfish Spinning
Best Heavy Duty: Penn Squall Lever Drag Combo
Best Baitcasting: Quantum Bill Dance Catfish Baitcast
Best Spincast: Zebco Bill Dance Catfish Spincast
Best Spinning: Bass Pro Shops King Kat Spinning
Best Overall: Ugly Stik Catch Ugly Fish Catfish Spinning
Specs
Rod
Length: 7’
Construction: Graphite and fiberglass
Power: Medium heavy
Guides: One-piece stainless
Reel
Size: 50
Retrieve: 5.1:1
Handle: Left or right
Pros
Prefilled with quality line
Excellent value for the price
Durable
Cons
Harder to transport
Shorter casting range
Pre-spooled with 14-lb Stren monofilament, and including a tackle tote with terminal tackle and Blood Red Berkley PowerBait Catfish Chunks, the Ugly Stik Catch Ugly Fish Catfish Spinning Combo is ready to be fished the moment you leave the tackle shop. The rod’s fiberglass tip has a slower action, and fish can take a bait without knowing they’re about to be duped. The shorter rod is tough, has plenty of gumption to set the hook hard, and can fit across the seats of most compact cars. This rod brand has proven itself hard-wearing since it first started decades ago.
Best Heavy Duty: Penn Squall Lever Drag Combo
Specs
Rod
Length(s): 6’, 6 ½’, 7’
Action(s): Medium, medium-heavy, heavy
Line rating: 15-30 lb., 20-40 lb., 30-50 lb., 30-80 lb.
Reel
Size(s): 30, 40, 50, 60
Ball bearings: 6
Retrieve: Right hand
Lever drag
Pros
Smooth drag
Large line capacity
Multiple sizes and lengths
Cons
Pricey
No level-wind/pawl on reel
Marketed as a rod and reel combo for saltwater (where many different species of catfish reside), the Penn Squall Lever Drag Combo’s reel is sealed to keep the ever-corrosive saltwater out, which in turn will keep out the grit and grime if dropped in muddy or silty freshwater. The tubular fiberglass blank is more forgiving than graphite, and when coupled with this smooth-casting reel, long bait launches can be had for such a short stick.
Best Baitcasting: Quantum Bill Dance Catfish Baitcast
Specs
Rod
Length(s): 7’, 9’, 10’
Power: Medium-heavy and heavy
Action: Moderate
Reel
Retrieve: Right hand
Line recovery: 23” per turn
Line capacity: 20/360
Pros
Well-balanced rig
Three rod lengths to choose from
Large line capacity
Cons
Couldn’t find any
The reel of the Quantum Bill Dance Catfish Baitcast Rod and Reel Combo is solid, with a smooth retrieve and drag. The level-wind feature allows line to be loaded evenly onto the spool to help avoid backlashes. There are plenty of guides on the baitcasting rod for an even arch of the blank when bowed. This retail price is in the middle of the catfish-combo price range, making it affordable for the avid angler.
Best Spincast: Zebco Bill Dance Catfish Spincast
Specs
Rod
Length: 7’
Pieces: 2
Power: Medium heavy
Reel
Size: 8
Retrieve: Left or right hand
Gear ratio: 2.6:1
Ball bearings: 3 + 1
Pros
Extremely packable
Smooth retrieve
Rugged reel
Cons
Shorter rear handle
Heavier in weight
Very few manufacturers offer a spincast reel specifically for catfish fishing. The Zebco 888 spincast reel on this catfish combo comes with a heavy-duty stainless steel cover, as well all-metal gears and metal reel foot, and the rod has a stainless steel hooded reel seat to boot. Because of these stainless parts, this combo would also make it a good choice for saltwater catfishing excursions. The rod breaks down into two 3-1/2-foot sections, making transporting the combo a breeze; it’s even packable on the back of a motorcycle or strapped to the side of a backpack.
Best Spinning: Bass Pro Shops King Kat Spinning
Specs
Rod
Blank: Tubular fiberglass blank
Power: Heavy
Guides: Double-footed aluminum oxide
Handle: EVA foam
Reel
Bearings: 3
Drag: 6-washer front drag
Handle: Left/right hand
Retrieve rate: 4.1:1
Pros
Breaks down into two pieces
Long rear handle sturdy in rod holder
Bright blank easily seen in the dark
Cons
Tip heavy
Overkill for smaller catfish
Slower retrieve rate
The Bass Pro Shops King Kat Rod and Reel Spinning Combo is offered in two different sizes/weights: a 7-foot 2-piece medium-heavy-power rod with size-60 reel rated for 14- to 20-pound test, or a 2-piece heavy-power 10-footer coupled with a size-80 reel rated for 20- to 40-pound test). The first is a great choice when lighter line is needed, while the second is better for battling behemoth catfish from heavy cover. Both size reels are pre-spooled with CatMaxx hi-vis green mono. The bright-colored main line united with the white rod blank makes this the perfect combo to use in low-light or after-dark catfish-fishing expeditions.
How We Tested Catfish Rod and Reel Combos
As an outdoor writer, I’ve fished from the Arctic Circle to Central Mexico and all points in between—and catfish are a common catch just about everywhere I’ve made a cast. While they were often a bycatch, there have been plenty of times where catfish were my primary target. When the latter was fact, it took the proper gear to do it right.
What To Look For in a Catfish Rod and Reel Combo
Below are some of the factors I used to make my selections for the best catfish rod and reel combos.
Brand
It’s not just about how long a company has been in business but whether or not they’re innovators in rod and reel technology. Has their most popular catfish-fishing combo been updated with the latest in fishing advances? Are their rods lighter and more sensitive than before? Have their reels improved from the past and are still able to withstand the heave and torque of a colossus catfish?
Price
Do you always get what you pay for? When it comes to most any rod and reel on the marketplace, you do; the more you have to shuck out at checkout time, the higher quality the rig. Some catfish combos, however, are surprisingly inexpensive for the quality of product you receive for a little dough.
Durability
Nobody wants a disposable rod and reel. Catfish fishing rods need to have the umph to pull these whiskered fish from an entanglement of trees, as well as take the accidental whack against an overhead limb, or the possible scrape when leaned up against a rock or boat’s gunwale. Reels need to be able to take the tug of a freshly hooked catfish, and have a smooth drag in case a huge one decides it wants to turn tail and head the other way.
Portability
Generally, one-piece rods are more sensitive and durable than those with two or more sections. However, the problem with longer one-piecers is getting them to and from the water. Consider your vehicle, whether it’s a compact car or a long-bed truck.
Region
Where you fish for catfish will impact your rod and reel combo choice. In some bodies of water—especially those in the south—water clarity can only be measured in mere inches, while in other regions, such as waterways in the Great Lakes region, super clear water is more the norm. Lighter line is needed in the latter to fool fish, but in muddy water you can get away with heavier, thicker-diameter line—and your rod and reel should match.
You need to consider the average size of the catfish, too. In some places, a 10-pound channel or flathead catfish is considered big, while a 50-pound blue is a trophy in others.
Fishing Method
There are two basic locations to fish catfish from: the shore or the gunwales of a boat. The distance you’ll be casting from either should be thought out well beforehand. Overall, longer rods are better for distance, while shorter rods bode well for accuracy.
FAQs
Q: What rod action is best for catfish fishing?
This depends on the region where you’re fishing, as well the size of the average catfish in the lake, river, or reservoir. Large warm waterways that harbor massive fish might require a heavy-power rod that can manhandle fish up to 100 pounds. In areas where flathead and channel catfish roam, on the other hand, a medium-heavy-power rod will be enough, and if the smaller bullhead is your target, a medium-power pole will do the trick.
Q: How much does a catfish rod and reel combo cost?
In most cases, you get what you pay for. Shucking out a few more Benjamin’s from your bank account will get you a combo that will last you many years, if not a lifetime.
With that said, however, there are a lot of catfish rod and reel combos in the $50 to $80 range that can endure a lot and keep you reeling in big fish for a long time. Most avid catfish anglers expect to spend in the $100 to $150 range. The real diehards who fish for these whiskered fish almost daily have no quorums handing over $200 or more to pander their passion.
Q: What size reel do you need for catfish?
Consider the region, fish size, line diameter, and possibility of crossing the rig over to saltwater applications. If, say, you’re fishing the clear waters of the northern United States with 10- to 17-pound test, a size 35- to 40- spinning reel will hold enough line for long-distance casting. Once 20-pound test or heavier is required to haul big fish from structure, you’ll need both size 50 and 80 reels to hold enough line and allow the thicker diameter line to flow freer during the cast. The latter two sizes also bode well for the occasional cast into the salty seas.
Q: What type of line is best for a catfish fishing rod and reel?
The best fishing line for catfish depends on what you’re looking for. Braided line has nearly zero stretch to it, and is good for pulling big fish from heavy cover with a heavy-power rod. It also works wonders in thick weeds as it slices through vegetation better than other types of line. Fluorocarbon line, on the other hand, has a little stretch to it, and is very dense with very little air bubbles in it. Its near-neutral buoyancy makes it better for keeping smaller baits near the bottom and it’s harder to see in clear water. Monofilament has great shock-absorbing properties because of its stretch, and helps keep line from snapping during a sudden surge during the fight on a heavy-power rod.
Final Thoughts
I find it fascinating that catfish, no matter the subspecies, are considered a rough fish by so many anglers, rather than a sport fish. Perhaps it’s that barbule-fill face—in which the whiskered look of a cat has given them their name—as well spiny, bacteria-filled fins that steer some anglers clear from making a cast for them. Maybe it’s because they spend a majority of their time roaming the bottom, feasting on fresh matter from the lake’s floor.
But catfish are opportunistic feeders, as well; not just using that flattened head of theirs for roiling up the bottom of a lake or river and feasting on the spoils. They will suspend high in the water column, gobbling up passing baitfish and insects in the upper reaches of the water column. Walleye and salmon anglers have proven this time and time again, catching catfish while trolling with both live and artificial baits high in a waterway. As you can see, there are several factors when it comes to finding the best catfish rod and reel combos for you.
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