Forums > Fishing Club Forum > Catfish Fishing
Use the Other Rod for Catfishing
Last Post 22 Jun 2010 04:39 PM by slipperybob. 4 Replies.
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slipperybobUser is Offline Veteran Poster Veteran Poster Send Private Message Posts:1240 slipperybob
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20 Jun 2010 12:22 PM
    Use that graphite or graphite composite rod instead. It's far more sensitive than your typical fiberglass catfish rod. Feeling the difference between bait and sinker in the water tumbling around on the bottom to a soft tap or inhaled bait is what you're going to differentiate. Fishing in smaller rivers or streams, the smaller catfish tend to be more of nibblers. Maybe they merely bite down on the bait instead of inhaling the bait and taking off like a freight train just to let go of the bait. Regardless, a graphite rod should be held by the hand. It's less forgiving and second guessing a bite will usually mean you've missed the bite already. The other downside is feeling all those light nibbles and not being able to give a hook set into fish at all. It does make me wonder, how many more catfish I've been missing out on with just the typical fiberglass rod.

    The rod that I've been using over the years have been a Cabela's XML 7' heavy action rod. One of the benefits of using a graphite rod is being able to guide a fish more efficiently. There's more of a direct leverage versus the moderate and flexible fiberglass rods. Any catfish of under 30# in small rivers and streams can be easily tamed by this rod. My big catfish rod is the St.Croix Surf Rod at 8'6", which doesn't work so well for any catfish under 10#. This rod is reserved for the bigger fish.
    JoelWUser is Offline New Poster New Poster Send Private Message Posts:172 JoelW
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    21 Jun 2010 02:37 PM
    How much does that rod cost?
    "Vegatarian: Old indian word for bad fisherman"
    slipperybobUser is Offline Veteran Poster Veteran Poster Send Private Message Posts:1240 slipperybob
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    21 Jun 2010 04:20 PM
    The Cabela's XML rods are about $140

    The St.Croix Surf rods are about $180
    JoelWUser is Offline New Poster New Poster Send Private Message Posts:172 JoelW
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    21 Jun 2010 10:04 PM

    Do you remember the sinker slip rig i was asking about?  This rig lets you feel the bite.  I don't think that many people know, but sensitivity is a main thing when fishing for catfish.  Like you said, a sensitive rod will help you catch more fish, hopefully
    "Vegatarian: Old indian word for bad fisherman"
    slipperybobUser is Offline Veteran Poster Veteran Poster Send Private Message Posts:1240 slipperybob
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    22 Jun 2010 04:39 PM

    My preference for sinkers is brass bullets.  I like to use braid lines.  They don't get line tangle in changing water currents and they can be pulled through the water much faster.  The set back is that they don't stay put very well either.  That sometimes works against the rig, sometimes works better for the rig.

    I use the sliding clip on the St.Croix Surf Rod.  It's so I can choose weights between 2 to 4 oz.  Just gotta remember to always cast downstream and keep good line tension.  It kind of requires dragging the sinker on the bottom and then leaving it to set.  The disadvatage about this rig is it easy for line to get tangled if you aren't actively setting the sinker in place.  In addition using a stiff mono line works better.

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