Do you guys use a special rod for catfish, or just one of your bass rods?

I have a rod that is dedicated to catfishing. It's a Rhino Kevlar tip medium heavy baitcast rod with a Penn 209 levelwind reel spooled with 150 yards of Trilene  Big Game50 pound test line. This is my flathead and large channel rig. For smaller channels I use a medium action Berkley Cherrywood spinning rod with a South Bend Spinmaster II spinning reel loaded with 150 yards of Trilene XT 12 pound test line.

the best rod they are 20 dollars at dicks there called a sturdy stick u kan cast weight on these rods and still they wont bend i use them for heavy saltwater use they have never broken and ive hauled sting rays to small medium sharks they are ur best bet if wanting to go for the mosters paired with ur favorite casting reel

Anything will work.  Just be prepared for a big one.

Anything will work. Just be prepared for a big one.

We catch a number of big cats, drum, buffalo

and striper while smallmouth fishing on the

Tennessee River. Our smallmouth rigs are MF

spinning rods, 2500 series Shimano and Yo-Zuri

Hybrid #6. However, if you target monster cats,

you really need heavy gear, especially on

a river. Quantum Big Cat Series is something to consider:

http://www.bigtackle.com/Quantum-Big-Cat-Series-P293.aspx

8-)

ultra lites is way to go

ultra lites is way to go

x2 youd be suprised how big a fish a 7ft ul can handle

ultra lites is way to go

x2 youd be suprised how big a fish a 7ft ul can handle

I pulled out a 9lb cat out of my lake while fishing a 1in white grub on a 3ft mini ultralight built for brim.  It makes for one heck of a fight. 

But if you going river fishing make sure you have some heavy gear.  I fish the James and fish upwards of 90lbs are not unheard of.  I myself have only landed a flathead of 30lbs 2oz.  Whenever I go down there I use a 1oz weight with a circle hook with shad or bluegill on a 8ft surf rod.  It does the trick!

I use and really like the Ugly Stick Catfish rod.  They have them on Basspro for $29.99.  7' MH.

I bought a cheap Bill Dance combo for 40 bucks at bps.  Serves my catfishing purposes just fine.

thanks for the replies everyone.

Many of the channel and bull cats fishermen locally like the heavy action 7' Ugly stick... I have even seen a 20" cat break one of those rods off during the heat of the summer when they hit the warmer water... he was able to still get it in using the lower half of the rod and using his hands (with thick leather gloves) pulling some of the line up.

 

I use and really like the Ugly Stick Catfish rod. They have them on Basspro for $29.99. 7' MH.

My son has the 8' version.  Works well

Wait a minute...Did Roadwarrior just recommend a Quantum product?!??!

Ugly Sticks are great, economical rods for catfishing and can be sized to fit the fish you're after.

Mark another one down for Ugly Stik...

.

Freshwater drum, they're great fighters, and, depending on who you ask, great eating.

OK I googled it, looks like minature version of the saltwater black drum.  We dont have them down here.