Went fishin with some buddies and after a couple hours of no bass bites i grabbed some chicken livers and a spare zebco 808 and hooked up on 8 channel cats within an hour and a half. After the 8th fish the reel is acting a little funny like the gears are burned out but im not exactly sure. I was curious what you guys use for catchin cats.

None were more than 7 lbs so i dont think i need a 10' saltwater rod like a few have suggested. I just want something affordable and reliable, not trying to catch trophy cats. This is just for fun. What line do you suggest also. Thanks guys!

Shakespeare Ugly Stik MH 7' rod - 20-30 bucks at your local wal-mart.

Abu Garcia BCX 5600 - around 50 bucks online.

Use an old bass rod.  Caught plenty big fish on them and they hold up fine.  Put on 20# big game. 

My channel cat rig is a medium action  Shakespere Uglystick rod with a BPS MegaCast MCM1000 reel spooled with @ 175 yards of 16 pound Trilene XT.

My flathead cat rig is a medium heavy Rhino Kevlar rod with a Penn 209 levelwind reel spooled with @ 200 yards of 50 pound Trilene Big Game.

Went fishin with some buddies and after a couple hours of no bass bites i grabbed some chicken livers and a spare zebco 808 and hooked up on 8 channel cats within an hour and a half. After the 8th fish the reel is acting a little funny like the gears are burned out but im not exactly sure. I was curious what you guys use for catchin cats.

None were more than 7 lbs so i dont think i need a 10' saltwater rod like a few have suggested. I just want something affordable and reliable, not trying to catch trophy cats. This is just for fun. What line do you suggest also. Thanks guys!

i have an 808 and the drags on them are for crap, i swear it seems the 33s have better drags on them. the drag on my 808 was shot in less than a year, the only positives are it seems to cast really good and far and holds big line compared to most spincasts

I have an Ugly Stick Lite 7' MH with an Abu Garcia 5500C3. I love it. I like to use Mono or Fluorocarbon in 12 - 15 lb. Stren original in 15lb test has been pretty good for me.

Ugly stick $40

Abu Garcia $89

I use an old Berkley Roughneck 6' MH casting rod and an even older Shakespeare President II reel spooled with 20lb. Berkley Big Game mono.

Tom

I like to use my dropshot rod. Its a ton of fun. You have to really play the fish. I just throw out a weightless single hook with a chunk of anchovy or mackerel. If there is current I go as light as I can with a sliding sinker. I have caught them up to 17lbs on this set up. I am still waiting to break 20.