In the end, you just need to determine what feels best to you. I pick them up from the garage sale shoppers and reimburse them. Retrieve or gear ratio determines how fast and how much line is reeled in per turn of the handle. If you plan on fishing for larger channel catfish then the Abu Garcia 6500 C3 or something in the 6000 series will be a better fit (these are the same reels suggested for blues and flatheads, so keep reading). Again, you need to be spooled with line and have the reel properly set on your rod. Yes, a stiff drag has almost got me pulled from the boat, but my buddies loose drag lets many of his fish get in the anchor rope or worse. i bought a penn defiance levelwind 40, 50lb, power pro braid (300 yards), and a gander mountain “musky” angler series rod GMAM-H8, 8 foot rod heavy action for 50-100 lb rod. Using a fishing line that’s too heavy for the application. Here’s what to expect from a quality catfish reel: Here are the features and specifications to look for in a good quality catfish reel. If you’ve never used a baitcasting reel before or aren’t skilled in casting one there are some simple tips to help get on the fast track to success. You’ll find some good deals, but there is also a lot of junk and overpriced reels as well. It’s supposed to slip. I’m pumped to order one, but I can’t seem to find out if it does or not. Be sure to check out the Ultimate Guide To Catfish Rods and my Chad Ferguson Signature Series Catfish Rod from Whisker Seeker Tackle to learn everything you need to know about choosing the right catfish rod. We also like the styling of this reel, it simply looks great. Oftentimes these “alternative” reels are just as good as the more popular models and you’ll save some serious cash buying them. Since much of my catfishing is done with a heavier line (twenty-pound test) I tend to use this method. You have a lot of reel choices when assembling your rig. As soon as you meet resistance stop pulling. Make sure you turn the bait clicker off (down position on most reels) before reeling in and make sure it’s off before casting also. The Little Drag Secret Most Don’t Understand. There are two basic options when it comes to round baitcasting reels, with and without level wind. Long term durability of reels can be a problem. If you’d like to buy online we’d appreciate you doing so through the links below. The other common mistake is getting overly confident, thinking there is too much slip to the fishing reel. Its retro design screams power. January 16, 2021 Bearings are what allows the reel to turn when you cast and in all aspects of the operation. You can always compensate for a drag being too loose by simply tightening it up a bit when you hook that monster catfish of a lifetime, about 1/4 turn at a time. Take your thumb and push firmly down on the spool of the reel towards the center. After over fifteen years as a catfish guide and countless years prior to that as a hardcore catfish angler, I’ve seen the same mistake made over and over again. Sonar allows them to pinpoint how far the boat is from the catfish that were located and the line counter reel allows them to get the baits in that area with pinpoint accuracy. Gear. Common complaints about spinning reels for catfish include: In the past few years, there’s been a growing list of manufacturers completely abandoning spinning rod models for catfish or at minimum limiting the selection. On Abu Garcia Ambassadeur reels this is controlled with a switch on the side opposite the handle. Look around at my photos and you’ll see tons of pictures of fish that are well in excess of 20 pounds, many are double and triple that (or more). Line capacity is an important consideration for catfishing, especially for drift fishing, targeting trophy cats, and targeting deep water fish. Required fields are marked *. The second hook up the fish burned out the drag washers on a shimano 2500 spirex reel after a long fight I lost the fish. A graphite rod is a good option as it is a little stiffer and more responsive, making it easier to use the rod tip to impart additional action into the soft plastics, such as twitching and hopping. I see anglers way too often trying to land big catfish, or any size fish for that matter and fishing with the drag set way too tight and losing fish. The advantage is the fish not feeling resistance when it picks up the bait and runs and alerting the angler of activity. If you’re looking for a workhorse catfish reel that will handle catfish of all sizes and is built to last then this is the catfish reel you want. I use a 50% setting with 30 and 40 lb. You’ll probably find that line that is over ten to twelve pounds this option works great but it may not be as effective with a heavier fishing line. Disengage the reel and grab the fishing line above the reel and gently pull on the line until all of the line is free. I was using a 12 foot Shakespeare Cypry carp rod with a 2.5lb test curve. Blues not so much with the biggest at 35lbs and not very many of them. Good options for line counter reels for catfish are the Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 6500 LC and Alphamar LC. If you are using a 20-pound test line and catch a 100-pound fish then a properly set (and used) drag system will make the difference between having it in the boat or it being the “one that got away”. Drag systems contain synthetic washers as part of the system. If you hook a big catfish you use the rod to pull and bring the fish towards you. Decrease the weight and you’ll have difficulty casting. on Once you’ve done this, firmly grab the fishing line three to six inches above the reel and pull the line towards the rod tip as it would move if a fish is pulling. Most modern high-quality gear has counterbalance which also commonly referred to as a spool tensioner. The bait clicker feature is still nice to have and is standard in most of the larger round bait cast reels. It’s important to understand how to correctly use this feature. We know you how much you love the outdoors because we feel the same way! More experience casting means less and less concern with spool tension and less need for the spool tension. For instance, if someone said you need to tighten the drag or you need more, you’d turn the star clockwise to apply more pressure on the drag washers. Variations in model numbers represent different features like more bearings, different colors, or features like a thumb bar line release instead of a push button. You only have one shot at getting this correct though and if it is set too tight (too much drag) you will NOT get a second chance. Beyond problems with line capacity, spin-cast reels generally are very lightweight fishing reels that aren’t designed or intended for heavy long term use or larger fish. It’s definitely a good feature to look for and again will be a standard feature in most reels though the quality of the line alarm system will vary greatly in cheaper reels. Piscifun Torrent Baitcasting Reel 5. Spinning reels have a wire bale across the top that you flip back and forth when casting. This is a great article for experienced anglers to review, and newbies to study! The only thing we could ask for is a larger bail roller. Keep reading and we’ll walk you through how to properly set the drag system and use it correctly. When you hook a fish there’s a significant force, especially on a big cat. It's a HUGE category, because flathead fancies everything from spinnerbaits, to soft plastics of all kinds, to barra lures, and blades. All of the above-mentioned reels are good quality fishing reels that will perform if they’re in good condition. I rarely buy used reels anymore, but have bought many used reels on eBay in the past and have gotten some awesome buys. If you attempt to cast and backlash the fishing reel while casting this is a good indication you need to increase the spool tension. The drag should slip at approximately 25 to 35 percent of the unknotted line strength for the fishing line. Anything more than dropping a bait off the side of the boat or shore though and you’ll probably find it difficult. Some anglers prefer the larger power handles for trophy catfish as it feels more comfortable to them and gives the feeling that they have more cranking power. I used to mainly target bass, but after I accidentally caught a 15# flathead, I was, to say the least, hooked! Every Texas state record flathead catfish caught has been caught by a crappie fisherman. Bait clickers (also referred to as line alarms) allow the spool to operate in free spool and creates a clicking noise when the fish starts swimming away with your bait. Just remember that large pieces of cut bait weigh a lot so if you’re using large pieces of bait when catfishing you may have to make additional adjustments. My best ,so far, has been a 50.25 lber. Drag that’s set too tight puts all of the pressure on the line (or too much pressure). Drag is what happens when you get that big catch to the side of the boat and it makes a hard run and starts stripping line. 7. The more weight you have on the line the faster the spool will turn therefore increasing backlashes or chances of backlashes. If the line doesn’t slip on the reel and the weight doesn’t slowly lower to the ground then decrease the drag (turn it counterclockwise) and repeat the process. Many manufacturers make spinning rods but they limit the models they’re produced in and they’ll be much less readily available through retail outlets. This technique also works better with minor backlashes. They’re all the same size and will have the same line capacity but will have variations in appearance, number of bearings, or other features. It’s like a shock going through the fishing line and every single piece of tackle you’re using. Daiwa Round Profile Millionaire Classic Baitcast Reel. Parts are readily available online and through many local retailers so if you’ve got the slightest bit of mechanical ability repairing a broken reel is no problem and most repairs are inexpensive. Get more exclusive catfish fishing tips here by email, make sure to subscribe to my Youtube channel and follow me on Instagram and Twitter. You can find this reel in most sporting goods stores for $30 to $40 and it’s similar in features to the suggested Abu Garcia Ambassadeur reels. If the reels not working correctly or making noise, it needs to be cleaned and may need additional repair. That being said, it’s still a very capable freespool reel. One of the “tricks” to buying on eBay is to look for less popular models of these reels that aren’t as well known. Most of the large round bait casters will have appropriate gear ratios for catfishing. Penn builds good reels but I prefer level wind reels. Each of these retailers will pay us a small commission on any purchases you make through these links (it helps us pay the bills and keep the servers going). Serious catfish anglers need to match the best rod to the best catfishing reel. Like everything else, quality matters also. When the star is turned clockwise it tightens and when it is turned counterclockwise it loosens. How long that takes depends a lot on how much you use them but I often hear about cheap fishing reels breaking within the first six months with minimal use. The general rule of thumb is to choose bearings over bushings and the more bearings there are the better the reel will perform. Yes they are. When you go to the “big box store” that slapped their name on the side of the reel and sold it to you they’ll either tell you you’re out of luck or you’ll be forced to send it out of town for repair where it will stay for months (if you’re lucky). If you are casting and not getting much distance then check the spool tension and make sure it’s set correctly. Again, this is an expensive reel, coming in at $230, but worth it. When you move the fish with the rod and slowly lower the rod tip, reel in line on the way down then stop reeling and pull again with the rod. Cheap reels are not the same quality and they won’t last. A good day of fishing turned great for a Pennsylvania angler who recently caught a record-sized flathead catfish. This is typically located on the same side as the handle. That’s it, that’s our list of good catfish reels, for both bottom fishing and lure fishing. If you decide to venture out from the list of suggested models we’ll provide make sure you pay close attention to the gear ratio. Common complaints about spinning reels for catfish include: A limited selection of catfish rods. It’s all about supply and demand and is very much like buying and selling boats. Beyond the basics, they’re each different in many ways. Most anglers that struggle with casting these type reels or have avoided using them have issues doing so because they’ve failed to set the reel up correctly or learn the basic mechanics. I’m going to share a couple of very simple “real world” ways of setting fishing reel drag that is much simpler. Daiwa BG Spinning Reel 4. A line counter reel has a device built into the reel that measures the amount of fishing line released when the reel is disengaged. If you can’t find what you’re looking for feel free to hit me up on Twitter and I’m happy to help. The downside of buying from pawnshops is pawnbrokers understand the value of everything they sell. We especially like the single piece aluminum body with this one. If someone said you need less drag or to loosen it, you’d turn the star counterclockwise lessening the pressure on the drag washers. You need a catfish reel that’s large enough to handle larger diameter fishing lines, hold enough of that line to use a wide variety of techniques plus an “extra” amount of fishing line for when you get hung up and break off. Another beefy, heavy duty baitcaster reel, this time from Daiwa. Half of the battle is understanding the problem! When cheap fishing reels break and you take them to be repaired, the repair shop will tell you that it’s junk, they can’t get parts and you need to throw it away. Surf fishing all species of catfish reels for most experienced anglers Rover Conventional round! 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