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josh.schreiber

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 13, 2008
Messages
907
Location
Huntsville, AL
I am brand new to the CFF. My buddy Brandon Price told me about it. For those who are big catfishermen, or pursue BIG fish in general, I need some help. I will post the same message I sent to him. Thanks for the help.
I love this site!
Hey man, I know I don't know you that well, but I know you can help me on this.
My lovely wife got me an ABU 7000 series reel for Christmas (7000iC3 to be exact). I want your opinion on what rod to match it with. I have some fairly strong (MH action surf) rigs, but I want this one to be the 'ma deuce' of my rod arsenal...the .50 cal. You know what im talkin about. With this one I'll be targeting the biggest fish I can find: 40+ flatheads, blues in the range that you catch (hopefully), the biggest redfish down on the coast, big stripers, big gar, heck I'd like to be able to bring in decent sharks if I can hook them.
Specs:
-1 piece
-8.5' or shorter (preferably 8' or under)
-H action
-I would like one that I could mount the reel to. (It came with mounting hardware.)
-not grossly expensive. I would like to find one in the $50-$100 range, and would really cap out @ $150 or so.

I really appreciate any insight you can give.
I was looking at the pics of your tiger rod. How do you like that Spiderwire Stealth? I'm not sure what kind of line to get. Braided, for sure. It will hold 325 yards of 17 lb. test. Ideas?
thanks for the help
- Josh
 
Welcome to CFF Josh... I guess my advice wasn't good enough :) Just kidding!

You need to make a report of your monster Paint Rock flathead on the Fishing Reports section... you will make the Hall of Fame.</p>
 
lol dude i was JUST about to send you another message along the lines of
..."not to doubt your qualified input, but i always like to get as much advice as possible on things like this"
anyhow, ill be sure to put that catch up. got to run for now (that whole work thing)
 
Welcome to the forum!!! </p>

My .02...save your money for gas and snacks and such. Get a 7 1/2 M/H Ugly stick. Dirt cheap, and its all you need for cats. I wish I had taken this advice when I started out catfishing. I now have 6 rods, I NEVER take with me, only the Ugly sticks make it into the boat..
frown.gif
</p>
 
Personally I like the Shakespeare Tiger Rod over the Ugly Stick... Minner and I have both broken ugly sticks while fighting fish.  The tiger rod has extra backbone, and I feel are better made, between us several 60+ lb fish have been handled easily by teaming the Tiger with the right reel (smooth drag!).  But you know what they say... different strokes for different folks.  Bottom line, Shakespeare makes great catfishing equipment.
 
I have two Tigers, (spinning), and three Tigers (casting). I like them all, but for all day fishing, I like the lighter Ugly rods. Cant go wrong either way! </p>

I know you know the only way to break a rod fighting a fish, is too much preasure Brandon. Lighter drag cures this most times, but of course, I am used to fishing at the Nuke, where the water is so open, you have the luxury of loose drag and longer fights. Fish near a bluff, or underwater rocks, gotta have more pulling power.
emGeezer.gif
 </p>
 
Ok I guess I'll weigh in on this one. You seem to speak my language. I mean, I fish for nearly every kind of fish you can think of short of "yankee fishes" (i.e musky etc). I've hauled in 38" reds, 70+pound blue catfish, yellow catfish, king mackerel, bluefish, and a shark ALL with Ugly Stick Tigers. I will admit there are better rods out there but you'll have to spend mega $$ on a rod (or even go custom to a Seeker or Lamiglass blank) that is better all around "fishing" rod that is not species or technique specific. Look back to post I made a few weeks ago on a custom rod I built specifically for drifting for catfish. I put everything into it I thought I need and ended up with what appears to be an awesome rod, but I'll be the first to admit it is only slightly better than my UST rods. Will I build another? Sure. Will I ever buy more Ugly Stiks rather than build one? You bet.

If you need more info holler at me.

Here is my custom rod I refered to.
http://www.chattanoogafishingforum.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=16518&posts=22
 
Erik, you are right, and you've assumed correctly.  Our areas with fish are heavily structured with crag rock and large boulders... ya go gotta get 'em up and out or you'll be crying on the way home.  Your nuke application is right on though... I think Josh will be cover fishing for flatheads a lot...
 
First off Josh,welcome to the CFF. I have a 7000iC3 reel mounted to a 7 foot medium UglyStik Tiger rod with 40 pound Offshore Angler Tightline spooled on it. I have hauled in up to 44 pound blue cats with ease on this rig. When I say hauled in I mean HAULED in. The medium Tiger rod has the backbone where you need it and the power to get the big fished turned. I have a couple of these mediums and a medium heavy Tiger as well. The MH is a little stiff for my liking but it is good too. I also have a regular UglyStik rod like Spurhunter is talking about and it is ok if you want to play but has almost no backbone for moving a fish quickly if you need to. EricM uses them but he mostly fishes open water and he is a much better than average catman. JMHO
 
Well big thanks to all for the advice. ...Probably gonna go w/ the MH Tiger...BRANDON
:)
I have a feeling there will be MANY nonproductive working hours on this site!
 
One more thing to think about is which style of rod holder you are going to use, if any. my Tigers do not fit into the Scotty brand holders I have. The regular Ugly's do.
 
My "Big fish" rod is 7.5 Bass Pro Shops CatMaxx-- Cork handle, 11 guides and is rated for 3/4-2 oz lead. It costs about $60. However, this rod is not suited for detecting light bites or small fish. When I am fishing with clients for catfish I leave my CatMaxx in the rodholder rigged with a big weight and larger bait and let eveyone else fish with the lighter outfits. Additionally I have use the CatMaxx bottom fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.
 
Get a custom rod built on something like the GatorGlass U696XH or Batson RCLB80M (this Batson might be at the top end of your price range, they have other lower priced models that work well).

Minner, curious as to which Batson model you built on (pm if you wish).
 
<font color="#ff0033">Josh, welcome to the forum....I am surprized that you would even claim knowing minner and BP.....however, you will get over it I am sure.....They can't catch fish cause they have not posted anything in quite a while....But Brandon is the better lookin of the two.....LOL..........you guys know I am just kidding....Two fine upstanding fishermen....and you should pay close attention to their advice...I personally don't fish for catfish...don't like the slimmy things....Hope you enjoy the forum....        FA</font>
 

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