What You Must Have In Catfish Gear

If you have ever tired to reel in a good size catfish then you know how important your gear can be. Have you ever hooked a huge cat only to have the line break or the rod snap forcing you to watch your catch swim away? This has happened to many anglers over the years.

If you're not prepared when you go catfish fishing, you won't have much luck reeling in this species. The catfish is one of the most aggressive species of fish around, which is one of the reasons they are so popular among anglers. You know when you're in a struggle with one of these fish and if you don't have the right gear it can be very difficult catching them.

Now, that it's been established that you need the right gear to go catfish fishing what are some of things that you must have before you go fishing.

Catfish gear consists of fishing rods, reels and tackle. There are many different types of all of these available so you will need to determine what you need based on your location, the type of catfish in the area and the water conditions. However, there are a few basic items that all catfish anglers should have and these are listed below.

Rod and Reels

Considering the size of the catfish and the fight they can put up, it stands to reason that not any rod and reel will hold up to this species. It's recommended that you use a good quality heavy duty fishing rod. They should have some flexibility so a moderate to fast action fishing rod should be a good choice.

This way it will be able to withstand the weight and struggle of the catfish by bending under the weight instead of snapping into.

You also need a quality reel when fishing for catfish. It's doesn't really matter which one you choose because this will depend on the type of fishing you're doing as long as it's in good condition. Whether you're casting, jigging fly fishing or trolling you need a strong heavy duty reel when fishing for this species. Of course, you will need to match your rod and reels together depending on what type of fishing you're doing.

The weight of the line you use should also match the reel you choose and be heavy enough to not break under the weight of the catfish. You can experiment with different sizes to see what works best.

Must Have Tackle

Your tackle box is vital to the amount of success you can enjoy when you go catfish fishing. Use a tackle box that is large enough to be organized. It can be very frustrating sorting through your tackle box searching for that one item that will work the best. While you're fumbling around trying to find the right tackle someone else may be reeling in that big one you could've caught, if you had been organized.