[tennesseemoose1988]

So I don't have a lot of money to spend on poles and reels as they tend to get awfully expensive. I've got a few cheap poles from Walmart, a zebco boss something or rather, prespooled with 20ib line, and I got a real tree combo open faced prespooled with the same line(it seems nice, casts real well). They're both bout 6.5 ft rods. Then I got 3 Mr whisker 10 rods with some old plastic reels. All I do is bank fish. What do yall use or recommend?

 

[River_monster91]

dont take nothing to fancy to catch a catfish. many of em have been taken on berkley big game rods and cheaper spinning reels, or walmart baitcasters and ugly sticks.

 

[jackthomilson]

eBay for 1990s Zebco 808s or 1990s Zebco 888s. Best built Zebcos ever for cheap. And if you’re lucky you’ll find a cheap priced on eBay 1960s Zebco 89. I swapped a 1990s 808 2x4 style handle on my 1960s Zebco 89 and it’s better off. As for rods, I’m sorry cheapest i would go with is an Ugly Stik. Good Luck!

 

[FlintMcCollough]

You don’t need anything expensive or name brand rods and reels to get fish in the box.. a few cane poles, 15-20 lb test line, swivels, split shot, slip bobbers and a few 4/0-5/0 hook is all you “need”.. when they are feeding in shallow water, spawning, or when water is up in creeks and rivers, find “slack” water, where fast/swift water is running there is always slack/swirls, think about all the trash/debris on top of the water that just spins in circles on both sides of a bridge/culvert drainage system.. the water swirls under the surface just like on top in the swirls is worms, baitfish, roadkill, anything that has washed down with heavy rainfall.. that’s where you want to pitch a cork, not in the flowing current... be patient and pay attention because you are about to get bit...

 

[eldwva]

I use Zebco for my bestie and I use big Diana spinning gear . We also use a Tiger combo some Shakespeare stuff etc .none of our gear is expensive . Good line and hooks ...if keep gears lubricated and let them play out you can catch some really good fish . Here's a couple on 50.00 or so gear

 

[Johnny Dollar]

Eldwva,
You make me jealous every time I see those flatheads! Please keep posting them though, as I’m using them as motivation to catch sone thing similar…that and I have photoshopped them onto a couple of my pictures…

 

[spokey9]

Honestly it doesn't take anything fancy to catch most fish (outside big game like billfish)...use what you can afford because it's more important to be outside appreciating nature then how fancy of a stick you're holding...

 

[eldwva]

We dont catch but maybe 30 a year .keeping a journal now ..Our best blues maybe up to 30 lbs ...Bank fishing is tough with limited access .Only other good cat this year was a flattie around 27-30 lbs using a length / girth chart . We go many a night God bless lol