[TrophyHunter89]

I am looking to start back flathead fishing but don't want to catch the small ones, I want to have a reel that is very universal. For instance I want to be able to break the state record here in Eastern North Carolina which is currently 78 lbs., as well as breaking the world record blue catfish on which is 143 lbs., or go to saltwater with it and catch fish as well.


Any thoughts,ideas, or suggestions are welcome.



Thanks,
Blake

 

[BillSki]

Abu 7000 is capable of handling the job but wouldn't be my first choice if your seriously planning to target 100+ pound fish. I'm a fan of avet reels, an avet mxl is roughly the same size as an abu 7000 series but built alot stronger. But they are also non levelwind and lever not star drag so not sure if that's your cup of tea.

Good luck with your quest...

 

[snakedog]

A Penn Fathom or Squall in sizes 20-30 are a good option. You can get levelwinds.

An Akios 757 is another option. It's basically an Abu 7000 with a higher gear ratio.

 

[Chop1]

I would much rather have a penn fathom in my hands than an abu if i hooked into a fish that size. Seriously smooth reels as well, with levelwind

 

[LeeWoolery]

Blake:

You are definitely in big-cat as well as prime saltwater fishing territory and I am envious.

A few questions:

What is your budget?

Will you be fishing more for flatheads, blues or in the ocean?

What kinds of rods are you looking at?

The problem with fishing for "trophy" catfish is that the fish doesn't know that you are targeting only the biggest of the big so many times a tiny bait ends up catching a whopper and a lively one pound live bait ( reserved for giants ) is taken by a 20 pound fish.

Also...you never know when the next world record catfish decides to pick up a nightcrawler while you are going after eater-size channels with 10 pound test on a medium spinning outfit.

Now...if you know where a monster flathead hangs out, a two pound carp for bait and a saltwater outfit with 100 pound braid may be just the ticket...but...the nights you show up there to fish...may be the nights the catfish isn't hungry...so no bite.

Open-water blues could hit a teeny piece of cutbait or a whole 14" shad and that means you may have a chance at that 140 pound world record or a mere 2 pounder or...anything in between so any size outfit could be used.

The problem is...you just don't know when that fish-of-lifetime is going to hit and you sure don't want to be under-geared but...on the other hand...you don't want to be over-geared.

if you are sitting there with a heavy saltwater rig and huge bait and get no bites...at all...night after night...frustration is going to set in and your once-prized gear is on E-bay or the Buy-and Sell Forum.

My advice is to buy the best you can afford and catch some fish.

Many a 50 pound catfish has been landed on medium heavy tackle but a giant may spool you?

You just can't predict that.

Having said all that...there is safe middle ground....not too heavy...not too light...for a fishing outfit

I would not go for the Abu 7000 ( even though I own them ) but a Siegler SG and you would have your bases covered for light-duty salt and heavy-duty freshwater fishing...all for only $275.00.

As to rods...here are so available that you could use with this reel but I would go with a local company...Big Cat Fever Heavy Action Rod.

Best of luck and catch some fish,

Lee

 

[rnickel17]

Penn Fathom 25lw.
TWC Extreme.

Simple.

 

[TrophyHunter89]

Lee:

The Budget I am not really worried about more of having good quality gear. I will fish more flatheads on a normal basis, but I want to be able to fish for blues or in saltwater with this reel.

I have been looking at heavy action Big Cat Fever rods but haven’t really researched any rods in depth yet. I am okay with changing my line, and rod to target a saltwater fish. But for catching the monster cats is what I would prefer to set my rod, reel, and line up with first.

I am okay with being over geared in the understanding of the small catfish (10 lbs.) hits the line and it’s not really a fight to get him in the boat. But what I will have a hard time with is when the monster hits and my gear is not right for the fish I really want to catch.

I like the Penn Fathom but does it have a line alarm? Whats the equivalent to the Penn Fathom with a line alarm and a line counter?

Also would like this reel to have a bait clicker (line alarm), and a line counter. The line counter isn’t a deal breaker but I believe it would be nice.

 

[chillydigits]

Penn Squall line counters are available in a 20 and 30 size. Both the Squalls and Fathoms have bait clickers

 

[LeeWoolery]

Lee:

The Budget I am not really worried about more of having good quality gear. I will fish more flatheads on a normal basis, but I want to be able to fish for blues or in saltwater with this reel.

I have been looking at heavy action Big Cat Fever rods but haven’t really researched any rods in depth yet. I am okay with changing my line, and rod to target a saltwater fish. But for catching the monster cats is what I would prefer to set my rod, reel, and line up with first.

I am okay with being over geared in the understanding of the small catfish (10 lbs.) hits the line and it’s not really a fight to get him in the boat. But what I will have a hard time with is when the monster hits and my gear is not right for the fish I really want to catch.

I like the Penn Fathom but does it have a line alarm? Whats the equivalent to the Penn Fathom with a line alarm and a line counter?

Also would like this reel to have a bait clicker (line alarm), and a line counter. The line counter isn’t a deal breaker but I believe it would be nice.

Blake:

What gear are you using now and what problems have you found?

There are a number of options available so I would suggest visiting a well-stocked retailer
( especially one with saltwater fishing tackle ) and try some rods and reels for yourself.

I have one of the newer Abu C3 7000 models and it is an excellent reel and would probably do the job for 90 % of the fishing you would encounter and I consider it alot of reel for as low as $124.00 and is your best bargain for a large levelwind baitcaster ( not a trolling reel ) and will hold plenty of 80 pound braid or 30 pound mono.

Me personally...I like the new generation of smaller but incredibly-powerful, low-profile reels that are using stainless steel for gears and other internal parts and are designed saltwater-tough.

If I lived in your part of the country...I would be seriously looking at a 10000/12000 size saltwater spinning reel with a baitfeeder feature which could handle blues, flatheads and saltwater fishing.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Beastly Backlash]

I am looking to start back flathead fishing but don't want to catch the small ones, I want to have a reel that is very universal. For instance I want to be able to break the state record here in Eastern North Carolina which is currently 78 lbs., as well as breaking the world record blue catfish on which is 143 lbs., or go to saltwater with it and catch fish as well.


Any thoughts,ideas, or suggestions are welcome.



Thanks,
Blake

 

[TrophyHunter89]

Lee:

I don’t have any gear right now that will hold a fish of a big size. I do have an old Penn Peer 309 level wind that is my dad’s god only knows how old it is! I have spooled it with 80lb. braid and would love to catch anything on it, but I haven’t yet.

It’s the worst throwing reel I have ever had in my life. My co-worker told me it’s not really a throwing reel more of a drop it beside the boat sort of reel.

I didn’t even know dragging or trolling was an option for catfish until I had seen someone do it on youtube that would be different and would like to try it with this new reel.

My co-worker I work with told me the same thing today if I want a versatile reel and a something good to throw to get a Spinning Reel. He recommended a Shimano Thunnus CI4 or a Shimano Baitrunner D he swears to me it will handle a 140lb. fish. He does a lot of saltwater peer and kayak fishing. I like the idea of the spinning reel but have doubts about it holding a fish that big. Any thoughts on spinning vs. baitcaster?

 

[BillSki]

Lee:

The Budget I am not really worried about more of having good quality gear.

Then forget everything and buy a penn international vsx... End of discussion. :biggrin1:

As for mentioning the baitrunner d's they will handle big fish, but they come in BIG sizes in order to do that. In my opinion they can get a little cumbersome when a much smaller conventional reel will handle the same job. But if you're more confident and comfortable with a spinning reel then yes they can absolutely handle the job. One of my old shark surf fishing reels was a shimano baitrunner B model. It handled a few sharks over 100 pounds and alot of massive rays.

 

[TrophyHunter89]

Should I be worried about the drag on these reels for instance do I need 20, 25, or 30 lb. drag for going after a 140lb. fish?

 

[TrophyHunter89]

penn international vsx

Okay, I will admit that it will take me awhile to save up that much being I want at least 6 setups, if I like the first one.

Also If I had a choice I would rather stay in the $300.00 range for the reel, that way I can go ahead and get the rod and reel and hit the water.

 

[poisonpits]

im an old school kinda guy myself.i do a lot of fishing 1 to 2 trips a year for giant rays and sharks way over 100 lbs and my reels are penn 68s,6/os and 9/os spooled with 100 lb.power pro on the 68s and 100 lb mono on the other 2 models.ive had fish slip a lot of drag but ive never been spooled.

 

[Beastly Backlash]

If you are targeting 100lb plus cats and you want a cross over reel for salt, I would buy a reel that would be the most suitable choice for the saltwater fishing you intend to do, then just use it for catfish.

What kind of saltwater fishing do you intend to do?

 

[Beastly Backlash]

This would be my choice, get a Fathom 30 nonlevelwind and spool it with the most 65lb to 80lb braid you can.

My other choice, get a Slammer 8500, load it with 65lb to 80lb braid, which is what I did.

Either reel will handle any catfish in the world and you will be unlikely to find yourself for want in saltwater.

I can use as heavy a main line and as powerful a reel as I want, without over powering a fish, simply by adjusting the leader strength.

 

[Beastly Backlash]

Baitclickers are nide on spinners, but I still feel there are better spinners avalible that just don't have a baitclicker.

I can always back the drag off on a regular spinning reel.

 

[Beastly Backlash]

The benifit of a god spinning reel vs a conventional reel is the drag power. You can work with smaller line capacity when fishing higher drag settings, which is possible with a good spinner. Cranking speed is also much higher, which is quite benifical when trying to crank bait in from a distance.

Conventionals are lighter, usually have higher line xapacities for weight, but you will have a lower drag rating meaning that when saltwater fishing, the extra line capacity will be needed, you also ebd up with more cranking power.

 

[Beastly Backlash]

Should I be worried about the drag on these reels for instance do I need 20, 25, or 30 lb. drag for going after a 140lb. fish?

No, but for a 300lb+ shark, yes it will help a lot, but onky uf you can handle 30lbs worth of drag.