Like most undertakings a lot of thought has gone into this little project of mine. Finding just the right equipment is paramount to success so with that in mind I have chosen the following:
Line: Tectan Premium Plus monofilament line in 2 pound test. Why this particular line? First off it has superior knot strength...a very important feature when your only dealing with 2 pounds of breaking strength. Secondly, it has a great reputation for being a quality line. This brand has been in use in Europe for decades and is used widely in tournament fishing there. It is a fairly new line in the American market but has caught on quickly gaining a loyal following. Lastly, it was one of the very few lines that was available in 2 lb test...most Americans just don't like to fish that lightly.
Reel: Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 6600 casting reel. This was an easy choice. The Ambassadeur reels have a super smooth drag assembly, have a more than adequate line capacity, and the 6600 model has a line out alarm allowing the reel to be put in free spool until a fish takes the bait.
Leader: 5 feet of 60 lb Seagar Flourocarbon. You may think that this seems like a little overkill for catching a fish that will most likely go 40 lbs but catfish have a nasty habit of rolling when they feel the hook. Add that to the sharp dorsal and pectoral fins they possess and you have a recipe for damaging a smaller diameter leader.
Hook: Owner 8/0 Circle hook. Owner hooks are by far the sharpest circle hook on the market...sharp hooks require less pressure to penetrate than a dull hook. I chose a circle hook because you don't need to "set" the hook with one, all that's required to pull it into the corner of the fish's mouth is a tight line...setting the hook with 2 lb test line would surly break it. A hook in the 8/0 size is large enough to set into a catfish's rubbery mouth without a chance of hooking it deeper. A deep hooked fish complicates things immensely: it exposes the leader to the fish's abrasive teeth and stresses the fish too much for a recovery and release.
Rod: I'm still testing a few different options trying to find the right balance between a flexible tip to protect the line and a little backbone to provide resistance to the fish and wear it down. Stay tuned...more to come.
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"We choose to...do...things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, becasue that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win..." JFK
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