Catching Catfish with Carp Gear

Fishing for catfish is popular in America. Just about anywhere you look where people are fishing on a regular basis, you will find people targeting catfish. 

You can use almost any type of gear to catch catfish including carp fishing gear. There are very few manufacturers making dedicated catfish equipment, but with the popularity of carp fishing in Europe and many other parts of the world, carp gear is readily available from online vendors. It's a great alternative if you decide to target catfish specifically on a regular basis.

If you are starting out, sticking to the basics works well.

Here's a nice, basic catfish setup:

• Baitrunner reel (Daiwa, Shimano, Okuma)
• Medium action rod (7' to 9')
• Gamakatzu hooks
• 15# monofilament / 50# braided fishing line
• Swivels, leads
• Coleman folding chair 
• 5 gallon bucket
• A tub of red wigglers or nightcrawlers
• A quality net with a sturdy frame

There isn't really specific catfish gear that is more prevalent than others.

Dick's Sporting Goods carriers an Ugly Stik Spinning Combo that would be a nice starter rod and reel kit.

You can make a few adjustments to baits, hooks and technique to target carp as well. Imagine a 30# trophy sized carp in the landing net. It's the catch of a lifetime for most anglers.