# Fishing for the big, ugly monsters. **URL:** \ **Category:** Fishing Tackle Tips\ **Created:** [March 5, 2003, 2:18am UTC](https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/t/fishing-for-the-big-ugly-monsters/8341 "2003-03-05T02:18:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DrownedDesertRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DrownedDesertRat](https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/u/DrownedDesertRat)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 2:18am UTC](https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/t/fishing-for-the-big-ugly-monsters/8341/1 "2003-03-05T02:18:43Z")
I’ve decided that my goal for this upcoming liquid water fishing season is to go for the big, ugly monsters… Cats and Carp. What gear would you suggest I use for shore/fishing peer fishing? What rating/length of rod? What strength and type of line? What size/brand of hooks? What reel? ---
**Author:** ![byrumjr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f8ce5/32.png) [@byrumjr](https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/u/byrumjr)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/t/fishing-for-the-big-ugly-monsters/8341/2 "2003-03-06T19:33:18Z")
I don’t know of a better goal to have, than being out on the water trying to catch that one big fish. With out know more about where you are fishing. I would go with a good stiff rod, about 6 foot with the medium heavy rating . Now for the line some brands work better than other, but all will do the job . I would used at least 20 lb. test . The reel is what you like. A spinning reel or a conventional reel will work. As to the size of the reel the bigger the reel the faster you can bring the fish in. As for the hook try a 4/0, it does not take a big hook to catch big fish. Just make sure that the hook does not bend if so it could straighten out and lose the fish. ---
**Author:** ![DrownedDesertRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DrownedDesertRat](https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/u/DrownedDesertRat)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 6:31am UTC](https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/t/fishing-for-the-big-ugly-monsters/8341/3 "2003-03-07T06:31:27Z")
Thanks! I’ll be doin’ all my fishin’ here in the land with well over 10,000 lakes (although many of them barely qualify as lakes). I fish mainly the Mississippi River just north of Mpls. 20 lb test line is what I was figurin’. But should it be low-vis? How about line sensitivity and give/stretch? Abrasion resistant? ---
**Author:** ![JapanRon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@JapanRon](https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/u/JapanRon)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 6:41am UTC](https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/t/fishing-for-the-big-ugly-monsters/8341/4 "2003-03-07T06:41:07Z")
Hi there DrownedDesertRat, Musta been a flash flood huh? Some guys take this catfish fishing just as serious as the most serious trout fishing purist you ever met. Using [Google.com](http://Google.com) as your search engine I would search for websites directed specifically for catfishing. There are a bunch. I just pull up a few. Good search keywords would be catfishing, tackle, bait, how to, etc. Some guys here will be able to help too I’m sure. tsurikichi ---
**Author:** ![lonehunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/958977/32.png) [@lonehunter](https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/u/lonehunter)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 9:39pm UTC](https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/t/fishing-for-the-big-ugly-monsters/8341/5 "2003-03-07T21:39:51Z")
i’m with you on this ! most the guys from my old area (detroit) use ocean rods and reels . i’ve had carp destroy many a reel , usually one per fish . i am pretty good the nugent way . i met him once doing this . talk about energy , and his comitment to getting kids interested in the outdoors , while we were talking with him he spotted a kid and his dad , and stopped talking right in the middle of his sentence , walked over to the kid and introduced himself and spent a good half hour with the young lad , giving him pointers and then his bow ! that kid will be hooked for life . i am going to try the european way of fishing for them this year as an experiment , noodle roding ! and fly fishing ! it should be interesting .