Showing posts with label fishing for catfish using the flyrod. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fishing for catfish using the flyrod. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Fly Reel Review+Catfish On The Fly

 Has anyone noticed the price of fly reels? Most of you know that I fish with the G-Loomis free spool reels, which cost between $150.00 and $ 200.00. That is the most I have paid for a fly reel and probably will never pay more than that price. In fact, at my age, I don't intend to buy another fly reel ever. 

With that said, the three main components that entail fly fishing for me are the fly rod, fly reel, and fly line. The least expensive of the three for me would be my fly reel. One can spend big bucks on a fly reel, but in reality, all it will do is keep your line spooled and provide a decent drag to fight a large fish. In fact, the click and paw fly reels don't have drag. Both my Battenkill reels are the click-and-pawl version, which I like especially when fishing for trout on the tailrace and bluegill on the lake. But what if you want an inexpensive, small arbor reel that features a smooth dial drag setting? 

Enter the Avid fly reel by Maxcatch; at 50 bucks, this reel is a bargain for fly fishermen who don't want to hear the click, click sound of the paw and click version reel. My son Jason purchased this reel at the beginning of this year, and he and I have been using it. I use it sometimes when he is out of state working, and he uses it when he fishes with me when he is home. The reel is super light and measures 2 3/4 inches in diameter with the width of the spool 1 1/4". He has paired it with his Redington 2 wt. 7 1/2 ft. fly rod. To experience the ultimate in light-action fly fishing, this combo will deliver. In fact, I like the combo so well that I have started using it over my click and paw Battenkill combo. 


To get a more detial description of this reel check out their website at Maxcatch Fly Fishing. I thought I would never like a colored fly reel, but after seeing this one up close I was sold. 

I fished the combo one evening last week on Walker County Lake, knowing that the spawn was over for the year, I was there mainly to cast this 2-weight. As usual, nothing was happening on top, so I fished subsurface using my stand-by Krystal Booger. It didn't fail, as it caught the attention of some active catfish that put the 2wt. to the test.
I haven't a clue what these catfish thought this fly was, but I didn't care, hey I was landing fish using one of the lightest fly rod combos I've ever fished with!!









 



























































































































Sunday, April 21, 2024

Catfish on the Flyrod

 

This past Friday was another epic day fishing for bluegill using my 7 1/2 ft. 3 wt. Flyrod fishing Walker County Lake. While fishing for the big bull bluegills, I landed the largest catfish ever on the flyrod. The fish hit a size 8 orange popper fishing near weed pads on the lake's levee. I knew it was big as soon as the fish made its first run. Little did I know it was a little over 8 lbs 26 inches. This catfish didn't top my carp last year, but it came close. Who knows, I may land one of their elusive Walleye next year. I never fish this lake with anything above a 2 and 3 wt. Flyrod. Let's say I like the challenge. 
Looking closely, you can see the popper hooked into the catfish's whisker. It's a miracle I landed it, considering the 15-minute fight he put up. I gave the catfish to the gentleman in the background fishing near the lake's edge. He was as excited as I was landing the fish.