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Overall, this catfish rod and reel combo and kit have good value for anyone just starting with catfish

Perfect for crappie and panfish fishing, these reels feature an aluminum no-slip braid spool that securely holds your braided line, eliminating false drag for consistent hooksets

Lowrance is another established brand, but it tends to be a little more affordable than the others, which is nice

It's important to match the rod action and length to the fish species you plan to target

Finer braid will keep your line straighter and more in touch with the lure, with less of a bow in the line to take out once you hook up, meaning you get a chance to turn the fishes head that little bit earlier