The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

I can date my DAM Quick Super to be built between 1957 and 1962. This reel has the the size, the weight and the colour of a tank. The Mitchell 300 looks tiny next to it.

Well, there's a ridiculously huge reel, there are unimaginably big catfish in our rivers, but where is the monstrously heavy cane rod for the job?

Hi Martin, That looks like a lovely reel.

You can find heavy duty cane rods from The Modern Arms Company also known as Marco and sometimes just by their trade name Elasticane. There are at least two rods that would be suitable for catfish if the rod was in good condition. The Silver Monarch and The Silver King, both 10feet long, two piece rods. I have the Silver Monarch and it is similar in strength and action to a modern Uptider rod such as an Ugly Stick, but weighs a lot more! The test curve is around 5.5lb!

These rods are not expensive and come up for sale from time to time.

Thanks, Clive!

I'll keep my eyes open for those Silver King and Monarch rods.
I might actually have a suitable rod somewhere in the "forest" of rods in need of a make over.

Would a Scarborough “Tunny” (bluefin tuna) rod from the 1920s or 1930s be suitable I wonder. Perhaps a bit over the top short but turn up regularly at around 10 foot and aren’t expensive.

I have a Hardy rod that I'm taking to Spain in October, it must have a TC of at least 3lbs.