Catskill Casters are a handmade competition-grade catfishin’ rod.

Made in the Catskills to build cats’ skills.

Images coming soon, swear to Todd. (Planning to have site ready for ordering in time for Xmas 2025.)

Model 925:

This here’s your workin’ cats’ rod. Basic, no-frills, unpainted rod constructed from tempered bamboo with paracord line.

Model 247:

All day every day! This is our pro model, for your show-pony fancyboi cats. These tempered bamboo rods are churched-up in a variety of colors, with shellac-finished cotton grips and a paracord line. They’re basically a Mod. 925, but with a grip and hand-painted & pinstriped.

Personalization available: Add your cat or cats’ names for a nominal fee.

Use and care

Line Maintenance: Over time the end of the line will fray to resemble a fluffy flyfishing lure. The increased airdrag will affect line behavior, causing line to remain airborne slightly longer, behaving more like a moth or a slow bird. Tip of line can be snipped once cat becomes bored with the flight characteristics. A fresh tip will move significantly faster and permit line to flex according to the weave of the line shell, more reminiscent of a lizard’s tail. If snipping causes line to shorten significantly, let one or two knots’ worth of line off end of rod. Optimal line length is 50-54” (127-137cm) for a regulation 36” rod.

Restringing: If line becomes damaged or somehow gets removed (Dwight), it can be sent in for service, but DIY restringing is a simple (if tedious) procedure. If a fresh line is required, cut approximately 10 1/2 feet of 550-lb mil spec paracord, then seal the end of the line by holding about an inch away from the flame from a cigarette lighter or stovetop burner, melt until all fibers bond together. DO NOT TOUCH UNTIL COOL. It’s tempting to try to shape the ball of melted nylon at the end, but a painful burn will definitely result. Starting at the end of the line that’s been seal bonded by melting, tie a single overhand knot around the rod, about 4” from the end. leave a 1 1/2” tail, and remember to secure tail underneath the next few knots. Make a note of your knot direction..whether tail came from underneath the rod and passed through the bight on top or vise-versa. Continue making overhand knots in the same direction until optimal line length is achieved or until knots are 3/4” from end of rod. That’s it. Now you’re an expert!