bowhunter...it all depends...you going after bullheads? channels? blues? flatheads? how big do you want them big as they come or just normal guys maybe eatin size of a few lbs or so?? if your going after bullheads or regular few pounders that will work fine....i caught a 15lb channel cat on my medium spinning reel with 8lb test on it and got it up fine....dont take a dinky setup catfishing....they will strip your gears in a heartbeat...match your equiptment with the fish you want to catch..you want a 60lb blue dont take your bass rod with 12lb test on it.......