Tamer ‘S’ Bank Cat Rods

Cat fishing in all its forms is getting more popular, with devoted anglers increasingly choosing to target this enigmatic species above all else. It is not difficult to see the attraction of the European catfish (Wels)—a fish that grows to huge size and fights with a powerful, relentless intensity. Catching these fish from the bank, particularly on venues where boats are not permitted, demands special rods with sufficient backbone for control, yet gently loading, progressive actions to cope with large baits and the hard, sustained battles that big cats are famous for.

The new Tamer ‘S’ Bank Cats have been designed for Cat fishing in the U.K. and overseas, where casting is required and for genuine sport with Cats to around 100lb. We have developed three models—10’, 11’ and 12’—to suit a variety of situations, with the 11’ proving the best all-rounder for most anglers and venues.

At the heart of the range is our 36T Japanese low-resin carbon, chosen not only for its strength-to-weight but for its ability to keep the blank feeling “right” when it’s worked hard. The lower resin content means these blanks won’t suffer from any significant softening, even with prolonged casting with big baits and repeated heavy pressure during long, powerful fights with big Cats. Just as importantly, these blanks were purposefully designed as dedicated Cat rods—they are not re-worked Spod rods, because the actions required are quite different. A true Cat blank must load smoothly and progressively for casting, then hold stable power under sustained pressure, rather than simply being built to punch a payload out.

Tip design was equally important. The tips are made more responsive to allow cleaner loading and release when you want to cast smaller baits such as halibut pellets and other compact presentations—so you’re not forced into only fishing bulky payloads. Yet there is still plenty of power building from the tip through the blank, giving you the confidence to step up to bigger deadbaits when required, with the blank remaining composed and predictable rather than top-heavy or reluctant to cast.

These rods utilise our ‘S’-Range 3K carbons with Perdurable raw-carbon finish, keeping them free of paint and heavy lacquer so they stay looking smart and resist the scuffs and knocks that come with demanding sessions. Handles are full hard EVA foregrips and rear handles for durability and confidence in wet conditions, finished with stainless steel collars and butt caps for long-term toughness. The Fuji DPS M20 reel seat is chosen for secure fit and practicality, and will comfortably take even the biggest reel feet used in modern Cat fishing. Guides are our ‘S’-Lite 4-leg cradle guides for strength and stability under heavy load. Since their launch, these Bank Cats have already found favour with Cat specialists in the U.K. and Europe—a clear sign they’re delivering the right blend of casting behaviour, fish control and long-term robustness.