Tamer ‘S’ Sport & BAD Cats

For anglers travelling to the Ebro and other big rivers where truly huge Catfish are a realistic prospect, the Tamer ‘S’ BAD Cat was created as a purpose-built tool rather than a compromise. With a casting weight of 150–400g, it is designed to handle the heaviest leads, baits and demands of fast water, and it has banked specimens well in excess of 200lb during testing with some of the best guides on the river. This is a rod for committed Cat work—built to apply pressure, keep control and endure hard, repeated use.

To suit the two most common approaches, we offer the BAD Cat in both Multiplier and Fixed Spool versions, both in a practical 10’ length. The Multiplier version uses a smaller starting guide and a higher count of 4-leg low cradle guides, ensuring braided lines—so commonly used for this fishing—do not touch the blank under load. The Fixed Spool version features a 40mm starting guide, positioned further up the blank to aid casting, and uses fewer guides to match the different line flow and spool dynamics.

For those wanting a more versatile rod to target other species (while still perfectly capable with Cats), the Tamer ‘S’ Sport models sit alongside the BAD Cat as true multi-purpose big-fish tools. Both are 10’ long with a casting weight of 100–300g, and crucially they feature a lighter, more responsive tip than the BAD Cat—ideal when you want cleaner loading, better bite indication and a little more “sport” in the blank, while still retaining the power to dominate powerful fish when the fight turns serious.

And anyone who has visited Gillham’s Resort will know just how good these rods are—and just how hard they are worked throughout the year. They are used day in, day out, not just occasionally, but as genuine frontline tools in one of the toughest proving grounds imaginable. From 40°C+ heat that bakes tackle and tests every fitting, through to sudden tropical rainstorms that soak everything and punish components, the rods are repeatedly asked to cast, fight and land fish in conditions that quickly expose weaknesses.

That’s exactly why the blank material and finish matter. The ‘S’-Range Tamer Sport and BAD Cats are built on our 36T Japanese low-resin carbon, and the lower resin content means the blank won’t suffer from any significant softening even with prolonged heavy use—hours of casting, repeated high-load pressure and relentless fights from powerful fish. To keep them looking smart and working hard for years, every blank is finished in our Perdurable blank finish, left free of paint and heavy lacquer so there’s nothing to chip, craze or dull, even when rods are constantly handled, transported and worked hard in extreme conditions.

Yet they continue to perform, which is exactly why they have become such a trusted choice there. In that environment they are used to great effect to land world record Siamese Carp, Arapaima, Mekong Catfish and other exotic species, and that same combination of resilience, control and responsive power transfer makes them equally suitable for targets such as Nile Perch and Alligator Gar.

Across the ‘S’-Range Tamer Sport and BAD Cat models, the build is designed around leverage, control and durability. Blanks are finished in our 3K carbon aesthetic and feature a full EVA rear grip with an interchangeable butt system, supplied with both hard EVA and gimbal fittings. The full rear grip gives extra security and comfort during hard fights, helping the angler maintain control when sustained pressure is needed. A long EVA foregrip is fitted specifically so both hands can rest above the reel, giving maximum leverage through long, demanding battles. Anyone who has fought fish such as Mekong Catfish will understand why this matters, allowing body weight to be used when needed while still keeping constant pressure on fish that can exceed 300lb. Reels are secured by the tough Fuji FPS M20 reel seat, chosen for dependable clamping strength and long-term durability. Guides are our 4-leg low cradle pattern for stability under load, with layouts tuned to each build style.

Tamer ‘E’-Class Sport

The Tamer ‘E’-Class Sport sits alongside the ‘S’-Range models as the durable, hard-working Sport option, built for anglers who want a rod that will thrive under heavy use in demanding conditions. At 10’ long, it’s a near-perfect length as a casting tool while still being short enough to remain highly effective in a boat, giving you control and leverage without feeling unwieldy in tighter spaces.

The ‘E’-Class Sport is built using Korean Hankook carbon, finished in our SEA-3K cosmetic for a crisp, technical look with real toughness behind it. This is a hard-wearing blank construction, selected specifically for resilience and long-term reliability, and it is paired with our Perdurable blank finish so it will endure harsh climates, constant handling and relentless fishing pressure for years of unerring service.

These ‘E’-Class Sports are also used to great effect at Gillham’s Resort, where they have proved their worth in a truly hostile environment. When rods are worked day in, day out in 40°C+ heat and sudden tropical rainstorms, there’s nowhere to hide—under conditions like these, rods must perform and be consistently reliable session after session, with blanks, fittings and guide trains standing up to constant pressure and punishment. The ‘E’-Class has earned its place there by doing exactly that.

The Tamer ‘E’-Class Sport is finished with distinctive gold coloured fittings and a robust full EVA rear handle, ideal for use with butt pads and for improved comfort during long, hard battles with fearsome predators. Like the ‘S’-Range models, it also uses a long EVA foregrip, allowing both hands to sit above the reel for sustained leverage and pressure when you need to stay in complete control. Reels are held securely with the same durable Fuji FPS M20 reel seat, chosen for reliability under heavy load. As with the rest of the Sport range, the Tamer ‘E’-Class Sport is available in both Multiplier and Fixed Spool builds, with layouts matched to each style for dependable casting and confident fish control.