The attraction of catfish

[Neal]

Can someone please tell me the attraction in catching catfish? I have never caught one (have a huge chance next week though ). To me they are long and very ugly and appear very violent looking . I have heard that that fight well, can swim backwards etc, are they well behaved on the unhooking mat? They have teeth as well . oooor orrible things, sorry to you cat fans out there, but if I hook one next week do I cut the line or go for it?

[shooter]

I'm going to have a chance of one when I go to France later this year, the attraction.........it swims underwater and its BIG.

 

 

Are you going to be targeting the catfish, if so, how? I need a few pointers on tactics, safety, baits etc..

 

Cheers..

[Linebites]

Catfish are great to catch and they do fight very well, once you have the fish on the unhooking mate take the photo stright away because if you dont and you let it recover you will never hold it. They do not have teeth they have pads, which feel like sandpaper that will graze the skin. If i was you i would go for it.

Use squid or liver as bait or a big fishmeal boilie or pellet. Use a hooklengh like Fox's mask or quick silver otherwise the pads in the catfishes mouth may tear normal braid. Shooter, If you are going to france for cats you should try using krystron ton-up as a hooklengh. A running rig is the set up i use for catfishing and i have never had any problems. Any other info you require check out

 

http://www.catfishconservationgroup.co.uk

 

Hope this helps you both.

[Andy Thatcher]

The attraction is that they fight like nothing else. Absolutely awesome is the only way of describing it.

 

On the bank the behave impeccably.

 

The downside ?

 

They do look like overgrown tadpoles !

[Neal]

Def not going for catfish!!!! Hopefully a big lump though :-)

[Keith Finn]

Take the chance , you will not regret it.

They fight harder then Carp and once landed are very easy to handle.

If you are after the Carp, why not put one out for the Cats? If you hook one I can gaurantee that all three rods will be out for themwithin an hour!!

Keith

ps

got back last night from a 2 nighter for them.

Three dropped runs on halibuts and two hook pulls on on double halibuts meaning a total blank for the Cats.

Changed to boilie for the last two hours for the carp. Result

7 carp to 22lb 1oz.

Makes you wonder what would have happened if I fished boilies for the 2 days!!!

[Dick Dastardly]

Only time a cat will play up on the bank is if you have too much water on your mat.Dont know what the attraction is? wait till youve caught one!If you all ready have some 35lb Quicksilver then that will do.If you are fishing a river in France then dont waste your time with anythig else other than a live bait.A stillwater then the same boilles as you are carping with will pick them up.No need for anything special.

[Rob Ward]

Keith, are you still fishing at ________?

[Newt]

The attraction of catching catfish - I dunno. Ugly critters, aren't they?

 

 

[ 14. May 2004, 05:57 PM: Message edited by: Newt ]

[martinj]

hi had a week at cobbleacre 3 weeks ago had 3 cats all doubles great scraps screaming runs and all 6ft off bottom on zigs had a 28lb one 1am in the morning never had a fight like it 1 hr of screaming moggy and some great pics !!!!!!!!!!! :cool: