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Useful information for catching catfish
There are many legends and myths associated with catfish. And this is not surprising, the size of this giant and the way of life gives rise to modern stories. Heat-loving fish, grows very quickly in the southern regions. Dimensions can reach 5m in length and weighing about 300 kg. There are no subspecies, but there is a closely related species: the Amur catfish, which has a more modest size.
Ways to catch catfish
Catfish actively responds to natural and artificial baits. Fish stick to places with great depths. Although small catfish are also found in small, shallow reservoirs. Because of this feature, fishing methods have also been formed. The original method of fishing is considered to be “kwok”, more precisely, it is a way of luring fish to the nozzle. Trophy fish are mostly caught with natural baits of animal origin, but fishing with spinning lures is also very popular and can catch fish of any size. Quite actively catfish are caught on trolling. There are quite a few cases of catching catfish for fly fishing. Most often it is bycatch when fishing for other predators. However, on the Internet you can find special fly fishing lures for catching catfish.
Catching catfish on spinning
In various sources, you can find descriptions and videos where trophy specimens of catfish are caught on various gear. There are cases of catching huge fish on ultra-light spinning gear. But do not reassure yourself, especially in the case of little experience in catching trophy specimens. Catfish is a real fighter, and in the case of targeted fishing for large fish, it is necessary to take the appropriate gear. The main requirements for the rod is to allocate sufficient power, but the action is recommended to be medium fast or closer to parabolic. For fishing for catfish, tackle equipped with both multiplier and non-inertial reels is suitable. The main thing is that they are reliable and contain a large amount of fishing line. The cord or fishing line must be strong enough to fight a serious opponent. On large rivers where catfish lives, there is a rather complex bottom topography with driftwood, shell rock, which complicates fishing. It is necessary to approach the choice of accessories with special care, there can be no compromises when choosing, the fight against large fish requires careful attention to all details. When fishing, you must have a supply of lures, clockwork rings and other things. You should not save on trifles when catching such a coveted and powerful opponent.
Fishing for catfish
From the shore, catfish are caught on various gear: zakidushki, zherlitsy and so on. The peculiarity is that the gear must be well fixed on the shore and strong enough. For donks, powerful sea-class rods are used, carp rods can be used. Rig used classic or specialized, but very powerful, designed for trophy fish. A special requirement for reels, for catching catfish there is an increased requirement for the reliability of the braking system. It is possible to use any types of coils: inertial, multiplier, non-inertial. It is much more important to use the model that you know how to use. When fishing in places with a difficult terrain and a bottom covered with shell rock, special attention should be paid to lines and cords, because it is possible to fray the cord or force a fight.
Catching catfish on a kwok
Kwok is a special tool used by the angler to lure the fish to the bait. “Kvochat” catfish from boats, it is believed that metal boats can resonate the sound of quok and scare away fish, so anglers often use inflatable or wooden boats. Tackle is used various, as a rule, designed for natural nozzles. It can be both powerful rods with a reel, as well as homemade fishing rods for plumb fishing or just a piece of string with a reel. Caught in the pits, the bait is placed in the water column in a plumb line. With this kind of fishing, an echo sounder is a good helper. Anglers slowly move downstream, along a pit or channel edge, luring fish with kwok strikes.
Baits
For catching catfish, various nozzles are used. It is advisable to clarify with the locals the taste preferences of catfish. For live bait or when fishing for “dead fish” are best suited: asp, ide, small pike, sabrefish. Other animal baits include locusts, crawling worms, frogs, offal of domestic animals, and even scorched bird carcasses. For fishing with artificial lures, most traditional lures can be used. In many cases, the catfish bites on a very slow, uniform wiring along the bottom, or on a stepped one, with pauses, so you should always have a large supply of lures. Large fish often react to large baits, so you should pay attention to special equipment and silicone nozzles larger than 20 cm. It is tedious to single out large models with deep penetration from wobblers, sinking baits can also be used.
Places of fishing and habitat
The fish belongs to the heat-loving species. Catfish is common in many reservoirs in southern Europe and Central Asia, in the Baltic Sea basin. Absent in the Arctic Ocean river basin. In Russia beyond the Urals, it is represented only in the Amur basin by a separate species – the Amur catfish. Sometimes the common catfish is confused with the American channel catfish, which was bred in some water bodies of Russia, including Siberia. Catfish is a typical representative of large, deep rivers. At an early age, he can live in small rivers, but quickly gaining size and begins to look for more comfortable places for himself in large rivers and reservoirs. Occasionally, catfish is found in lakes. It can form a semi-anadromous form, feeding in the brackish waters of the seas. The main habitat of catfish in the river is various lowerings of the bottom; in summer it can go to floods or stay along the coast. During migrations, forage fish can form large groups, but for the most part, it is a solitary ambush predator, adhering to cluttered, deep sections of the reservoir.
Spawning
The fish becomes sexually mature at the age of 3-5 years. The spawning period, depending on the region, can stretch from March to early August. Males arrange nests, bordered by aquatic vegetation, at a depth of 30 – 70 cm. Spawning, most often, portioned. In the northern regions, females may leave part of the eggs in the gonads for spawning the next year.