Tackle for catching catfish

Catfish is the largest freshwater predator of Russian reservoirs, which not only beginners, but also experienced anglers dream of catching. Properly assembled equipment for catching catfish, as well as a good knowledge of the behavior of this fish, will allow the angler to become the owner of a worthy trophy.

Description and behavior

In large reservoirs with a good food base, catfish can grow up to 3 m in length and weigh more than 200 kg. It is easy to distinguish it from other fish in several ways:

• complete absence of scales;
• the presence of a long mustache;
• large flattened head;
• small, high-set eyes;
• huge mouth.

The color of the mustachioed predator depends on the color of the bottom soil in its habitat and on the age of the fish. The coloring often contains dark tones, but occasionally there are albino catfish.

Unlike most other freshwater fish, the catfish prefers to lead a sedentary life and can live in one hole all its life, leaving its refuge only for the time of feeding. Various natural disasters, leading to a sharp shallowing of the reservoir or the impoverishment of its food supply, can force the “whiskered” to leave their usual habitats. This predatory fish is found in reservoirs of various types:

• medium and large rivers;
• deep lakes;
• reservoirs.

For permanent residence, the catfish chooses places with depths from 8 to 16 m. The “whiskered” feeds both in the dark and in the daytime, but is especially active at night. His diet includes:

• fish;
• shellfish;
• crayfish;
• amphibians;
• worms.

Large individuals have their own hunting grounds on the reservoir and do not allow other relatives there. Adult catfish can form groups only in winter on the territory of wintering pits.

Place and time of fishing

The result of catfish fishing largely depends on the knowledge of those places on the reservoir where the predator goes to feed. The most promising places for catching catfish are:

• exits from the pits;
• channel edges;
• flooded snag;
• coastal pools;
• deep bays.

In stagnant reservoirs, you should look for places with sharp changes in depth. When fishing on the river, it is necessary to pay attention to places with a reverse flow, as well as deep reaches. The depth at which catfish prefer to feed may vary depending on the time of year.

In the spring, small catfish, which quickly come to their senses after hibernation, become the prey of the fisherman more often. Large specimens begin to catch on fishing gear 1-2 weeks after spawning, which usually occurs in late June – early July.

The period from July to October is the most favorable time for catching trophy catfish. During this period, the mustachioed predator is consistently caught on various gear. As the water gets colder, the catfish becomes less active, begins to slide into wintering pits, but still continues to respond to natural baits and artificial baits offered to it. After the water temperature drops below 8 degrees, the “whiskered” stops pecking and falls into hibernation until the onset of spring.

Catfish are reluctant to bait during the hot afternoon hours. It is much easier to catch it at dawn, when the heat subsides and peaceful fish come out of their daytime shelters. Night fishing is considered the most productive, during which the angler has a chance to catch a truly large predator.

What gear will be required

In catfish fishing, there are increased requirements for tackle, which is associated with the large size of prey that can be hooked. Properly assembled tackle will allow you to easily throw the equipment into the fishing area and ensure reliable hauling of the fish.

Coastal donkey rigging

The classic donk is the most common tackle for angling a mustachioed predator. This equipment for catching catfish consists of several elements:

• durable fiberglass spinning;
• coils of any type;
• monofilament fishing line with a diameter of 0,6–0,8 mm;
• flat load with an eye weighing 40–200 gr.;
• a silicone bead to prevent damage to the knot by the sinker;
• a fishing carabiner with a swivel that can withstand a load of at least 50 kg;
• leash made of fluorocarbon 1 m long and 0,7 mm in diameter;
• hook No. 1,0–8,0 (according to international classification).

The fiberglass rod has a large margin of safety, which makes it possible to fight with large specimens. An inertial or inertial reel installed on a spinning rod will allow you to cast the bait far and help the angler when playing. The bite of catfish can be very sharp, so for catching it, it is better to use reels equipped with a baitrunner system, which will not allow the fish to pull the tackle into the water. If there is no such system in the reel, then you need to loosen the friction brake, which will ensure that the fishing line comes off the spool unhindered. The assembly scheme of the bottom equipment is as follows:

1. The main line is passed through the eye of the lead sinker.
2. A silicone bead stopper is put on the main fishing line.
3. A swivel with a carabiner is attached to the end of the monofilament.
4. A fluorocarbon leash with a hook attached to it is attached to the carabiner.

Equipment for sheer fishing on kwok

Kwok fishing is also very effective and is widely used not only in Russia, but throughout the world. The kwok itself is made of metal or hardwood. Such equipment for catching catfish is characterized by maximum ease of assembly and includes the following elements:

• wooden reel about 40 cm long;
• nylon cord 1,5–2 mm thick;
• sinker “olive” weighing 40-60 gr.;
• large triple hook.

A nylon cord is passed through the hole of the “olive” sinker, after which a triple hook is tied to its end. The sinker “olive” moves 1 m above the hook and is stopped with a small lead weight clamped on the cord. When fishing for a kwok, leashes are usually not used. At least 20 m of cord must be wound on the reel.

Equipment for night fishing on the feeder

Feeder equipment for catching catfish is considered more sporty and allows you to get the most out of playing fish. The set of feeder catfish tackle includes:

• powerful feeder rod with a test range of 100–150 gr.;
• spinning reel with baitrunner size 4500-5500;
• braided cord with a diameter of 0,16 mm;
• feeder feeder weighing 50–150 gr.;
• shock leader made of fluorocarbon fishing line with a section of 0,4 mm and a length of 8–12 m;
• silicone bead-stopper;
• fluorocarbon leash 0,3–0,35 mm thick, about 1 m long;
• swivel with carabiner;
• single hook No. 1,0–3,0.

In catfish fishing, a sliding feeder equipment is used, which is knitted according to the same principle as the bottom version, only instead of a flat sinker, a feeder is installed on the tackle. As a bite signaling device, a fishing firefly is used, installed on the tip of the feeder and allowing you to see bites in the dark.

Equipment for catching catfish from a boat

Catfish can be effectively caught from a boat using trolling. Trolling gear allows you to quickly catch large areas of the reservoir and includes:

• casting rod with dough up to 100 gr.;
• power multiplier coil;
• braided cord 0,16–0,18 mm thick;
• fluorocarbon leash with a diameter of 0,3 mm;
• wobbler with a diving depth of 6–12 m.

The “braid” is directly attached to the leash with the help of an oncoming knot, which gives the equipment additional strength. You should not use a thick monofilament fishing line when trolling, since such a monofilament will not allow the wobbler to go deep to the working depth. In addition, a thick monofilament will disrupt the bait’s play.

Equipment for fishing from the shore

The simplest equipment for fishing from the shore is a piece of thick fishing line or braided cord with a hook tied at the end. A lead weight is fixed 50 cm above the hook. The free end of the monofilament is tied to a long elastic horn, cut down right on the shore and securely stuck into the ground.

The rigging hook is baited with live bait or a frog and thrown into the coastal whirlpool. Such equipment does not require constant monitoring. An angler can check simple coastal gear 2-3 times a day. The biting fish is usually hooked by itself. A fisherman can arrange several of these rigs at once, which will significantly increase his chances of success.

Catfish Catching Technique

The technique for catching catfish directly depends on the type of equipment used. In the daytime, the best results are shown by active fishing methods, which include trolling and fishing with a kwok. At night it is more convenient to catch on the classic bottom or feeder tackle.

In the afternoon

For daytime catfish fishing, the angler will need a reliable watercraft with which he can get to the predator’s parking lots. If the fisherman is going to catch by trolling, then he will need to pre-select the area where he will be fishing. The selected site should have a complex bottom relief that is most suitable for catfish habitat. Having sailed to the intended place, the angler throws the wobbler 50–70 m from the boat and begins to row slowly against the current.

The main thing in trolling fishing is to choose the right speed of the boat and choose the right type of wobbler. You can count on a catfish bite if the wobbler goes no higher than 40 cm from the bottom soil.

For fishing on a kwok, you will also need to select a site where there are pits or a flooded snag. Having sailed to a certain place, the fisherman lowers the tackle to a depth of 3–5 m and begins to fish. Attracted by the sounds of a quok, the catfish rises to the surface and sees a bait put on a hook in the water column. After a bite, you should not rush to strike, you need to let the fish swallow the nozzle deeper.

At night time

At night, it is preferable to use bottom or feeder gear. Fishing for a donk is quite simple and consists in the fact that the fisherman throws several tackles at once into a promising zone and controls them in anticipation of a bite. From time to time, the angler should check the condition of the bait on the hook and, if necessary, renew the bait. The bite of a catfish on the bottom looks like a sharp pull of the fishing line, after which an immediate hook should follow.

Catfish feeder fishing is a little more difficult, but at the same time much more effective, since the angler constantly lures the fish with a bait mixture hammered into the feeder. The main thing in feeder fishing is to constantly hit the feeder in the same place, which is not so easy to do in complete darkness. Attracted by the smell of bait, the catfish approaches the fishing point and is tempted by the bait provided to it. If there is no large accumulation of snags in the fishing area, where the fish could go in the process of playing, then you should not overload the tackle and try to pull the catfish ashore as soon as possible.

Bait and feeding on a predator

The modern fishing industry produces various baits focused on catching catfish. The main component of such baits is fishmeal, soaked in fish oil and amino acids. The catfish responds well to such bait mixtures and quickly approaches the fishing area. As animal components, chopped worms or chopped meat of bivalve mollusks can be added to the bait.

The choice of bait affects the quality of catfish bites and the final result of the whole fishing. Constant experiments with bait will allow the angler to count on a good catch.

Live bait use

As a live bait, it is better to use carp fish. Roach weighing 100-300 grams is well suited for bottom fishing. When fishing for a kwok, preference should be given to asp or sabrefish. The live bait will behave more naturally if it is planted under the upper fin. Live bait is considered the best bait for fishing trophy catfish.

Chicken liver

Properly prepared chicken liver can provoke even an inactive predator to bite. The secret of the catchability of this bait lies in its unique smell, which appears after the chicken giblets lie in the sun for several hours.

On a frog or cancer

Rak should be used as bait when fishing in the bottom layers of water. This arthropod is a common food for catfish, especially during the molting period. On the hook, you can put both a whole crayfish and a crayfish neck.

The frog is a versatile bait that works well throughout the summer. It is preferable to use this amphibian when fishing in coastal whirlpools and backwaters. The frog is mounted on a hook by the upper lip.

Precautions for catching big fish

A large fish caught on a hook, if handled improperly, can severely injure the angler. To avoid unpleasant situations and maintain your health, you need to know a few rules for fishing safety:

• you should never wind a fishing line or cord around your hand, because when biting a large fish, everything can end in a serious cut of the limb or even the death of the angler;
• a large catfish taken under the lower jaw can easily dislocate the fisherman’s hand, so the fish must first be stunned with a club, and only then dragged into the boat.
• Fish weighing more than 70 kg should be towed to the shore without being taken out of the water, as it has tremendous strength and, being dragged into the boat, can cause serious injury to the fisherman.

Compliance with these simple rules will prevent possible injuries. It is better to go fishing for a large catfish in the company of a trusted friend.

Tips from experienced fishermen to increase your catch

Experienced fishermen can always give some useful advice to a novice colleague. When catching catfish, you must follow the following recommendations:

• the fisherman should always carry several types of nozzles;
• when fishing, you need to constantly monitor the quality of the bait on the hook;
• good knowledge of the bottom relief of the reservoir will allow you to count on a rich catch;
• the bait must contain the same animal components that are attached to the hook;
• before catfish fishing, it is necessary to carefully check the gear for the strength of knots and other connections.

Properly assembled equipment for catching catfish will allow you to cope with trophies weighing several tens of kilograms and will give the angler real pleasure from fighting big fish.