My First Catfish

[headless]

Hi

After years of wanting to have ago at Catfish but never getting around to it I decided that this year I would make the effort. I trolled through the Web after info on venues, tackle, rigs and bait etc... I got chatting to a lad on the Wels Catfish Forum called Wez, he gave me numerous bits of advice on rod, reels etc... So out I went and purchased the items that I needed. I decided I would stick to my 2 3/4lb test rods that I had for now.

I had an invite from Wez to join him at Jimmy Lake in Corringham, planning to do 24 hours on the 26th of April. The places were booked and we arrived at 7.00am as tickets are sold at £10 per rod for 12hours, running from 7.00am to 7.00pm and 7.00pm to 7.00am. The Lake is situated in Jimmy's back garden and is around 4.5 acres and is stocked with Carp, Bream and Catfish.

For bait I took Trout, Rudd, Eel section and a few other bits, but was gutted when I arrived to find that no live or dead baits are allowed, after a few choice works were said, Wez informed me he had numerous Catfish bollies that he was trialing for Phil from the Wels catfish forum and that I was welcome to use them.

As we walked to the lake, the first bay was showing signs of Catfish and Carp so we decided we would fish the bay, not even bothering to check the rest of the lake out. Wez was going to fish on the far side of the bay and I would be on the near side, peg one...what a result, hardly a walk to the swim.

After tackling up and adjusting my rigs to match Wez's rigs out went the baits, one in the centre of the bay and one near the reeds to my left. I also baited up an area under a tree to my left, I was leaving this area until the evening. The rigs consisted of free running rigs with a 9-12" Quick Silver 45lb trace with a size 3 micro barded hook baited with either a trial bollie or a large halibut pellet. As the venue is pressured Wez recommended fishing with a slack line and using the baitrunner system.

Within half an hour Wez hooked and lost a Cat, I thought here we go, it is going to be one of those days. Within half an hour Wez was in again and I went round to help land a 17lb Catfish. I have never seen a Catfish before, a awsome looking fish. After quickly taking a few pictures I was back in my swim to make up a few spare traces. Before I could finish making one off went my middle rod and I was into my first ever scrap with a Cat. Five minutes or so passed before I had landed the Cat, a fish of 14lb. I was over the moon, I did not care now if I did not catch anymore , however I ended up with eleven Catfish, one of 2.5lb, two over the 20lb mark and the rest ranged from 14-19lb. Wez finished with twelve Catfish all of simular sizes.



20.5lb
Double up

Not bad for my first real catfish trip, helped by having an exsperianced Catfish angler with me. I could not thank We enough and I will be going back for more

Darrell

[Complete Tangler]

Excellent session Darrell, I certainly envy you.

[Banana Steve]

Well Done Mate, Looks like the trip was well worth it :-)

[Mark78]

a great session. well angled.

[KABBYCHRIS]

Well done GREAT report and Fish

[SIMPLE MAN]

Cracking days fishing there mate,and well done on breaking your duck,those cats are real slime balls,

[Fishing Forum Admin]

well done mate any reason to buy new kit :-)

[headless]

Originally Posted by Fishing Forum Admin

any reason to buy new kit :-)

When I was reading through the Catfish forum's they state that rods need to be 3+ up to 5lb test curve, reels need to be a certain size and you need this and that. So I ordered some Okuma 65 Powerliners on line. When they arrived I was gobsmacked at the size of the things, so I went and purchased some Shimano 10000 baitrunners, a little bit smaller. I also brought some 1,2, 1/0 and 2/0 Eagle Wave hooks, dumb bell rigs, etc... you name it I had it, Only to end up using beefed up Carp tackle. I have to admit that 2 3/4lb test curve rods would not be suitable for any Cats much above 20lb, unless you want a prolonged battle with a Cat. In the near future I am hoping to fish some venues that are stocked with big Catfish so my Okuma's and the Eagle Wave hooks etc... will come in handy, I will however need to upgrade my rods.

Darrell

[MRG2000]

Cracking report Darrell ,new gear ,target fish on the bank ,dont get much better than that ....

[tjnorton]

Super read Darrell well done. Stil trying for my first cat. Only been year and half so far.

tj