Wels Catfish

The Rio Ebro, Rio Segre and the various embalses along these rivers are the home of catfish fishing in Spain – and you could say Europe. These fish grow to enormous sizes, with 200lb plus fish present. Believe it or not, these did not exist in Spain before the beginning of the 70s. In fact it was not until August 1974 that the first fish were illegally stocked. The rest is history!

Catfish can be taken either from a boat or from the bank. A boat gives you more obvious opportunities, but really the benefit of a boat is to help you place your baits while fishing from the bank, and it allows you to follow your fish when playing it. There are a wealth of companies in operation in these areas that provide guided fishing services. If you do not take this option then here are a few tips.

March to September is the best time for catfish.  One of the most common methods to catch them is live baiting with carp, crucian carp, nase or roach. The Rio Ebro and Rio Segre, along with their many embalses, are strewn with underwater snags – sunken tress, rocks, old buildings etc. While this provides excellent cover for catfish to hunt, fishing a moving livebait can be problematic. The approach is to use an anchored float fished livebait, attached to a stationery buoy.

The buoy can be a single or double buoy set-up. Using a boat, anchor your buoy using a length of line and a large lead or similar object. Note that in the past anglers used plastic bottles, balloons, styrofoam etc as the buoy. Nowadays only specific buoys are allowed – which can be bought from tackle shops. Find a suitable place to fish your bait about 50 metres from the bank. It is always best to anchor your buoy about 10 metres away from the area you wish to fish. To do this you need a two-bouy rig. Anchor the buoy about 10 metres further out (or upstream in a river) from the fishing area, with the buoy about 1 metre over depth. Attach another buoy about 8 metres from the first buoy. Make a loop at the end of the line, a further metre from the second buoy. By the way, use really strong line or builders line for this part of the set-up. Make a 1 metre long leader of 20lb monofilament with a swivel on either end. Attach this to the end of the anchored buoy rig. Some anglers dispense with this, however, it does prevent a lot of twisting to the main rig, especially when fishing in a strong current. You can, of course, fish just one buoy on this rig. However, you will need to extend the 1 metre leader to make sure to keep the set-up away from the fishing area.

As for the business end, use a 3 metre catfish rod (200-300 gram test curve), with a suitable reel. A Shimano baitrunner or multiplier is required. Fish 40lb braided mainline minimum. The actual rig is quite simple – a large pike or sea float (the ones that allow the line to pass through them and get fixed with an insert), bullet lead below the float, hook length and hook. Use a single hook, up to a size 6/0. The hook length should be around 80lb breaking strain mono. Set the rig to fish 2 to 4 feet deep. Tie a weak link above the float, about 5lbs breaking stain. Make a loop at the loose end. Attach a suitable livebait, about 25 cm to 35 cm long to the rig. Hook the baitfish in the back for the best presentation.

Using your boat row out to the anchored buoys. The end rig should be in the boat, with your rod and reel fixed in a vertical rod holder on the bank. A sea fishing tripod is good for this. Open the bail arm of the reel or set to free spool before rowing out!  When you reach the fishing zone, fix the loop on the weak link attached to the main line to the swivel attached to the end of the buoy rig. Now row back to shore and tighten up. All line between the rod tip and float must be above water, thus ensuring no hang-ups from weed or debris floating downstream.

When a fish takes, give it a few seconds. Sometimes the livebait can give false indication when a catfish approaches. After the take, the weak link will snap. Now it is time to enter your boat, follow the fish and have fun! It goes without saying that you need at least two people to fish this method. Land the fish buy lifting out of the water by its lower lip using a glove.

Boats can be hired from lots of places. However, very good rubber, compact boats with compact engines are available these days from companies like Relum. Remember that when fishing the main rivers, the flow can be very strong. Make sure to prepare your rigs etc before you row out, otherwise you will be miles downstream before you know it!

You can, of course, anchor the boat and fish from it without waiting on the bank. If you do this, then it will be possible to use shorter, lighter rods. You can also trot baits downstream to good effect.

Regardless of using a boat or not, always check your live baits regularly to make sure they are still kicking. They must be active to attract the catfish.

If you do not have a boat then fish a similar main rig with a smaller livebait to ease casting. A paternoster approach will help hold position in slower currents or still waters.

Wobbled dead baits are also quite effective on lighter gear. Finally jigging or lure fishing using large crank baits or shads will also catch cats. This can be really good sport. Generally you will need a boat to do this properly. Whether wobbling a deadbait or fishing artificials, use a wire trace due to the large head of pike and zander that share these waters with the catfish.