How To Catch Your First Catfish
April 4, 2010 by Lyle Holmes · Leave a Comment
Every year more and more waters are being stocked with catfish as anglers appear to be going crazy for moggies. Many predict that they will eventually take over from carp as the anglers’ most popular quarry. I doubt this but only time will tell.
However one fact we can’t ignore is that they’re out there within the grasp of most anglers. Even the River Thames has got catfish, as was demonstrated at the start of a match at Canberry Gardens at Kingston where the match was delayed as the competitors stood round to see a pleasure angler land a twenty pound plus moggy.
My first catfish came out of RMC Angling’s Split Lake at Yateley when their assistant angling manager and close friend, Adrian Ellis, took us to fish for catfish. Although a good all rounder, Adrian does like his predator fishing and was at the time well into his moggy fishing.
The rod had to be powerful so I opted for two 12ft 31b test curve Masterline Ecusima carp rods. These would have the power to handle cats and to push the heavy casting weights out.
I used two Ryobi Techno 4000ZF fixed spool reels. These are very large spooled reels that hold plenty of the heavy line required. I was going to fish with an open bail arm so there was no need for bait runners. The main line was 15lb bs Big Game which is a tough and reliable line.
The trace is most important as cats have pads of rather abrasive mini teeth that cut through most braids on the market. The universally accepted line according to most catfish anglers is one of 45lb bs. Yes, no mistake, 45lb breaking strain Kryston Quick-Silver. I was surprised but after catching my first cat I soon realised this was essential.
The hooks were Cox and Rawle uptide extra strong.
We arrived a couple of hours before dark when Adrian produced a wheelbarrow from his estate car and loaded it with all his tackle and camping gear. I followed him to the lake with my rods and some of my tackle. When we arrived at the swim Adrian pointed out the swim to fish.
We left some of our gear in the swim and borrowed Adrian’s wheelbarrow to transport our bivvy and remaining gear from our car to the swim. Naturally Virginia had to have a go with the wheelbarrow and had some interesting offers from some of the long stay carpers that we passed. For the record, Virginia is not a haulage contractor nor has a younger sister good with a wheelbarrow!
We then erected our bivvy for the first time in years and soon had everything set up for a comfortable night. I then proceeded to set up my rod pod with two optonic heads. The rods were then set up in the rod pod waiting for Adrian to come along to tie the terminal rigs. Adrian then arrived to help me set up the livebait rigs for the cats.
First I had to put two plastic line stops on the line and thread them up so they were together. This made the stop more effective. This was followed by a 3oz, free running sliding bomb. I then put on a free running bead and a strong swivel followed by a Quick-Silver trace. A largish polystyrene ball was secured on the trace by plastic line stops placed either side of the ball. This was about 14 inches from the swivel. The ball was about 1/2 inch diameter. About four inches from the polystyrene ball was the 0/1 uptide extra strong hook. This completed the rather complex rig designed to allow you to fish the livebait at any depth. All you had to do was to adjust the back stops to alter how far the ball floated up in the water.
The next step was to set up our 9m whips with pole rigs already attached. We fed with pinkies to fish two pinkies on a size 20 hook. It did not take long before we were catching a mixture of small roach, rudd and a few little tench. This took just over an hour and we were then ready to start fishing for moggies as it started to get dark.
By the time I had cast out it was approaching 9.30pm. Time to cook my tea, a lovely large beefburger from my local butcher. Virginia was halfway through cooking it when I saw the first flash of lightning. As it was cooked, the first spots of rain began to fall. I retired to the bivvy listening to the thunder and watching the lightning. It was the worst storm for years. At one stage the noise of the thunder was so loud I was thinking of putting in ear plugs. I’d never have heard the alarms go off if I’d got a run! The rain was terrific – as I looked out from the bivvy and the whole lake was illuminated by flashes of lightning. Certainly a storm not to be forgotten but I was perfectly dry in my bivvy.
At 2 am the rain ceased, leaving me cursing my luck as I was convinced the rain had cooled the water down so much the cats wouldn’t feed. They are very much warm water feeders. Then, at just gone 3am the bite alarm went off. It was the fastest run I’d ever seen. I slammed the bail arm over and lent into the fish to hear my clutch scream. By this time Adrian was standing beside me.
“You’re in” he said.
“Yes, certainly a cat” I replied
First mistake! Off went Luther, Adrian’s dog, searching the banks for a cat.
“Never use the word C.A.T. when Luther is around as he responds immediately” Adrian explained.
The catfish fought exceptionally well and appeared to go equally as fast in reverse as forward. It changed direction with remarkable ease and speed. It was a long hard fight but after a good ten minutes I saw it’s shape. Adrian then got hold of the very large landing net and waited until I brought the fish over it. He netted it first attempt to take it over to the very large unhooking mat we had placed out before fishing. As he shone his small light to unhook it for me, I saw it clearly for the first time. It was much smaller than I expected but I was happy – a catfish on my first attempt!
I noticed Adrian kept well away from the gills. He then showed me why, as there are very nasty teeth nearby so I quickly learnt that you can not treat moggies like pike. You must keep well away from the gills.
The fish was then placed in a catfish tube. One end was closed, the fish placed in head first from the other end and the far end then secured. The fish in the tube was then pegged out lengthways in the swim. Adrian explained that sacks were banned as cats can panic in them and die.
The fish was left in the tube until daylight when we could photograph it. When there was sufficient light Adrian took the fish, still in the tube to the unhooking mat. The end nearest the fish’s head was released and the catfish removed. He showed me the pads of small teeth in front of the fish’s mouth, explaining the reason for the Kryston 45lb bs Quick-Silver trace. It is in his opinion essential for catfish fishing.
He then showed we how to hold and control the fish for the trophy shot before weighing it at 12lb 8oz. The fish was then returned quickly having been out of the water only a few minutes.
Two weeks later, we returned to the venue to try for another catfish and some tench. This time we were going to use swan mussels that we were going to catch from the lake. Adrian cut a small twig from a tree and sharpened one end with a pair of scissors. He then looked around close in at the bottom of the lake where he saw some swan mussels with their shells open. Adrian told me they were a typical clam and as such would close on any foreign object. He put his stick into the gap between the two halves of the complete shell and the swan mussel immediately clamped on to the stick. He pulled the stick up with the mussel. As we were only going to use swan mussel on one rod, we took only eight swan mussels. On the other rod we were going to use frozen Richworth 6mm Tutti Fruiti boilies – two, hair rigged on a size 10 hook. The swan mussels were kept in a bucket of water and only one prepared at a time. This was legered on a running rig but with a 451b Kryston trace.
As it got dark we had plenty of activity on the boilie rod, regularly catching tench between 4 1/21b and 61b. The swan mussel rod was slower but yielding fewer tench with a slightly higher average size. In the early hours I had a terrific run on my swan mussel rod that again ripped off yards of line. I knew it was a cat and after a long fight landed my second catfish. This was heavier than the first weighing a fraction over 15lb.
Since then we have noticed that the catfish have grown every year, often by as much as 6lb. No doubt, given time and plenty of food, Split Lake will see its first forty pounder.
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Sunny Afternoons And Patrolling Carp For Fishing
April 4, 2010 by Lyle Holmes · 1 Comment
Looking for some exciting fishing in the next few weeks? Haven’t got a lot of time? Then why not try stalking a few a carp? Your chances of finding the fish right in the margins are high right around now.
Whilst the weather is still pretty changeable, most parts of the country have had a few days of warm temperatures and light Westerly winds – ideal conditions to get the carp moving. Whilst you can stalk carp on some waters most of the time, these conditions really make life a lot easier. Firstly, the air temperature will be warmer than the water, so the carp will tend to be found along the bank facing the wind. They will also tend to be in the surface layers, making them very visible if you wear polarised glasses.
In the summer carp can be incredibly frustrating, whilst they are visible, when the water is too warm they become lethargic and uninterested in bait. At the moment though they can still be tempted right through the day. Try to creep up on the fish and watch their reaction. If the carp are moving around, interacting with other fish and generally looking pretty alert then they are catchable. What you don’t want to see are fish that are just sitting there motionless.
You might think that surface baits would be the easiest way of catching these carp. This is true – sometimes, but I find that you need a decent breeze to catch during the day. The wave action breaks up the silhouette of the line, giving the fish a little more confidence. Alternatively, look to make use of any surface weed to hide the line from the fish.
As the fish are right in the edge there is no need for complex rigs. Normally a couple of mixers can be free-lined to the fish, once you have got them feeding confidently. Whatever you do don’t try and catch one until they are actually looking for more bait. One of my favourite methods at this time of the year is to drape the line over an overhanging branch and then to gently lower the bait onto the water surface so that no line is touching the surface. When you get a take, don’t strike too hard, wait for the carp to run away from you, lifting the line off the branch and then tighten up.
Surface fishing is very exciting, but there is a more effective method of catching carp at this time of year. Generally, the carp will be the only fish right in the margins, so you can fish for them with baits that might otherwise pick up nuisance fish. Maggots are the bait par-excellence for pulling carp down for a feed. Even when the fish are swimming around in mid-water they will easily locate a few maggots and come to investigate.
My plan is normally to watch the carp for an hour or more. Make a note of any spots where the fish linger, or where they turn, next look for spots where you can present a bait on the lake bed, free from too much weed or snags. When the fish melt away, introduce a handful of maggots and the same amount of hemp on to the clear patch. Once again, don’t cast out. Sit back, chill out and watch the reaction of the fish. Each time the carp leave the swim add another pinch of maggots to replace any that become buried. It can often take a few hours before the carp decide to feed, but eventually they will and slowly their confidence will build up.
When the carp are feeding on the maggots, colouring the water, it is time to introduce the hook bait. Wait for the carp to leave the swim and then swing the rig into place. I normally use six maggots on a size eight hook balanced with a small piece of rig foam. A six inch nylon hook length of 10-15lb strain depending on the size of the fish is used. Leads need only be light, 1.5oz is normally enough to set the small hook. Now sink the line so that it is out of the way of fish entering the swim, top up with a few more maggots – and make sure you put the baitrunner on! Takes when you are almost eyeball to eyeball are pretty explosive!
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5 Useful Tips On Trout Fishing
December 27, 2009 by Lyle Holmes · Leave a Comment
In fishing, trout are one of the favorite “fishing friends” of most anglers. These crafty fish are abundant anywhere. The native habitat of these crafty fish depends on the type of trout.
For brook trout, the native habitat includes the territory from Labrador westward to the Saskatchewan, while the rainbow trout is a native of the Pacific slope from Alaska to California.
On the other hand, brown trout has found its way into the waters of every state in the United States except Florida, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Texas. It has been reported in the waters of some of these states, but according to conservation officials, no authentic reports have been received. It is also found in many parts of Canada.
In trout fishing, there are some factors that need to be considered in order to have a successful catch.
1. For trout fishing, the leader should not be greased. It will not sink far enough to cause any difficulty when picking the line and lure from the water, but if it is allowed to float; it will cast a shadow on the bottom of the stream which may scare the trout.
2. The trout is one of the fishes that are usually secured through the use of the dry fly. For trout, the current as well as the pools should be fished. It may sometimes be a bit difficult to keep the fly from sinking or dragging because of the various conditions of the current, but this is a matter that the angler will have to figure out for himself.
3. It is not good practice when fishing for trout to fish directly upstream so the flies, line, and leader will float directly over fish. The fisherman should make the cast from one side of the stream so the fly will only float over the fish.
4. It is important to make the first cast the best. A feeding trout will usually strike the first lure presented if it is cast so that it will float over his private domain. The angler should never fail to fish the lower end of the pool first even if the trout are rising in the middle or upper end.
5. Trout are sometimes very moody or selective and will try the patience of any angler; hence, possibly a fly with less hackle will do the trick or it may be necessary to use a spent-wing fly or a fan wing.
Indeed, catching trout fishes can be lots of fun. The anglers just have to remember these tips in order to have a happy catch.
“Fishing Kit Basics”
November 20, 2009 by Lyle Holmes · Leave a Comment
Before going deeper into the technicalities, make sure that a fishing license is secured. To be an amateur fisherman there are basic pieces of fishing equipment needed to complete your exciting journey in the fishing world. Knowing the line type and matching the right rod and reel to the fishing technique is just basic common sense. Match these tools appropriately and expect a more enjoyable experience for a more comfortable fishing. There are several things that causes the reel to turn into a bird’s nest, don’t worry, even experienced fishermen encounter this every now and then.
The main objective is to match the rod, the reel, the line and the lure. These will only cost a newbie around $25 to $40 and they could last for years. The 3 main issues when shopping for a rod are: Guides that are attached to the rod; Grip or handle holds the rod and could come in either cork or foam. They come in different lengths so the comfort to the user must be considered; and the reel seat where the reel is connected.
Dealers make a lot of fishing rods that could either be single or consist of two or more pieces when assembled. The connection is very simple; just connect the male and female ends together to make sure the guides are lined up. This would only last for a minutes. Sometimes, lubricants are needed. When shopping for a rod, slightly bend it to get the feel of it. Again comfort should be considered when using the equipment.
Rods of any type will work. It should be around 6′ long and medium weight. Even a long stick will work. This should be long, straight and flexible so it will not easily break. The most popular rod is Graphite because it is so light yet so strong. Wispy rods should be up to 4m long to be used for long casts in moderate winds.
There are a lot of fishing lines to choose from and it can be very confusing to find the best. It is mostly made of nylon and “monofilament” that comes in spools of different lengths that are called Tests. The larger the fishing line the thicker it is in diameter. Find a piece of a 4lb. or 4 lb. Test that is almost 10′ long for the basic rig.
The basic rule is that all the gears should match. To summarize your fishing kit, it should include other stuff as well: net, stringer, line clippers, fishing knife, first aid box, a pail of bait, sunglasses, fishing hat, and talking about the basics, don’t forget your SNACKS!