The fishing of the catfish, one of the most impressive freshwater fish in Europe, requires true power that necessitates specific equipment, especially when engaging in still-fishing, and it necessitates a specific rod among all catfish rods. This fishing method breaks down into several techniques, like live bait fishing, buoy fishing, or pellet fishing for example
Live bait fishing: This technique involves using a live fish as bait. For this, a sturdy and robust rod is necessary, capable of withstanding the violent attacks of the catfish. This fishing is practiced from the bank, or from a boat with drifting floats.
Buoy fishing: For this method, the bait is suspended under a buoy. It requires a rod with a sensitive enough tip to detect the strike, while having the sturdiness necessary to fight the biggest catfishes.
Pellet fishing: Here, pellets or grains are used as bait. This is very similar to carp battery fishing, with obviously more robust equipment.
Other still-fishing for catfish: Many other baits and techniques can be considered, such as poultry offal, squid, dead fish, etc. You can place the baits on bottom lines with or without a float to vary the presentation.
How to choose my still-fishing catfish rod?
Fishing from the bank or on a boat: casting from the bank will necessarily require a long and powerful rod, as you have to reach the spot by casting a lead + 1 rig + 1 bait, which can easily reach 300 grams or more. If you are fishing on a boat, however, a 240cm rod will be enough for live bait fishing for example. The same from the bank live, as a boat is often needed to position, a “short” rod of 240 to 260 cm will also be enough, unless you have obstacles on the bank that require fish control. However, on a boat without a float, it would be preferable to direct you to a vertical catfish rod which will be shorter and more suitable. There are also casting catfish rods that are designed for buoy fishing, do not hesitate to take a look. Finally, for the lure you will direct yourself to a more suitable rod here: lure catfish fishing rod.
Power: choosing the power is a balance as often it indicates both the casting capacity and the ability to fight large or very large fish. It can be said that the “light” catfish rods, those for targeting fish under about 2 meters, will be between 200 and 400 grams. Then the rods above 400 grams will be more targeted at large fish. Of course, it is possible to pull out huge catfish with a light rod, but naturally in the presence of obstacles or current this will be slightly less easy than with a perfectly adapted rod.
Brands and budget: "Black Cat", "Dam MadCat", and "Penn Legion Cat" are leading brands in this field. But newcomers are also very well placed like Zeck or Unicat. In any case, these brands offer several ranges and you can equip yourself for even a modest budget.
