UK Coarse
Species
Silurus glanis
A heat-loving imported cat of some UK stillwaters. Huge, powerful, and a welfare job — only fish waters that actually stock them.
Wels catfish are in a minority of UK stillwaters, usually by design. They are not in your local canal because you wish they were. They like warmth, night, and a bait with a smell: pellet, squid, worm bunches, or a dedicated catfish bait the fishery sells.
You need strong tackle, a big mat, and a plan for a fish that can dwarf a carp. Check the rules: some waters want them returned, some have extra kit requirements. Don't fish for cats with a 6lb hooklength and a match landing net.
Snags, outflows, deep holes and the warmest water on the lake. They hug the bottom until the night air cools.
High summer and warm nights. Cold-water catfish fishing is usually a blank.
A slow, heavy take. They don't tear off like a barbel; they lean. Then they do. Give them the butt and keep them out of the snags.
A proper mat, wet sling, two people if it's big. Don't hang a wels. Don't put a 40lb fish on a carp cradle that's too small. Get it back quickly.
A smelly bait on the spot they live. A little pellet or a PVA bag if the fishery fishes that way. Don't carpet a peg with squid.
Fishing a water that has no cats. Under-gunned kit. Poor landing gear. A heatwave photoshoot.
No takes on a cold night: you're probably not on a catfish water, or it's too cold. Heat and no takes: move closer to snags or wait until dark.