BAITS
THE ISSUE OF BAITS IS A STRAIGHT FORWARD ONE. THERE ARE MANY BAITS THAT WILL CATCH CATFISH, THESE ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO TWO MAIN AREAS. BOTTOM BAITS AND NON BOTTOM BAITS. THIS IS THEN ALSO BROKEN DOWN INTO FOUR MAIN SECTIONS:
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MOST OF THESE BAITS CAN BE FISHED BOTH ON AND OFF THE BOTTOM AND ITS YOUR PERSONAL PREFERENCE AS TO WHAT AND HOW YOU FISH BUT I HOPE THIS WILL GIVE YOU SOME HELP WHEN CHOOSING WHAT BAITS TO TAKE WITH YOU WHEN TAKING ON THE MIGHTY WELS.
BOTTOM BAITS
 | ANY BAIT CAN BE FISHED AS A BOTTOM BAIT HOWEVER SOME ARE BETTER USED THIS WAY THAN OTHERS. IN MY OPINION LIVEBAITS, WORMS AND LEECHES ARE BETTER FISHED EITHER ON THE SURFACE OR POPPED UP OFF THE BOTTOM, HOWEVER FISH AND MEAT BAITS ARE BETTER FISHED STATIC ON THE BOTTOM. |
FISHBAITS ARE ALWAYS MY FIRST CHOICE IF I AM PUTTING OUT A STATIC ROD ON THE BOTTOM. FISH BAITS ARE OBVIOUSLY SPLIT INTO TWO SECTIONS.
SEA BAITS
FRESHWATER BAITS
WHEN MAKING THE CHOICE OF WHICH, I REALLY THINK IT COMES DOWN TO THE CATS PREFERENCE ON WHICHEVER WATER YOU ARE FISHING. FOR EXAMPLE ON MY LOCAL WATER THE SMALL CARP IN ONE POND WILL HAVE A GO AT ANY BAIT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FRESHWATER FISH BAITS. I HAVE EVEN TAKEN 8lb CARP ON SARDINES AND MACKEREL. ITS A NIGHTMARE. SO MY PREFERENCE IS OBVOIUSLY A FRESHWATER DEADBAIT. ON YOUR WATER YOU MAY FIND THAT THE CATS WILL HAVE A PREFERENCE FOR SEA BAITS. THE ONLY WAY TO FIND OUT IS BY FISHING THE TWO AND SEEING WHAT WORKS FOR YOU.
WITH FISH BAITS ITS SIMPLY A CASE OF ANYTHING GOES. TRY IT AND SEE. I HAVE CAUGHT ON EVERY SEA BAIT THAT IS EASILY AVAILABLE IN THE SHOPS, FROM SARDINES TO SQUID. MY APPROACH WOULD BE TO CUT THE FISH IN HALF, A MACKEREL FOR EXAMPLE, AND FISH THE HEAD SECTION. ITS A PERSONAL PREFERENCE FOR ME BUT ITS THIS SECTION THAT CONTAINS ALL THE BLOOD AND OILS THAT PROVIDE THE ATTRACTION FOR THE CATS. WITH THE TAIL SECTION I TEND TO CUT INTO CHUNKS AND USE THIS AS FREE OFFERINGS.
IF NEEDED, I WILL ALSO CUT ANOTHER FULL FISH INTO CHUNKS AND USE THIS AS LOOSE FEED TOO. YOU WILL MAXIMISE YOUR CHANCES OF A TAKE BY "FEEDING" THE SWIM. DONT JUST PUT A SINGLE BAIT OUT THERE. THE HEAD SECTION IS EASY TO FISH TOO, I JUST HOOK THROUGH FROM UNDER THE JAW AND OUT THROUGH THE TOP OF THE HEAD. SIMPLE, EASY AND HIGHLY EFFECTIVE.
IF THE WATER YOU FISH IS A BIT PRESSURED OR YOU FANCY DOING SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT ONE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE WAY TO USE FISH BAITS IS A "FISH KEBAB". DONT THINK ABOUT CRACKING THE BARBECUE OUT, I AM TALKING ABOUT USING OF CHUNKS OF FISH ON A HAIR RIG. IT IS SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT AND BY FISHING YOUR BAIT THIS WAY IT GIVES OF A LARGE SCENT TRAIL VERY QUICKLY. YOU CAN ALSO PUT PIECES OF RIG FOAM BETWEEN THE LAYERS WHICH ALLOWS THE BAIT TO FLOAT UP JUST OF THE BOTTOM GIVING A NICE NEUTRAL BOYANCY. |  |
MEAT BAITS
 | THESE ARE A BAIT TYPE THAT, DUE TO THE RISE IN POPULARITY OF THE CARP STYLE BAITS, ARE NOW STARTING TO GET FISHED LESS AND LESS BUT THEY CAN BE A DEADLY BAIT IF USED RIGHT. |
THE BEAUTY OF THESE BAITS IS THAT THEY ARE CHEAP AND EASY TO GET HOLD OF. NORMALLY YOUR LOCAL SUPERMARKET CAN PROVIDE EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR AS MANY DAYS FISHING AS YOU WANT. I HAVE CAUGHT SOME VERY BIG CATS ON MEAT BAITS BUT THINK BIG BECAUSE CARP DO HAVE A BIT OF A TASTE FOR THESE BAITS AND CAN REDUCE YOUR BAIT TO NOTHING VERY QUICKLY.
MY FAVOURITE IS A HALF A KIDNEY. I HAVE SWITCHED ON TO THIS BAIT LATELY AND HIT HAS PRODUCED CATS FROM MOST WATERS I HAVE USED IT ON. I TEND TO COMPLEMENT THIS WITH CHOPPED UP KIDNEY AND PIECES OF LIVER TO SET A LARGE SCENT TRAIL GOING AROUND THE WATER. REMEMBER TO MATCH THE SIZE OF THESE BAITS WITH YOUR HOOKSIZE, BUT THE BEAUTY OF THESE LARGE, DENSE BAITS IS THAT THEY CAN EASILY BE FREE-LINED, GIVING MINIMAL RESISTANCE WHEN A CAT PICKS THE BAIT UP.
WHEN FISHING THESE TWO BAITS, REMEBER TO RE-CYCLE YOUR BAITS ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE MAIN FEATURE OF THESE BAITS IS THE BLOOD AND AMINO ACID CONTENT, AND IT DOES NOT TAKE LONG FOR THESE BAITS TO BLEACH OUT, SO TO KEEP THE BAIT MAXIMUM EFFECT, CHANGE IT EVERY COUPLE OF HOURS.
THE OTHER MAIN MEAT BAIT OUT THERE IS THE ANGLERS OLD FAVOURITE, LUNCHEON MEAT. THIS TIMELESS BAIT HAS ACCOUNTED FOR A HELL OF A LOT OF CATS, AND ITS EASE OF USE IS FANTASTIC. AGAIN LIKE THE LIVER AND KIDNEY IT CAN BE HOOKED DIRECTLY OR HAIR RIGGED, BUT LIKE THE LIVER OR KIDNEY, IT NEEDS TO BE FISHED IN LARGE PIECES AS THIS BAIT IS EXTREMELY LIKELY TO BE PICKED AT BY OTHER FISH. I WOULD ADVISE USING AT LEAST HALF A TIN IN ONE GO, AND TO FISH A BAIT THIS SIZE IT IS MUCH EASIER TO HAIR RIG IT THAN HOOK IT DIRECT. THIS BAIT CAN BE SOAKED AND GLUGGED FOR EXTRA ATTRACTION AND THE DIFFERENT FLAVOURS THAT ARE OUT THERE CAN MAKE THE CHOICE TRICKY. JUST EXPERIMENT AND FIND WHICH ONE WORKS FOR YOU AND YOUR VENUE. DONT FORGET LIKE ALL OTHER BOTTOM BAITS, TO FEED THE SWIM. JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE FISHING FOR CATS IT DOESNT MEAN THAT ALL YOUR BASIC ANGLING TECHNIQUES GO OUT OF THE WINDOW. A BAIT FISHED ON A BED OF LOOSE FEED IS MUCH MORE LIKELY TO BE PICKED UP THAN A BAIT FISHED ALL ON ITS OWN. |  |
CARP BAITS
THESE BAITS ARE THE LATEST CRAZE TO HIT FISHING IN GENERAL AND ARE NOW STARTING TO WORK THERE WAY INTO WELS FISHING. THERE ARE MANY TYPES, FLAVOURS, AND SIZES OF PELLET AND BOILIES OUT THERE AND ONCE AGAIN ITS ALL ABOUT EXPERIMENTING ON YOUR VENUE TO FIND WHICH ONE WORKS. OBVIOUSLY ITS BETTER TO APPEAL TO THE CATS PREDATORY SENSES AND AIM FOR FISHY OR MEATY FLAVOURS BUT I HAVE SEEN CATS TAKEN ON LOTS OF DIFFERENT FLAVOURS, EVEN FRUIT AND MILK FLAVOURS. |  |
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BECAUSE THESE BAITS ARE SO POPULAR WITH OTHER SPECIES OF FISH THEN YOU WILL NEED TO LAY DOWN A LARGE BED OF BAIT, A COUPLE OF KILOS AT LEAST. AND DONT FORGET THAT PELLETS BREAK DOWN IN THE WATER AFTER A WHILE SO KEEP RE-BAITING YOUR HOOK EVERY FEW HOURS. AND KEEP THE LOOSE FEED GOING IN AS THE OTHER FISH IN THE LAKE WILL PROBABLY TAKE THE MAJORITY OF IT. BOTH BOILIES AND PELLETS ARE FISHED USING THE VARIOUS CARP RIGS AND METHODS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND ARE FISHED BEHIND GENERALLY SMALLER HOOKS. REMEMBER THOUGH TO MAKE SURE THE HOOK IS STRONG ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE HARD FITING WELS. |
SURFACE BAITS
AND NOW WE GET ON TO ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BAITS AND STYLES OF FISHING. I LOVE FISHING ON THE SURFACE AND IF YOU ARE EVER LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE A CAT STRIKE YOUR SURFACE BAIT THEN YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHEN I SAY IT IS SPECTACULAR. WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NON BOTTOM FISHED BAITS I SUPPOSE YOU COULD ARGUETHAT ANY BAIT CAN BE FISHED POPPED UP OFF THE BOTTOM, HOWEVER WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SURFACE BAITS WE ARE REALLY ONLY TALKING ABOUT THREE TYPES OF BAIT.
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LIVEBAIT ARE BY FAR AND AWAY MY FAVOURITE AND IF YOU FISH A VENUE THAT ALLOWS IT THEN YOU WOULD BE SILLY NOT TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE ROD ON THIS METHOD. LIVEBAITS ARE BEST CAUGHT AT THE VENUE WHICH IS WHY I ALWAYS HAVE MY FLOAT ROD AND A COUPLE OF PINTS OF MAGGOTS WITH ME ON EVERY SESSION. MY PERSONAL FAVOURITE ARE RUDD AS THEY ARE EASY TO CATCH ON MOST WATERS, BUT TENCH, ROACH, CARP AND PERCH ALL WORK VERY WELL. WHEN LOOKING FOR LIVEBAIT THEN LOOK FOR SOMETHING AROUND 3 OR 4 INCHES LONG BUT I HAVE CAUGHT ON BAITS AS BIG AS 6 AND 7 INCH SO ITS PRETTY MUCH A CASE OF FISH WHAT SIZE OF BAIT YOU CAN GET HOLD OF. BE WARNED THOUGH IF YOU HAVE PIKE IN YOUR VENUE THEN THEY CAN BE A REAL PEST.
IF YOU ARE FISHING A VENUE THAT HOLDS PIKE ALSO, THEN YOU WILL NEED A FAIR AMOUNT OF BAIT HANDY. YOU WILL FIND THAT YOU WILL KEEP GETTING A FEW SHORT BLEEPS ON YOUR ALARM AND MAYBE A TURN OF THE BAITRUNNER. IF THIS HAPPENS BRING YOUR RIG IN AS THE PIKE HAS PROBABLY STRUCK THE BAIT AND LET IT GO. THEY CAN DRIVE YOU MAD TRUST ME.
THERE ARE VARIOUS WAYS OF HOOKING UP YOUR LIVEBAIT, AND IT ALL COMES DOWN TO WHAT YOU FEEL CONFIDENT WITH AND WHAT PUTS THE CATS ON THE BANK, BECAUSE LETS FACE IT BEING CONFIDENT IN YOUR SET UP HELPS PUT YOU THE FISH ON THE BANK. COMMON WAYS TO HOOK UP LIVEBAIT ARE SIMPLY THROUGH THE BOTTOM LIP OR AS SHOWN THROUGH THE TAIL ROOT JUST ABOVE THE BACKBONE. YOU CAN ALSO HAIR RIG LIVEBAIT BY PASSING A HAIR LOOP THROUGH THE LOWER LIP, LOOPING IT BACK OVER YOUR HOOKPOINT AND UP THE SHANK AND THEN SECURING WITH SOME RIG FOAM. THIS IS A BIT MORE HUMANE ON THE FISH AS IT CAN BE RELEASED ONCE YOU ARE DONE WITH IT AND IT WILL SWIM OFF FINE. IT ALSO KEEPS YOUR BAIT LIVELY FOR MUCH LONGER.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO FISH THIS BAIT THEN BE PREPARED THE ACTION CAN BE FAST AND FURIOUS AND VERY FRUSTRATING AS MISSED RUNS CAN BE COMMON, BUT IT DOES GET THE HEART POUNDING. AND DONT THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE THE SUN HAS COME UP ITS TIME TO CHANGE THE SURFACE LIVEBAIT TO A BOTTOM BAIT, I HAVE TAKEN PLENTY OF CATS FROM THE SURFACE THROUGH THE DAYLIGHT HOURS AND SEEN EVEN MORE HUNTING ON THE TOP. STICK WITH THIS METHOD AND BAIT AS IT CAN BE A WINNER ANY TIME OF DAY.
 | IF YOUR VENUE DOES NOT ALLOW THE USE OF LIVEBAIT THEN A CRACKING ALTERNATIVE IS A LARGE BUNCH OF WORMS. THE PICTURE OPPOSITE SHOWS FOURTEEN WORMS ON A SIZE 1/0 HOOK WHICH GIVES YOU AN IDEA ON THE SIZE OF BAIT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. THESE ARE FISHED EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE SURFACE LIVEBAIT JUST HANGING UNDER A SURFACE POP UP RIG. THE WORMS CAN BE A DEADLY BAIT BUT LIKE THE LIVEBAIT HAVING TROUBLE WITH PIKE THEN THIS BAIT CAN GIVE YOU PROBLEMS WITH SMALL FISH AND CARP. ITS WORTH IF YOU ARE FISHING WORM TO CHECK YOUR BAIT HAS NOT BEEN ROBBED EVERY COUPLE OF HOURS. AS LONG AS YOUR WORMS ARE OF A GOOD SIZE THEN YOU WILL BE FINE, BUT I HAVE FOUND THAT LARGE DENDRABENAS ARE MORE EFFECTIVE AS THEY STAY ALIVE MUCH LONGER AND ARE MUCH MORE LIVELY ON THE HOOK AND THAT IS THE KEY WHEN FISHING SURFACE BAITS. IT NOT ABOUT SCENT TRAILS AND OILS ITS ALL ABOUT MOVEMENT. WHEN CATS ARE HUNTING ON THE SURFACE THEY ARE HUNTING ON MOVEMENT SO THE KEY TO IT IS TO HAVE FRESH LIVELY BAIT NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE FISHING. |
AND THEN WE GET TO LEECHES. THESE ARE BECOMING AN INCREASINGLY POPULAR BAIT AS THEY ARE BECOMING MORE READILY AVAILABLE. THESE ARE A FANTASTIC BAIT, HIGHLY EFFECTIVE, AND IF FISHED AND STORED CORRECTLY, CAN LAST FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AND FISHED TIME AND TIME AGAIN. |  |
LEECHES ARE FISHED USING SIMILAR METHODS TO OTHER SURFACE BAIT AND THEY HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OVER THE OTHER SURFACE BAITS AS THEY WILL BE MOSTLY LEFT ALONE BY OTHER FISH.
I AM SURE YOU ALL HAVE YOUR OWN METHODS AND IDEAS, AND I AM SURE THEY ALL BRING SUCCESS, BUT I HOPE I HAVE GIVEN YOU SOME IDEAS WHERE TO START AND WHAT TO USE WHEN MAKING YOUR CHOICE OF CATFISH BAITS.
HAPPY HUNTING
