Equipment Features
Both dry and wet wetsuits are suitable for spearfishing for catfish Dry suits consist of a layer of thermal insulation and a waterproof layer, they retain heat better. Wetsuits are made of porous rubber fabric (neoprene) made up of many small bubbles filled with nitrogen. Water in small quantities gets under the fabric of the wetsuit and is heated by body temperature. It is best to match suits to the color of aquatic vegetation, this makes it easier to get close to the object being tracked. The choice of dry or wet suit depends on the time of year the hunt will take place and the water temperature. You will also need fins with a closed heel (so that the straps for attaching the fins do not cling to aquatic vegetation), a breathing tube and a mask.
An auxiliary item for hunting will be a flashlight with a good light source. The catfish is a nocturnal predator; during the day it mainly rests. With a flashlight, it is easier to find fish at depth in places where they lie, and to detect them at night when moving.
Catfish habitats
In order to find this predator, you need to know its habitats and habits. Like any other hunter, catfish feed on small fish, crayfish and frogs, increasing the size of their prey with age.
Catfish spawn mainly in late May - early June. Since he is a nocturnal predator, meeting him at this time of day is practically not difficult. But the catch is that it is impossible to swim up to him, because his vision radius is much greater than that of a hunter with a flashlight. During the day, he tries to hide in a hole or sink to the bottom and lie motionless.
Smaller catfish hide in reeds, but at the slightest danger they immediately leave, so you need to be extremely careful.
One of the main tactical factors is search, so you need to carefully inspect all places with poor lighting. If a school of small fish was spotted somewhere, then it is likely that the catfish began to hunt; in any case, you should simply have a flashlight with you.
I don’t recommend going after catfish with a crossbow, especially if you have an arrow with slots for strings . Through these slots, arrows break even small specimens. And bending a thin and long crossbow arrow for catfish is quite simple.
Choosing a weapon for catfish hunting
To hunt catfish, you need a weapon with great destructive power, short, durable, and comfortable in the hand. These parameters are fulfilled by pneumatic underwater weapons. It is best that the handle and trigger are located at its end part. Then it is easier to aim at an outstretched arm and get closer to the target. Air gun harpoons are not notched, they are strong and difficult to break. The diameter of the harpoon should be from 8 mm. Rubber band guns probably won't work. They have weaker killing power, a thin and light harpoon with notches that can easily break when hitting a large target.
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Equipment and weapon selection
To protect yourself and create the most comfortable conditions for fishing, you need to choose high-quality equipment. Since fishing stores today offer a wide range of similar products, making the right choice may not be so easy.
Equipment must include the following elements:
- wetsuit. It can be either wet or dry. If you plan to hunt catfish underwater in late autumn, preference should be given to a wet suit, as it retains heat better and has greater buoyancy;
- mask. Small-volume masks made of opaque silicone have proven themselves to be the best;
- flippers. It is advisable that the fins are completely closed and not equipped with large buckles and fasteners;
- a tube. The product must bend well and have a suitable length and diameter (these parameters are selected taking into account individual characteristics).
Best time to hunt
In spring, catfish begin to spawn. During this period, hunting for predators is prohibited. It is allowed to catch this fish after the ban is lifted.
In summer, hunting is much more enjoyable, but finding prey becomes difficult. Aquatic vegetation interferes, visibility decreases, and the water is less clear.
The optimal time for underwater hunting for catfish is autumn, from the end of August until the beginning of cold weather. At this time, hunting is most productive. Visibility in the water is much better than in summer (the water is clearer). The amount of aquatic vegetation decreases.
In winter, with the onset of cold weather, the fish go deeper into wintering pits, become inactive, and fall into suspended animation. Shooting a sleepy fish will not bring pleasure to a real hunter.
Where to shoot catfish
Speaking of wounded animals. It has been noticed that if a fish’s wound does not penetrate the abdominal cavity, then the fish survives 90% of the time. One catfish weighing 60 kg had a healed wound on its back. When I began to cut him up, from under this wound I removed two steel rods from a spear, 15 cm long.
I don’t recommend going after catfish with a crossbow, especially if you have an arrow with slots for strings . Through these slots, arrows break even small specimens. And bending a thin and long crossbow arrow for catfish is quite simple.
After the shot, do not try to hold back the most powerful, first jerks of the fish . On the contrary, if possible, follow the catfish at maximum speed. These fish do not resist for long. And this is understandable, since the hunting method of these predators is ambush. For example, a 40-kilogram catfish, which received a hole in the tail that is of little significance for its health, actively fights for no more than 3-5 minutes.
Tracking down prey is only half the battle. In order for underwater hunting for large catfish to end in success, you need to know how to properly shoot a trophy and pull it ashore.
How to defeat a wounded catfish?
Once the target has been identified, it is necessary to fire the shot correctly and accurately. You can shoot at any place, but try not to hit the belly of the fish. There are no bones on the belly; the harpoon will only catch on soft tissue. With such a hit, the escape of the fish is guaranteed. It is preferable to shoot at the ridge, its central part. You can also hit the predator in the tail. This place is thinner, and the harpoon will go right through, which will allow it to fix on the skin on the opposite side. A headshot would also be an excellent option, provided the weapon has good stopping power. No matter what part of the fish’s body the shot is fired at, you should not pull the line sharply. If possible, you should swim after the fish for some time, after which you should thoroughly exhaust the future prey by pulling and releasing the line. You should not completely release the rope; you need to keep it under constant moderate tension. Having sufficiently exhausted the opponent, the prey is put on the kukan. You cannot bring a strongly resisting fish close to you, so as not to get injured. Also, you don’t need to grab the harpoon right away. The victim will feel the fulcrum and may step off or injure the fisherman.
Underwater hunting equipment
In the equipment of an underwater hunter, we will briefly outline the nomenclature.
Set number 1:
- mask;
- flippers;
- a tube.
Spearfishing masters prefer to use a mask with a small sub-mask volume made of opaque silicone, usually black. It is better to have a flexible tube, with an optimal ratio of diameter and length for effective ventilation of the lungs without valves or corrugated bends. It is better to tuck the tube directly under the mask belt, without unnecessary fasteners. This allows you to move it to the back of your head when diving, which ensures silent movement under water. And then it also allows you to avoid the possible tearing of the mask from the face in case of a snag on a snag or stone.
In addition to an underwater gun specially prepared for catfish fishing, you will need good physical shape, perfect equipment for underwater hunting and strict adherence to safety rules. It is always important to be extremely careful and attentive on such fishing, but on catfish it is doubly important.
And most importantly, don't lose your head. Excitement destroys a submariner more often than giant catfish.
There are two reliable shooting techniques:
- the first, at the beginning of the tail along the spine line, here it is important not to get into the belly;
- second, to the head. Here you need to get exactly in the middle between the muzzle and the dorsal adipose fin.
Features of hunting for catfish in various bodies of water
The habits of catfish living in large rivers with strong currents differ from the habits of predators in small bodies of water. In deep rivers with strong currents there are no blockages, snags or dense vegetation, so catfish in them rest on the bottom, near riffles, on uneven terrain, and are found near large underwater rocks and boulders. When hunting in large rivers, you need to be more careful about your equipment. After all, you will have to hunt in strong currents (where whirlpools are possible) and at great depths. In lakes and reservoirs, predators live at the bottom in dense bottom thickets, near the shores, in thickets of reeds and reeds, under floating bodies formed by branches, grass, drifting debris (boards, twigs, bark), and roots of aquatic plants. Hunting in such conditions will require endurance and determination. It will not be easy to wade through the dense water growth and identify the prey.
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Where to look for fish
Catfish is a bottom-dwelling fish that loves deep and calm sections of rivers with holes and pools. During the day you need to look for it in the most shaded places.
Coastal depressions
Before diving, you can look for an area with steep, washed-out banks : in such places there is a high probability of finding good fish. Catfish live in niches that form in the steep underwater walls of the banks, so it’s worth a look there.
Rubble and snags
Catfish also like to spend their days in rubble and snags. Having found a bunch of fallen tree trunks at the bottom , you need to properly examine it. If you study the blockage, starting from its front part, the current can simply press it against the trunks or pull it under them.
Therefore, you need to approach the blockage from the top, side or back.
Thickets of egg capsules and water lilies
Another favorite resting place for catfish is in the river. The wide leaves of the plants create twilight , in which the fish stands. It is necessary to dive under the “burdocks”, hover at the surface of the water under a roof of leaves and try to look for catfish in the gaps between the leaves.
Grass thickets in lakes
In lakes and reservoirs, catfish prefer to spend the day in thickets of aquatic vegetation: reeds, reeds, cattails. Old dead stems form roofs on the surface of the water, under which the mustachioed can rest very comfortably. In places where there are no such roofs, catfish simply lie on the bottom among the reeds.
Exploring other areas for catfish
When exploring the bottom in search of a trophy, you must remember to look up. Perhaps in the upper layers of the water you will find a worthy individual that you did not notice during the first inspection. Sometimes catfish can be seen on the open bottom of a reservoir. They also prefer to rest in old beaver burrows, near steep slopes and shores, near coastal cornices and niches. Also, the habitat of catfish can be bypass canals and irrigation canals. There is a lot of vegetation on the banks of such canals. The side banks of such buildings are often protected by concrete slabs. There are cracks, washouts, and holes between the slabs and under them. This is an excellent refuge for a predator.
Features of hunting in different conditions
If you are going to go underwater fishing for catfish in a mighty river with a strong current, do not ignore the fact that the behavior of the predators living there is significantly different from the behavior of their closest cousins, which are found in small reservoirs or lakes .
- If a particular body of water is quite deep, and traditional debris and vegetation are absent, then you should start looking for places with pronounced relief changes. Sometimes several large individuals gather there at once.
- In addition to places with a current, catfish breed well in stagnant or low-flow water. Moreover, there they grow to impressive sizes, gaining over 100 kg of weight. During the daytime, the fish sleeps in reed or grass thickets, but as soon as dusk comes, it goes out to hunt.
- As for many southern reservoirs with an average depth of 5-8 m, their banks are almost always overgrown with reeds, reeds and other coastal vegetation. The bushes form a natural shelter from the daytime heat, which is so necessary for large catfish. During the daytime, finding prey in such an area is not at all difficult.
You must understand that moving in such inaccessible terrain, among thickets of hard and thick reeds, is very difficult. You will have to use your hands and put in a lot of effort. The largest individuals lie on their belly at the very bottom, and smaller catfish rise higher. The thrill of hunting in such conditions is simply incredible.
However, not all predators move to rest in reed beds after a night hunt. Some trophy specimens are often found in thick, soft grass, staying close to the bottom.
How to shoot correctly
In most cases, novice hunters aim for the head of the catfish, although this is not necessary. The main thing is that the shot is accurate and the fish can be kept from leaving.
When hunting catfish, use high-quality rifles that can easily penetrate a 30-centimeter specimen from a distance of 2 meters. If the power of the weapon is not strong enough, you need to swim closer to the prey, shooting at the tail section. In this case, the arrow will go right through, so the fish will not be able to escape.
Experienced fishermen recommend aiming for the spine, usually its middle part, without touching the gallbladder. To easily get the trophy, after the first shot at the tail or back, aim the second shot at the head. You can then hold it by the two arms and transport it without much resistance.
Don’t forget that there are risks of prey falling off the arrow even with the most accurate shots. Therefore, do not hold back the first strong jerks of the wounded prey, but on the contrary, try to supposedly follow the fish in order to ease the tension of the arrow.
Fighting a wounded catfish
If fishing takes place in an open reservoir, then dealing with a wounded catfish will not be difficult. If you catch it in rubble or under reed roofs, the likelihood of the arrow falling off and the line getting tangled will be maximum. In addition, a wounded individual turns into a great danger for the hunter himself, so after making a shot, move away from the catfish.
To successfully get your trophy , dive towards it and with a sharp movement of your hand, pierce the labial part of the jaw with a kukan needle. Then attach the kukan to the trunk or thick branch.
After freeing the fish from the arrow and line, lift it by the hook to the surface and secure it firmly. At the next stage, you will have to free the gun and arrow from underwater captivity. By following these rules, you will definitely win the fight and get the loot.
Hunter Equipment
A dry or wet suit is used as clothing for harpoon diving. Additional equipment is fins, which should be as comfortable and of high quality as possible. If you are fishing in reeds or rubble, use short and soft models. If hunting is carried out at great depths or in places with intense currents, it is advisable to use more powerful fins. Do not use products with open heels and buckles, because they can let you down at the most inopportune moment.
When choosing a gun, give preference to powerful models with a short, thin handle and arrows with a diameter of 8 mm. The tip should be single-toothed with two petals 50-70 mm long and 0.8-1 mm thick.
As for the length and diameter of the line, they depend on individual characteristics, which are selected individually by the hunter. Also find a good shock absorber and tench reel.
