Wels Catfish

Identification

The wels catfish is the largest freshwater fish in Europe and an unmistakable sight. The head is broad and flattened with an enormously wide mouth. The most distinctive feature is the six barbels: two long ones on the upper jaw that serve as feelers, and four shorter ones on the lower jaw. The body is elongated, scaleless, and smooth, with a color varying from dark grey to olive-green with a marbled pattern. The belly is light. The anal fin is remarkably long, running almost to the tail fin. Specimens over one meter are not uncommon in the Netherlands, and the species can grow beyond 2.5 meters.

Behavior & ecology

The catfish is a nocturnal apex predator that hides during the day near bottom structures, underwater obstacles, or in deep channels. At sunset it becomes active and hunts aggressively for anything it can catch. The diet is broad: fish (bream, roach, carp), crayfish, and large insects. Large specimens also take ducks, geese, small dogs, and rats. The species became world-famous through footage of catfish hunting pigeons that come to drink at the water's edge — like crocodiles at a watering hole, they lunge from the shallows and drag their prey underwater.

The catfish is a warm-water specialist, most active at temperatures above 15°C. Spawning takes place in May-June at water temperatures above 20°C. The male guards the nest. The species is relatively new to the Netherlands — only firmly established since the 1990s — and is still expanding thanks to the warming climate.

Fishing techniques

Catching catfish requires heavy tackle and large baits:

• Vertical with squid and worms: The most popular method. A squid-style lure with a big lump of lobworms underneath, slowly jigged up and down above the bottom. When your fishfinder shows a catfish approaching, hold it still — the combination of movement, scent, and vibrations is irresistible.
• Dead fish on the bottom: A half or whole bream, roach, or cyprinid on a sturdy bottom rig. Catfish have excellent smell and find dead fish from a great distance.
• Worm bundle: A large bunch of lobworms on a sturdy hook. Simple but effective, especially for smaller catfish.
• Lure fishing: Large soft plastics (15-25 cm) or large spinners, fished slowly along the bottom. Vertical fishing from a boat with large shads is particularly effective in rivers and deep waters.
• Clonking: A traditional method where a clonk stick is used to create sound on the water surface to attract catfish. Effective in summer.

Use a powerful rod (2.40-2.70m, 100-300g casting weight) with strong braided line (minimum 0.30mm). Catfish fight hard and long.

In the Netherlands

The catfish is a success story of a species that has established itself rapidly. Since the first catches in the 1990s, catfish now occur in the major rivers (Meuse, Waal, Rhine) but also in ponds, canals, and polder waters. The Westeindeplassen near Aalsmeer is renowned as one of the best catfish lakes in the Netherlands, consistently producing catches for dedicated catfish anglers. Catfish have a year-round closed season and may not be kept. The rapid expansion raises questions about the impact on the existing ecosystem, but the catfish is now an established species in Dutch inland waters.