Attacking a water with a suspected Cat.

[Russell Shevlane]

At a small lake I am just about to fish there are rumors of a cat terrorizing anglers and snapping them up on the irrigation pipe.

The lake is very deep for its size (roughly 1 acre) with a mostly uniform depth of 12 to 18 feet, 4 foot out.

I'm thinking of trying for him properly on Friday evening and am wondering what would be the best approach.

He has never been properly fished for so I'm thinking live bait possibly a Rudd at the surface in the early evening, on one rod and possibly a pellet approach on the other.

The lake also contains a number of C**p which to honest I'm not interested in at all.

And there is also a small head of pike.

What are your thoughts on the matter?

Thanks

Russ

 

[Ian Crook]

Livebait on two rods would be my approach if you can fish lives. Single hooks obviously but wire traces if pike are present.

If people fish also for carp then the other approach is carp baits. I would give the lives a few sessions first though and fish well into the night. Pike rarely feed at night so more chance of the cat getting the bait.

 

[Martin Gregory]

I friend of mine once caught two big cats using pop up fake bread!

He used large PVA mesh bags full of liquidised bread and fished the fake bread over the top.

His take on it was that the liquidised attracted the roach , which attracted the cats. Whatever, it worked for him as I think both cats were over 40lb.

Personally, I'd try a live bait, rudd is good and a big bunch of popped up worms.

As Ian said, I'd try this a couple of times at least then fish big pellets over beds of pellet and possibly seed.

Good luck

 

[Kevin Daly]

Ian I got beaten up by Dave M on the PAC board; quite rightly in hindsight. For advocating the use of wire as it cuts the pads. I said I would not fish a livley in a lake with Pike without wire. Nev, as ever came up with the answer, silicone rubber over the wire. Sorted.

 

[Ian Crook]

I couldn't imagine wire doing any more damage than Kevlar braid hook links to be honest Kev and have never seen that damage pads. I would always now to Nev's greater reference on such subjects though. Personally haven't fished for Cats in waters with Pike present and was thinking more of the welfare of the Pike to be honest. I did watch a video Simon Clark (CCG Founder and owner of Catfish Pro) and they were using wire on a water with pike.

Come to think of it, haven't seen much pad damage caused by hook points!! I will have to ask Mr Mutton about that, he also has loads more catfish experience than me

 

[Kevin Daly]

Crooky
Just repeating stuff from Dave really. He certainly has a bigger grasp than I of all things cat and it seemed such an easy way forward I thought I would share.
My natural instinct is towards Pike welfare, I only fish for big tadpoles once in a blue moon.

 

[Jack Pells]

At a small lake I am just about to fish there are rumors of a cat terrorizing anglers and snapping them up on the irrigation pipe.

The lake is very deep for its size (roughly 1 acre) with a mostly uniform depth of 12 to 18 feet, 4 foot out.

I'm thinking of trying for him properly on Friday evening and am wondering what would be the best approach.

He has never been properly fished for so I'm thinking live bait possibly a Rudd at the surface in the early evening, on one rod and possibly a pellet approach on the other.

The lake also contains a number of C**p which to honest I'm not interested in at all.

And there is also a small head of pike.

What are your thoughts on the matter?

Thanks

Russ

Had a lot of cats in the last two seasons, Its well worth scaling down bait wise. I would suggest a single 21ml Halibut pellet on a size 6 or 4 hook. Glug the pellet in the halibut oil you can get and fish over a bed of 10ml-14ml pellets or with a few 21s around the hook. That or a spicy/fishy boilie. Dynamite do a good squid and liver boilie which hasnt failed this season, I usually go one rod in open water on boilie and one rod on pellet fished to a feature.

Depending on the size of the cat, i'd go 15lb line minimum. And coated kyrston (quicksilver i think) braid in 45lb BS.

Good luck! theyre great fun!