The Pikers Pit

Has anyone had a go at float fishing for cats?

No But I built someone a set of catfish swing tip rods!

I used to on the Ebro yrs.ago..Drifting down by boat..L/b under a big float at diff. depths..Very successful

davelumb wrote: ↑Fri Jul 17 2020 14:39 -

No But I built someone a set of catfish swing tip rods!

interesting! did it work!?

Ratty46 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 19 2020 13:27 -

davelumb wrote: ↑Fri Jul 17 2020 14:39 -

No But I built someone a set of catfish swing tip rods!

interesting! did it work!?

I'd wager it does? My preferred method on my difficult water (1 run every other night if lucky, 2 in a night if VERY lucky) is a high rod top and a huge slack line with a big belly in it that I sometimes attach a float or isotope to and just watch the line for movement from these incredibly wary fish. On my easy water (upwards of half a dozen runs per day or night) and any indication works for these couldn't give a flying fcuk fish.

(I think that amongst other things, competition makes them less cautious face)

Ratty46 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 19 2020 13:27 -

davelumb wrote: ↑Fri Jul 17 2020 14:39 -

No But I built someone a set of catfish swing tip rods!

interesting! did it work!?

It sure did. He was already fitting swing tips but wanted a dedicated set with threaded tip rings.

I do remember many years back a local bloke used to fish claydon with a single, special heavy duty quivertip rod using lump of luncheon meat and caught plenty.

Ratty46 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 17 2020 14:35 -

Has anyone had a go at float fishing for cats?

Can't beat trotting liveis from a boat for excitement. Had a few off the bank too, but it's just not the same.

Dave Horton wrote: ↑Sun Jul 19 2020 13:59 -

Ratty46 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 19 2020 13:27 -

davelumb wrote: ↑Fri Jul 17 2020 14:39 -

No But I built someone a set of catfish swing tip rods!

interesting! did it work!?

I'd wager it does? My preferred method on my difficult water (1 run every other night if lucky, 2 in a night if VERY lucky) is a high rod top and a huge slack line with a big belly in it that I sometimes attach a float or isotope to and just watch the line for movement from these incredibly wary fish. On my easy water (upwards of half a dozen runs per day or night) and any indication works for these couldn't give a flying fcuk fish.

(I think that amongst other things, competition makes them less cautious face)

think your spot on mate, where there's numbers off them they arent cautious and are fairly easy, the opposite wheres there not big numbers of them, they are bloody difficult!!
you know where ive been trying, and i have found them very difficult ,to the point they are spitting out bolt rigs..considering the place is fished alot you would think they get caught more..nope!
flaot seems to work, takes are like pike takes with livies! only using pellets! lol

John Milford wrote: ↑Sun Jul 19 2020 17:30 -

Ratty46 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 17 2020 14:35 -

Has anyone had a go at float fishing for cats?

Can't beat trotting liveis from a boat for excitement. Had a few off the bank too, but it's just not the same.


IMG_0626.JPG

i need to re visit the Ebro

davelumb wrote: ↑Sun Jul 19 2020 15:06 -

Ratty46 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 19 2020 13:27 -

davelumb wrote: ↑Fri Jul 17 2020 14:39 -

No But I built someone a set of catfish swing tip rods!

interesting! did it work!?

It sure did. He was already fitting swing tips but wanted a dedicated set with threaded tip rings.

awesome! i bet takes were fun!

Ratty46 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 20 2020 16:02 -

John Milford wrote: ↑Sun Jul 19 2020 17:30 -

Ratty46 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 17 2020 14:35 -

Has anyone had a go at float fishing for cats?

Can't beat trotting liveis from a boat for excitement. Had a few off the bank too, but it's just not the same.


IMG_0626.JPG

i need to re visit the Ebro

If you want boat fishing, with proper predator tactics, I would recommend Riba Roja. There are one or two areas where you can spend a comfortable day, soaking pellets, but most of the guides will take you out on the river to fish the wilder spots that aren't really accessible for bank fishing.

Riba Roja isn't as prolific as some of the more well-known stretches, where the cats are attracted by the tons of pellets that are piled into the same swims week in, week out. That's all very efficient and highly effective, but has never appealed to me.

As they say, "you pays your money and you takes your choice"!

Ratty46 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 20 2020 16:02 -

John Milford wrote: ↑Sun Jul 19 2020 17:30 -

Ratty46 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 17 2020 14:35 -

Has anyone had a go at float fishing for cats?

Can't beat trotting liveis from a boat for excitement. Had a few off the bank too, but it's just not the same.


IMG_0626.JPG

i need to re visit the Ebro

You and me both Ratty mate.

I visited in 2003 and again in 2005, fished with a guy called 'EbroDel' and trotted Eels and small Carp down the river under floats. Was awesome fun!



Was really lucky and had the 83lber above within about 10 minutes on my first day on the water in 2003.

Happy carefree days those were.

That looks awesome sport Dave!

suffolk si wrote: ↑Mon Jul 20 2020 22:22 -

That looks awesome sport Dave!

Was great fun Si, the fish didn't generally get quite as big on Del's beat as say Meqqy but they were plenty big enough and definitely less anglers, so he was free to roam up and down a decent stretch of the river, I landed them up to 138lbs. I do remember Del throwing me a look like he'd just caught me rummaging through his mums knicker draw on my first day out though, all I'd asked was for him to take a piccy of me with a 40lber! Don't photograph kittens said Del.......

Great days mate.

I've used lives under a small drifter and caught cats - done it a few times on one water where the hot spot is out of casting range with a live and no bait boats were allowed. The only other way would have been to use a winch rig, but it just seemed a lot simpler to drift one out with a float... also caught using bunches of worms fished shallow under a float for cats. One place I used to fish that was super effective when you saw them active near the surface. Wasn't my idea, but when I saw others catching that way, well if can't beat 'em and all that ...

Is that Del the ex milkman from York? Bit of character he was.