Catching a mustache giant from a boat is radically different from coastal fishing, requiring the angler not only physical strength, but also a specific approach to the choice of equipment. Tossing catfish off the boat They have a tremendous margin of safety, because the fight often takes place in the vicinity of the driftwood and bottom relief, where there is a high probability of a hook or a cliff. Unlike the coast, where you can use a long rod for long throwing, here priority is given to short, hard sticks, allowing you to force the catch and drag the fish "sucking".
The main difficulty is that the trophy catfish is able to develop an effort exceeding the weight of its own body, and in the conditions of limited space of the boat, mistakes are not forgiven. Short spinning Or a specialized quack-steaker allows you to control every inch of the line, not allowing the predator to go into the life-saving wilds. It is important to understand that the equipment for catching from the board should be as reliable as possible, because the loss of a trophy here means not just a spoiled mood, but a potentially dangerous situation for the boat itself.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to assemble the perfect arsenal for catfish hunting, what parameters of coils and wickers are critical, and why saving on fittings can cost you a fish of a lifetime. Toolkit It should be simple, but not primitive, withstanding jerks weighing 50, 80 or more kilograms.
Selection of fishing rod
The first and most important element is the rod, which in this case acts as a lever for lifting fish and extinguishing jerks. The optimal length of the form varies between 1.8 and 2.4 meters, which allows you to work comfortably in the limited space of the boat without touching the sides and gear of neighbors. Longer models will create unnecessary inconveniences, especially in the wind or wave, when control over the situation is difficult.
The rod test should be extremely high, often exceeding 200-300 grams, which allows the use of heavy loaders to hold the bait on a strong current. Strike. most often choose fast or ultrafast, to be able to rigidly cut the bony mouth of the catfish and immediately begin forced catching, not giving it the opportunity to confuse the fishing line.
The material of the form also plays a role: composite rods or models of high-module graphite with reinforced structure do their best, and they have the necessary margin of safety to withstand a jerk that can break a normal spinning stick.
- 🎣 Short form: The length of up to 2.4 meters provides maneuverability and control.
- 🎣 High test: You need to work with cargoes from 100 grams and above.
- 🎣 Powerful comet: The thick comb part allows you to transmit the force during catching.
- 🎣 Rings: Reinforced bandwidth rings with ceramic inserts are mandatory for wicker.
Special attention should be paid to the handle of the rod, which should be made of a material that does not slide in a wet hand, for example, from EVA or a quality cork with rubber inserts. Fuji rings or their qualitative analogues - the de facto standard for such loads, since cheap fittings can burst when the cord is stretched.
Requirements for coils and forest capacity
If the rod is a lever, the coil acts as a winch, and it is on it that the main load of pumping the fish falls. multicoilAlthough large scale, non-inertional models (from 6,000 Shimano classification) are also eligible for life, the main requirement is maximum forest intensity and reliability of the friction brake.
Friction must work smoothly, without jerking, but at the same time have a huge maximum load. At the time of a sharp jerk of the catfish, the friction should draw the cord, but not allow spontaneous discharge, which can lead to the formation of a “beard” and loss of control. Transfer ratio It is better to choose a low one, for example 4.1:1 or 5.0:1, since the exhaustion speed is secondary here, and the traction force and reliability of the mechanism are primary.
Why is a multiplier better for catfish?
The multiplier coil has a more direct transfer of force from the handle to the spoole, which gives you a gain in power when catching, and it is less prone to crosslines when working with heavy loads and thick cords.
The spoole of the coil should accommodate at least 200-250 meters of a working cord with a diameter of 0.40-0.50 mm. This is a critical parameter, since the catfish can go to a depth or side for a long distance, and the supply of a fishing line should allow it to "speak out" without breaking off the side of the spoole.
⚠️ Attention: Never use a coil with a plastic spools or a weak case to catch a large catfish. Under extreme load, the plastic can crack, and the mechanism can crumble, leaving you alone with the fish.
When choosing a non-inertial coil, pay attention to the number of bearings and the quality of their protection from water and sand. Salt water or river slurry will quickly disable cheap mechanisms. Daiwa Saltist or Shimano Tekota Examples of models that have proven themselves in difficult conditions.
Wrapped cord or monolesced: what to choose
In the question of choosing the main working cord, doubters do not agree, but practice shows a clear advantage of high-quality cording. line The tiles have zero stretchability, which allows them to feel even light bites at a depth of 10 to 15 meters and perform a hard, confident cut. The monolesc, with high tensile power, can eat up to 30% of the length when stretched, making the cut at depth ineffective.
The diameter of the wicker for catching trophy catfish should be from 0.35 mm to 0.60 mm depending on the size of the expected extraction and the transparency of the water. The breaking load of the cord should be at least 40-60 kg. It is important to use a round-section braid, since it sails less on the flow and passes better through the rings.
| Parameter | A wicker cord | Monolesque | fluorocarbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extensibility | Minimum (0-5%) | High (up to 30%) | Medium |
| Sensitivity | High. | Low. | Medium |
| Strength on the knot | Medium (requires special. nodes) | High. | Low. |
| Resistance to abrasion | Low (no shell) | Medium | Very high. |
When using a wicker, be sure to check the last 10-15 meters of the cord after each fishing, and this is the area most often rubbed against a shell or snags and becomes the weakest link.
But the wicker has a low resistance to abrasion against the shell and sharp stones, so many anglers use combined tools, where the main tractive force is the wicker, and the last meter or two before the hook is made of thick rods. fluorocarbon It's a Kevlar leash, and it protects the cord from being rubbed with the catfish's teeth or rubbed against the bottom.
Trucks, hooks and vertebrates: fittings
Fishing fittings are something that you can't save a penny on. Cheap Chinese vertebrates and carbines can unwind under load like plasticine. Only forged steel elements with a bursting load that exceeds the strength of the main cord are used for tooling.
Gruzil is used exclusively sliding, most often in the form of olives or drops, weighing from 60 to 200 grams. The weight is selected depending on the strength of the flow and depth: the task of the loader is to hold the bait at the bottom, but when pecking the catfish should not feel its weight. sliding loader It allows the fish to take the bait and swim away without encountering resistance to the weight of lead.
The hooks are as strong as possible, with a short forearm and a wide undergraf. The size of the hook can vary from 1 / 0 to 10 / 0 according to the international classification. The hook sting must be chemically sharp to penetrate the hard "dad" in the catfish mouth. Forged hooks. Owner, Mustad or Kamasan They have proven themselves to be reliable assistants.
☑️ Checking the fittings before departure
To connect the elements of the tooling, it is best to use the Palomar or Clinch node, having previously soaked them with saliva or water for better tightening. Synthetic threads when tightening the node emit heat that can burn the fibers, so wetting the node is a mandatory procedure.
Options for fishing from a boat
There are several basic installation options that work effectively when fishing from the board. bottom-rigging It's a basic cord, with a vertebrae tied at the end, and a sliding loader 30 to 50 cm above it, which minimizes the number of hooks and allows the soma to ingest the bait freely.
The second option is a pull-out leash tool, in which the loader is attached to the end of the main line, and the hook leash is tied higher, 40 to 80 cm from the load, and the good thing is that the bait lies on the bottom or hovers a little higher, not hiding in the mud, and is better visible to the predator, but in highly encumbered places, this installation may be less effective because of the risk of being hooked by the load.
For Quoc fishing, a more delicate tool with a single hook and a small sub-patch is often used to keep the bait (most often a frog or a bunch of worms) in a natural position, and not only the strength, but also the presentability of the feed is important.
⚠️ Attention: Avoid using too long leashes (more than 1 meter) when fishing from a boat in a snag. The catfish will instantly drag a long leash into the branches, and it will be impossible to remove it from there without losing the fish.
Experiment with the length of the leash depending on the activity of the fish. If the catfish is sluggish, long leash can provoke it to bite, but if the fish is active, it is better to use a short and powerful installation for quick catching.
Tactics of searching and catching the trophy
Boat fishing involves active search, not passive waiting. Catfish are sedentary, but their parking can vary depending on the time of day and water level. Use the sonar to find deep pits, dumps, snags and back currents. bald-porch He spends most of his time.
If you find a perspective point, you need to anchor upstream so that the boat stands above the fishing site, throw (or descent) is made so that the bait is exactly in the zone of interest, after a bite, you can not let the soma go deep into the drift, you need to immediately take a hard position and start pumping.
The process of catching is to alternate pulling with a rod up and fast winding with a coil when the tip of the fishing rod is lowered. If the catfish stands up and rests ("takes weight"), you can't pull, you need to hold the tension and wait for it to make movement itself. Often, a slight blow to the form, which is transmitted to the hook and provokes the fish to move.
The principle of catching catfish from a boat is constant contact and control. Don't give the fish a second rest, but don't try to rip their lips if they have taken a dead load.
When the fish comes to the boat, take your time grabbing it with your hands. A 30kg tail can break your ribs or knock out of the boat. Use a special long-handled lift or a bumper (for very large specimens), although experienced anglers often drag the fish into the kukan directly into the boat, pressing it with their head to the bottom.
Safety and equipment of fishermen
Catching a large catfish from a boat is not only a pleasure, but also an increased risk. Fighting heavy fish can lead to the roll of the boat, especially if it is a narrow PVC lifeboat. Life jacket It should always be worn, whether you can swim, and the squirt of a large fish can easily flip an unstable boat.
It is also important to carry a knife with a fixed blade, attached to the belt in an easily accessible place, in case the cord winds on the leg or arm (which happens when working with a powerful tackle), only a sharp knife will help to quickly free yourself and avoid injury or drowning.
Don't forget to protect your hands. A wicker cord under load can easily cut your skin to the bone, so using gloves or fingertips when you're fishing is a reasonable precaution. Kevlar gloves They protect against cuts and allow you to hold the rod tighter.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can you catch catfish on spinning from a boat using wobbles?
It's called trolling, and it uses powerful spinning and deep-sea wobblers that go up to 10 to 12 meters deep, but it doesn't work for plumbing or donking, it only uses live or large inert nozzles.
What is the optimal weight for the flow of medium force?
For the flow of medium force at depths of 5-8 meters, usually enough load weighing 80-120 grams, the main thing is that the tooling is not demolished far from the boat, and it remained in the fishing zone.
Do I need to use catfish feeders?
For fish weighing up to 10-15 kg, you can do without it by pulling the catfish into the boat by the lower jaw (with caution). For trophies larger than 20 kg of lifts with a strong net and a long handle is extremely desirable for the safety and preservation of the fish.
Why does the wicker break when catching, if the rod test is 10 kg, and the cord is 30 kg?
The tiles can rub against a shell, a snag, or even the side of a boat when they snatch, and it can also be the poor quality of the cord itself, or the presence of microtraumas from earlier times, and always use a leash of fluorocarbon or Kevlar.