Average size: 3-61b Mega specimen: 10-l51b plus
British record: none at present.

Channel cats regularly attain weights in excess of 301b in North America, where the record is in excess of 501b (22;7kg) The channel catfish has a thick-set, smooth, scaleless, pale grey body with a wide, flat-tish head and a cavernous mouth containing bristle-like gripping pads inside both the upper and lower jaws. The snout overhangs the lower jaw and sports a long, thick barbel at each corner. Two erect barbels sprout from the middle of its skull, and there are four slightly longer ones immediately below the chin, making eight in all. Its fins are dark grey, large and powerful, and the tail is deeply forked. There is a strong spine to the leading edge of both dorsal and pectoral fins, and a tiny, rubbery adipose fin. It feeds on other fish, crustaceans and molluscs, and spawns in late spring or early summer.
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Average size: 3-61b Mega specimen: 10-l51b plus
British record: none at present.

Channel cats regularly attain weights in excess of 301b in North America, where the record is in excess of 501b (22;7kg) The channel catfish has a thick-set, smooth, scaleless, pale grey body with a wide, flat-tish head and a cavernous mouth containing bristle-like gripping pads inside both the upper and lower jaws. The snout overhangs the lower jaw and sports a long, thick barbel at each corner. Two erect barbels sprout from the middle of its skull, and there are four slightly longer ones immediately below the chin, making eight in all. Its fins are dark grey, large and powerful, and the tail is deeply forked. There is a strong spine to the leading edge of both dorsal and pectoral fins, and a tiny, rubbery adipose fin. It feeds on other fish, crustaceans and molluscs, and spawns in late spring or early summer.
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British record: 2oz (85g) - This blackish, smooth-bodied, thick-set aggressive little catfish rarely exceeds 12in in length. It has a broad head and a wide mouth sporting eight barbels in all, four on its snout and four beneath the protruding lower jaw. It has a tiny adipose fin and a large, squared-off tail. Bullhead catfish spawn in summer, and the resulting fry, which hatch in 5-6 days, are guarded by one of the parents. It feeds on crustaceans, molluscs, small fish and amphibians, and exists only in very localized waters in England. It is widespread in Europe, especially France.

Just when I thought my days of taking test’s were over it seems I may need to take another.. I picked up the AnglingTimes today to find that various bodies are calling for it to become manditory for all anglers to sit an exam before they can buy a rod licence. Apparrently this all came about after the owner of the Angel of the North Fishery  has turned down over 2000 fisherman over the last few months because they had a “basic lack of angling knowledge” Ann Adlington the fishery owner says her actions have caused controversy and many arguments at the water but is adament she has made the right decision. Ann has now set up a free fishing coaching course at the fishery free of charge. Anglings most influential bodies and top fisherman are joining forces to compaign for the launch of the test that would be sat by all newcomers.

 I was woundering what your thoughts were on this? I personaly think its a good ideas as I hate to catch fish that have been badly treated. Some of the pools I have visited in the past have a lot of fish with no lips, where it looks as though the angler has just yanked the hook out… On the other hand how would this work? I think if this was put into practice the only way of affording the cost would be an increase in licence fees. let me know your thoughts..

Apart from loch-style fishing for trout (see Fly fishing) there is little scope for drift fishing on huge stillwaters, except when fishing for pike, and to a much lesser extent for perch and zander. Ideal waters for drift fishing are large reservoirs, lakes and lochs, and even wide sluggish rivers, and results often rely on covering as much water as possible. And when pike Save been located, a mudweight can be owered for a more thorough search of the entire area.

Drift fishing is a matter of using the wind to your best advantage, so take into account its strength and direction. Choose long areas, either through the centre channel, or parallel with the shoreline so that at least one angler (if two are sharing the boat) has (more…)

Average size: 5-151b
Mega specimen: over 3O-351b
British record: 491b 14oz (22kg 623g)

By far the longest and potentially the largest of all British freshwater species, the wels catfish reaches weights in excess of 300-4001b in Eastern Europe. It has a smooth, scaleless body, mottled in olive, brown and sometimes shades of mauve, and tapering rapidly, tadpole-fashion, from its large flattened head to its tail. Its wide cavernous mouth contains bristle-pads of fine teeth just inside both the top and lower jaws. There are four short sensory barbels under the chin and one extremely long feeler situated in front of each eye, close to each jaw hinge, making six in all.
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