Getting Started with Catfish Fishing

What is catfish fishing and how do I get started in the UK? Catfish fishing (or catfishing) targets Wels catfish – one of Europe’s largest freshwater fish. In the UK, you’ll find them mainly in lakes and some rivers. Get yourself sorted with proper tackle, but to properly learn the basic rigs and advanced techniques, check out our Skills Camps section. Then head to venues known for catfish like Essex waters, Midlands fisheries, and northern UK waters.

Where can I catch catfish in the UK? Most UK catfish are in lakes rather than rivers. Essex has some cracking waters, plus there’s good fishing in the Midlands, northern UK, and select commercial fisheries. Always check the venue rules and contact in advance – best to get in touch early so you don’t get let down.

What’s the best time of year for catfish fishing? Peak season is June through September when the water’s warm. Things start picking up from February, but November to February is pretty slow as the cold weather slows down their metabolism, making them mainly inactive with less need to eat.

I’m not confident with catfish fishing – where do I start? Lack of confidence is normal when targeting catfish – they’re different beasts entirely. Our Skills Camps are designed for catfish anglers who want to build proper confidence through intensive teaching. You’ll learn watercraft, timing, and everything that matters beyond just rigs and bait. Progress starts beyond the hook.

I don’t have the knowledge to target catfish properly – what should I do? Knowledge is everything in catfish angling. Our Skills Camps focus on the real skills – reading water, understanding catfish behaviour, and developing the TEX Angler mindset. It’s not guiding, it’s proper education that gives you the knowledge to succeed. Check out our Skills Camps section.

I’m an accomplished angler but want more than commercial catfishing – what’s next? Ready to step beyond commercial waters? Our European Skills Camps target wild catfish in remote locations – the real deal. This is where accomplished anglers develop into serious catfish specialists, learning to handle specimens over 250lb in challenging conditions. Visit our Skills Camps section for more details.

Tackle & Equipment

What breaking strain hooklink do I need for catfish rigs? You want 100lb breaking strain minimum for UK catfish. That’s why our Download braided sinking mainline is rated to 122lb to cushion that factor. Our Hydra Heavy hooklink gives you the strength and reliability at 110lb you need for catfish rigs with pellets, pop-ups and bottom baits. The abrasion resistance factor is much more important than the amount of pressure needed by a hooklink for UK catfishing. For live and dead baits, our Super Soft Monofilament hooklink is the one.

What’s the difference between Hydra Heavy and Super Soft Monofilament hooklinks? Hydra Heavy is built for pellets, pop-ups, and bottom baits – it’s a braided sinking hooklink that gives maximum strength and abrasion resistance. Super Soft Monofilament is designed for live and dead bait work, giving you the flexibility for natural bait movement whilst keeping the strength catfish anglers need, coupled with rigidity for bait presentations.

What hooks are best for catfish fishing? You need strong, sharp hooks that won’t let you down. Our Namazu hooks are designed and tested specifically for catfish, giving superior strength and hook-holding power. Pick your size based on your bait ratio.

What catfish rigs work best in UK waters? Check out our ready rigs section – we’ve got all the most popular catfish rigs sorted. The key is presenting your bait naturally whilst keeping everything strong and reliable. Our rig components are designed to work together properly. To properly learn advanced rig techniques and watercraft, see our Skills Camps section.

Which hooklink sinks better for bottom fishing? Hydra Heavy is a braided sinking hooklink, perfect for bottom presentations with pellets and pop-ups. The sinking properties keep your rig pinned down and presented naturally on the lakebed.

Baits & Techniques

What’s the best bait for UK catfish? Live bait, deadbaits, boilies, pellets, and meat baits all work well. Fresh, oily baits often do the business. Match your bait size to the catfish you’re after and get your hook size right for the bait.

What’s the best technique for beginners? Start with a simple pellet rig. We’ve got ready-made pellet rigs and starter sets for beginners to get you going. To learn proper technique and develop your skills beyond basic rigs, check out our Skills Camps section.

Can I use Super Soft Monofilament for all catfish rigs? Super Soft Monofilament is brilliant for live and dead bait rigs where you need natural movement. For pellets and pop-ups though, Hydra Heavy’s braided sinking design gives better presentation.

TEX Fishing Limited Products

What makes TEX Fishing Limited tackle different? Our tackle works at home and abroad, with sizes for beginners targeting 30lb catfish right up to professional anglers after 250lb specimens. We’ve got industry benchmarks like Download mainline, Hydra Heavy hooklink, Namazu hooks and Slitz floats. We don’t buy bulk and slap a label on it – that goes against everything we believe in.

Do you ship outside the UK? We only ship within the UK at the moment. All orders go out within 24 hours of purchase.

What’s in your tackle ranges? Hooklinks, mainline, rubber parts, hooks, rigs, swivels, clips, plus clothing and merchandise. Everything you need for serious catfish angling.

What makes your hooklinks different from standard fishing line? Both our hooklinks are rated to 100lb and designed specifically for catfish. Hydra Heavy uses braided construction for sinking bottom baits, whilst Super Soft Monofilament gives the flexibility you need for natural bait presentations – both with proper abrasion resistance.

Skills Camps & Training

What are Skills Camps? Intensive teaching sessions for serious anglers wanting to develop advanced catfishing skills and the TEX Angler mindset. We run camps across the UK and Europe – this isn’t guiding, it’s proper education.

How much do Skills Camps cost? Not everyone can do a Skills Camp – it’s an application process and we only accept the most committed anglers. This isn’t a guided fishing holiday, it’s serious intensive training in remote areas targeting wild catfish over 250lb.

Do I need to book Skills Camps in advance? Yes, 6 months advance booking with full payment before confirmation. This ensures you’re serious and gives proper time for preparation, assessments and safety training.

What Skills Camp locations do you offer? UK River Trent camps: Group (3 anglers) £130 each, Solo £220. European camps range from £2,200-£3,200 solo, £4,500-£6,000 group. Lake weekends £200 minimum 4 anglers.

Customer Service & Practical

What if my order arrives damaged? Contact us immediately at fishing@cat-tex.co.uk with photos of the damaged items. We’ll sort out a replacement or refund within 24 hours – no messing about. Your satisfaction matters to us.

Can I track my order? Yes, you’ll receive tracking information via email once your order is dispatched. All orders go out within 24 hours of purchase and payment received with full tracking details.

Do you offer gift vouchers? Yes we offer gift vouchers for tackle and equipment and also for Skills Camps.

What if an item is out of stock? We’ll contact you immediately if anything’s out of stock. You can either wait for restock (usually within a week) or we’ll refund that item straight away. We keep good stock levels but sometimes demand catches us out.

Can I change my order after placing it? Contact us within 2 hours of placing your order and we’ll try to catch it before dispatch. After that, it’s easier to return items once they arrive and we’ll sort the refund.

Do you have a physical shop I can visit? We’re online only at the moment. All our focus goes into quality products and getting orders out fast rather than running a physical shop. Everything’s available through the website with next-day dispatch. If you have a shop and would like to see our tackle in your shop, contact us at fishing@cat-tex.co.uk.

Beginner Focused

How much does it cost to get started in catfish fishing? You can get started properly for around £200-300 including rod, reel, and our tackle. Our starter sets help keep costs down whilst ensuring you’ve got quality gear that won’t let you down. To really learn the skills though, check out our Skills Camps section.

What’s a good budget for catfish tackle? For quality catfish tackle that’ll last, budget around £200-250. This covers our essentials, hooklinks, mainline, hooks, and rigs. Cheap tackle fails when it matters most – our gear is built to handle UK catfish properly and can take abroad wherever you like.

Are there any catfish fishing rules I should know? Always check venue rules first – some waters have specific catfish regulations. Practice catch and release, handle fish properly, and respect other anglers. Most importantly, learn proper technique to avoid harming the fish. Our Skills Camps teach responsible catfish angling.

Why is the packaging cardboard? Our packaging is designed to protect postal workers from sharp hooks and metal components whilst being environmentally responsible. It’s for delivery only, as well as looking awesome – store your tackle away in tackle boxes and don’t risk the chance of litter in the environment we all enjoy and protect. We’re committed to sustainable packaging that does the job without harming the environment. I’m sure you know that buying cheap can be buying twice.

Orders & Business

How quickly do you dispatch orders? All orders go out within 24 hours of purchase, including custom tackle orders.

Do you offer wholesale to tackle shops? Yes, we work with UK retailers. No minimum orders but pack sizes apply. Get in touch to discuss wholesale arrangements.

How do I contact you for support? Email support and social media messages are checked daily. Harry personally handles all customer queries with responses typically within 24 hours.

What payment methods do you accept? All major payment methods through our secure checkout. Skills Camps need full payment 6 months in advance.

Philosophy & Community

What does “In the shadows we thrive” mean? When others chase the spotlight and crowds, do you find strength in solitude? When the banks are lined with anglers casting into the obvious spots, are you the one who disappears into forgotten corners, overlooked waters, places others won’t venture? In the shadows there’s no noise, no distractions, no false promises – just you, the water, and what you’re truly capable of.

What are your values on fish welfare? We promote responsible catch and release, proper fish handling, and fish welfare comes first. Environmental sustainability and legal compliance are core to everything we do.

What is the TEX Angler philosophy? TEX Anglers develop independence, visualisation, strategic socialising, and silent, opportunistic angling. We build patience, observation skills, and approaches that set serious anglers apart from the crowd.