Fly for Wels....?

[Dada]

Hello there,
Iam trying to create fly for this extreme fish?
Do you ve any experience with patterns or technique?
Many thanks Dada

[Martin Joergensen]

Dada,

I guess you refer to catfish?

Catching those on a fly in not the easiest task, but it's possible as you can see from the crayfish pattern article written by Michael Smith (Rybolov in this forum).

Like on this picture.

Martin

[rybolov]

[waterdog]

Hi Dada,

In South Africa we have sharp-toothed catfish, which are very similar to wels, in the last few years I have been very sucessfull with large black flies , like a giant leech. When they are feeding close to the surface I use a team of flies, consisting of a big popper that is conected to a #1/0 black leech ( I use 40 cm of 25kg Maxima green - since they are not at all leader shy) this works very well since the catfish have very small eyes and rely on sound/vibrations to locate their pray.

The technique is to locate fish close to the surface then to cast as close as possible to them, the retrieve is usually hard pulls - to make the popper 'pop'. In my experience smaller fish - up to 5kg take the leech , the bigger oned tend to hit the popper.

Hope this works for wels... tight lines

[Dada]

Martin" I saw this article a few months ago, ït was first impulse to think about that, but I think, that channel catfish is different type of food, wels is big to much and what I know this fish has mostly interest in fish and sometimes leeches. And major problem where is wels, there is no crayfish. We ve crayfish just in a few rivers.


to Waterdog: Ill test it!!! When we had a discussion about that we spoke about vibrations and big black flies. They are on surface just few weeks of summers nights and I hope that Ill be there.....Iam expecting 5 up to 10kg, but I saw a lot of fish caught on bait fish over then 25 and some of them were over 50. But Ill be setisfated with "small" babies.....
Could you send me a picture of your flies, please?
Thanks a lot, Dada

[waterdog]

Hi Dada,
Sure, I will take some picktures of my set up tonight, and hope to have them on the site tomorrow, will you be fishing rivers or still waters ?

[waterdog]

Dada,

This is what my set up looks like, the popper is 2/0 and the leech is tied in size 1 , - smaller than when I use a leech only, but as you can imagine, this set up is quite difficult to cast. Also due to their moths being bone hard I use stainlessteel hooks only.

[Dada]

Thank you Waterdog...
Its a lttle bit crazy combination for me, but why not? Everythink is make good vibrations, big siluet and size too. What rod your are using for this flies? It has to be very dificult to cast......

[waterdog]

Dada,

I used to cast this on a medium action 6wt, but as you can imagine it is about as difficult as trying to cast a live chicken..... it is a bit easier on a fast 8wt, but you will have to be happy with only casting about 15 -20meters , but it is well worth the sacrifice in distance. I have caught bore cats on this rig than anything else, plus Bass are also very fond of this combo.

[Dada]

Iwas thinking about 9 or 11 weight..... Ok, small mistake:)... Ive got three or four months so I hope that somethinkll be done... I tied yesterday but it looks like giant leech with gold hea and Iam not still satisfied....Ive to belive to my fly...
You asked me if Iam gonna fish for them on stillwaters or rivers.... Now Iam prefer rivers because on still waters is not to easy to get them to close......
Dada

[waterdog]

actually an 11wt might not be a bad Idea..... but if you are going to be casting all day I think you will be fine with a fast 8 or 9wt

[Dada]

11 and casting all day... Iam strong guy ..... But my 9 has to enough....What materials you are using for poppers? Because I tried to make them from balsa wood, but thats not what I want.And poppers bodies what I get here is to small...Ill try foam or somethink like that... .What you mean?

[waterdog]

Hi dada.

I use foam from a pair of flip-flops , it is light weight, floats very well, and it is very durable

[Dada]

Ill try, thank you.....

And last question, I hope...... When youre fish for them? Morning, night? Thanks....

[waterdog]

Dada,

I start fishing for them late in the afternoon, until deep into the night, the most productive time usually is dusk.

Tight lines