The Wels catfish was transported from Germany to Spain around the 1970s. They were allegedly brought over to be used as live bait when fishing for pike, but were released alive into the Ebro River where they adapted to our waters.
This fish stands out for its enormous size, sometimes reaching up to 100 kilos in weight and two metres in length. It has no scales but is covered in a mucus-like substance, with a very wide mouth full of small teeth. It has long whiskers and its colour varies from season to season, always in greyish tones with lighter sides.
If you're thinking of trying your hand at Wels catfish fishing, you'd better have had a proper lunch that day, as this is a frankly enormous animal and you'll need strength to pull it out of the water. Legends tell of one specimen caught in the Dnieper River (Russia) that reached 5 metres and weighed... 306 kilos!
You can find them along the Ebro, even in the reservoir, though in the latter location - due to the weaker current - there's less chance of encountering this species. If you're passionate about this practice, you'll have the time of your life if you dare to go after the Wels catfish, as it makes for spectacular fishing: from the moment it bites until you finally land it, you can easily spend 20 to 30 minutes in constant battle, releasing maximum adrenaline!
First things first - you'll need the right equipment. Besides proper clothing and a suitable boat (never a canoe or kayak, as they're not comfortable due to space constraints), you'll need bait:
- Live bait: more effective but less sporting, as you have to sacrifice other fish to use it, and it's not permitted everywhere.
- Lures: typically poppers and walkers, preferably with internal rattles to disturb the water and make plenty of noise.
We encourage you to enjoy this different and adventure-filled experience. Whether you've never seen a Wels catfish in action or you're already familiar with them, we invite you to watch the following Wels catfish fishing video.
