Catfish

Catfish lures – big baits and heavy rigs for Europe's strongest predator

Wels catfish are the heaviest freshwater fish you can realistically target on a lure in Europe, and they are far more catchable on artificials than their reputation suggests. A catfish hunts by vibration and lateral line as much as by sight, so the baits that work are big, loud and slow. This collection brings together the XL softbaits, swimbaits and surface lures that we fish for catfish ourselves, plus the terminal tackle that holds up when a fish over 50 kg turns and runs.

Everything here is picked for rivers, deep channels, reservoirs and large still waters across Europe. If you are new to lure fishing for catfish, start with a big paddle or twin tail on a strong stinger rig and fish it slowly along the deepest edge you can find.

XL softbaits for catfish

A big soft bait is the most reliable catfish lure there is. It displaces water, it can be fished slowly, and it keeps working when the river is coloured. The Frapp Placoid 8" is the bulk option, a broad V-tail that thumps on a slow retrieve, with the 7" version for days when the fish want something smaller. The Frapp Double Croak 7.9" adds a twin tail that keeps kicking at almost no speed, which matters in cold or heavily coloured water.

For a slimmer profile, the Illex Dexter Eel 280 imitates the eels that catfish feed on heavily, and the Rapala Soft Otus 18 cm works as a slow-sinking alternative when a straight retrieve gets refused. The full softbait range has more sizes in the same profiles.

Swimbaits and glidebaits

When catfish are hunting bream and roach in open water, a realistic swimbait outfishes a softbait. The Savage Gear 3D Line Thru Whitefish 27 cm is the reference bait for this: line thru construction means the fish cannot use the lure's weight as leverage, and the 17 and 22 cm versions cover smaller fish and shallower water. The Savage Gear Low Glider Jerk 17 cm glides in wide arcs on a slow twitch, which works well over deep holes where a straight-running bait gets ignored. More in hardbaits.

Surface lures and vibrating baits

Catfish feeding at night or in warm weather come surprisingly shallow, and a surface strike from a fish that size is worth the wait. The Charlie's Mustache Mouse Combo pushes a heavy wake over shallow flats and through snaggy margins, and the Rapala Claptail 110 is the hard-bait answer with a tail blade that carries further in a chop.

The BIM Tackle ChaCha Bait sits between the two: a vibrating bucktail-style bait that puts out a lot of noise at low speed, which is often what turns a following fish into a biting one.

Rigs and terminal tackle that hold

A catfish will find the weak point in any setup. The BKK Chain Stinger Rig is what we rig the big softbaits on, because a single jig hook in a 20 cm bait misses far too many bites. Pair it with heavy braid and an abrasion-resistant leader, and check the hook points after every fish. The rest of the range is in rigs and stingers and terminal tackle.

Frequently asked questions about catfish lures

What size lure should I use for catfish?

Most catfish anglers fish baits between 15 and 25 cm. Bigger baits filter out smaller fish but cost you bites on quiet days, so carry both ends of that range.

Can you catch catfish on softbaits?

Yes, and it is often the most productive method. A big paddle or twin tail fished slowly along a deep edge accounts for a large share of lure-caught catfish in European rivers.

Do I need a stinger rig for catfish?

On baits this size, yes. Catfish often engulf a bait from the side, and a stinger puts hook points where the fish actually makes contact.

When is the best time to fish for catfish?

Warm months, with the last hours of light and the first of darkness usually the most productive. In rivers a rising, coloured water level often switches them on.

Buy catfish lures at Charlie's Fishing

Charlie's Fishing is a specialist predator webshop based in the Netherlands, shipping across Europe and beyond. Everything in this collection is fished in European water before it goes on the site, and we stock the sizes and spare parts that go with the big baits rather than a single hero size. If you are unsure which bait or rig suits your water, ask us.