River Catfishing – Clonking, Bottom Fishing and Boat Methods

The wels catfish is the largest predator in the rivers of the region, and anyone who has felt the first, seemingly unstoppable run of a big one can easily get hooked for life. River catfishing is exciting but serious business: it calls for strong tackle, good swim choice and responsible fish handling. Here we go through the three most popular methods – clonking, bottom fishing from the bank and fishing from a boat.

The catfish and the river

The wels is one of Europe's largest freshwater fish, and specimens over two metres are not unheard of on the Danube and the Tisza. By day it usually rests in deep holes, beside sunken trees, stone banks, bridge piers and groynes; from dusk it goes hunting. That's when it moves onto shallower margins, to the mouths of side arms and into eddies. It is most active in the warm months, once the water has properly warmed up.

In Hungary the catfish has a national closed season during spawning, and on the Danube and the Tisza a separate winter rule protects catfish in their wintering holes. Daily bag and size limits may also apply. These rules change from time to time, so always check the latest national and local regulations before you set off – in other countries, check with the authority or club that manages the water.

Tackle: don't skimp on strength

• A strong rod built specifically for catfish and a large reel with a reliable drag.
• High-breaking-strain braided main line, plus an abrasion-resistant hooklength, because both the catfish's rough mouth and the stones on the bottom wear it down.
• Strong, sharp hooks – if local rules limit the number or type of hooks, follow them.
• Long pliers, thick gloves, a large landing net or catfish cradle, and a big mat you can keep wet.
• Head torch, spare batteries, and warm, waterproof clothing for the night.

Clonking: call the catfish to you

Clonking is an old angling tradition of the Danube basin. Striking the water with a clonk stick produces a distinctive, deep, bubbling sound that draws catfish up under the boat. There are several theories about exactly why the sound attracts them; what matters is that it works, especially in summer.

• You fish from a boat, drifting slowly over deeper holes and drop-offs, with the bait hanging vertically below you.
• The bait – a bunch of worms, a fish strip, squid or, where the rules allow, a baitfish – is held a metre or two off the bottom or in midwater. An echo sounder is a big help in finding depth and fish.
• After a few clonks, pause and watch the rod: the bite often comes right after the call.
• As a beginner, don't go it alone – with an experienced partner you'll learn faster, and it's safer.

Bottom fishing from the bank

From the bank the simplest option is a heavy ledger rig: a solid lead and a short, abrasion-resistant hooklength. On rivers the sub-float rig has proved itself: a small underwater float lifts the bait off the bottom, so it's more visible and snags less. It's held in place by a big weight attached with a weaker breakaway line, so that if it snags you only lose the lead.

• Cast to the edge of a drop-off, in front of a hole or just downstream of a snag – not right into it, or the catfish will take your rig straight in.
• Set the drag beforehand and put the rod in a stable, secured rest: a big fish can pull your gear into the water.
• Always check the night-fishing rules for the water you're on.

Boat methods and safety

Besides clonking, you can spin from a boat with big soft baits and plugs, including vertically over holes, or anchor up and fish the bottom over deeper areas. Check beforehand whether boat fishing is permitted on that water and under what conditions.

1. Always wear a life jacket – especially at night and in strong current.
2. Stay out of the shipping channel and watch for traffic and wash.
3. After dark, carry the required navigation lights and follow the boating rules.
4. In current, anchor only from the bow, and keep a knife handy to cut the rope.
5. Tell someone where you'll be and when you expect to be back.

Method	When it works well	Where	Bait
Clonking	summer, warm water	over holes and drop-offs	worm bunch, fish strip, squid
Bank ledgering	late spring to autumn, mainly at night	edges of holes, in front of snags	fish strip, worms, baitfish
Spinning from a boat	summer to autumn	stone banks, groynes, snags	big soft baits, plugs

Treat big fish with care

• If possible, unhook the catfish in the water using long pliers.
• With a gloved hand you can hold it by the lower jaw, but support the body of a big fish too, and don't hoist it up vertically.
• Don't drag it over dry gravel or sand – lay it on a wet mat.
• Keep photos quick and close to the water, then hold the fish in the water until it swims away by itself.
• Releasing big, mature fish benefits the stock of the future.
• Don't leave leads, line offcuts or bait tubs on the bank.

Summary

River catfishing pays off when you understand the fish's daily movements, use strong, reliable rigs and never compromise on safety. In summer you can clonk them up under the boat, from the bank you can wait at the edges of holes, and with lures you can search around snags. To find a new catfish stretch, use the site's river listings and map search.