Wels Catfish Bait

[CatfishFiend]

Long-time lurker, first post. I know this is a little off-topic, but I thought this would be the best section of the forum.

So I've recently came back from Spain where I met an elderly fisherman there who claimed that local have used various parts of pigs (heads/feet/sucklings/piglets) to catch mammoth Wels. Can anyone confirm this for me or give a little more detail of it being used elsewhere as I found it really interesting?

[Viktor Jarikov]

Welcome to the Planet!

There is no indication of prevalence / preference in the local's statement as you have worded it. But anyhow, most things edible could be used to catch a mammoth scavenger of a catfish. I can't imagine them favoring pork or pig parts over chicken, turkey, lamb, or beef. At those sizes, if we are talking 8'+, these wels catfish can and would eat anything it seems.

There had been a viral video a few years back of a large wels (not that large, perhaps 4'-6') preying on live city pigeons sitting by the river and bathing in the shallows. IIRC it was in France.

[kruseman]

Your nickname suggests you're not going to hurt any catfish by catching them with a hook, I presume?

[CatfishFiend]

Thanks both for the replies, I think you're right in that they'd eat nearly anything.

As for hooks, I'm definitely partial to a day's fishing, which can be controversial on here, but for me it goes hand in hand with fish husbandry and appreciation.

[Viktor Jarikov]

FWIW if anything at all, I am with you in your fishing and fish-keeping creed.

Albeit, I base my assumption on your misspelling the word "friend".

If you meant "fiend" indeed, as in:

fiend
/fēnd/
an evil spirit or demon.
Similar:
demon
devil
evil spirit
imp
bogie
incubus
succubus
hellhound
spook
cacodemon
ARCHAIC
the Devil.
noun: the fiend
a wicked or cruel person.
"a fiend thirsty for blood and revenge"

... then I must withdraw my support.

[CatfishFiend]

Ha ha ha, not quite that, more in the sense of being fiendishly dedicated and single-minded in my pursuit of catfish!

[Viktor Jarikov]

A-ah, that's better. As a logophile though, I'd argue over the semantics, meanings, and implications but not here and not with strangers and especially not with those who are not asking for my stupid and biased opinions anyway

Welcome again! You should fit right in. It's very catfishy around these parts...