Carp still remain the main quarry in France... but Cats are featuring more and more. Lots of our venues now hold large Wels Catfish - fish of 50 to 70lb are common and several venues hold 100lb+ specimens. We also offer trips to the mighty River Ebro in Spain where cats well over 150lb are caught regularly.

We suspect many carp anglers would like to have a go for the cats - after all why not? Go for the carp on 2 rods and maybe cats on the 3rd. However, most of us don't know how to tackle these large predators, believing that all manner of specialised gear and methods are necessary.

Well the good news is it's simple - in most cases just requiring minor changes to your standard carp tackle. To prove this we commissioned this video which was shot in France on Woods Lake this summer, demonstrating some of the techniques and methods.

Experienced catfish angler Ron Woodward explains the devastating technique of Halibut pellets, a method that has seen some huge catches on the Ebro. Taking Martin Cowie under his wing he helps Martin land a number of large catfish to over 70lb. He briefly explains the tackle used and the set up to ensure the best results.

We also see Shaun Harrison who has landed big cats to over 100lb in the UK turns his attentions to the French moggies and he demonstrates his favourite technique of dead baiting mackerel. He also manages to get amongst the action taking cats of 30lb, 40lb and 50lb on this bait.

The film was made with the participation of: Ron Woodward, Shaun Harrison, Martin Cowie and Justin Brearley. Our thanks go to them.

Want to see more? Click here to see a Catfish session with Ron Woodward on the River Ebro.

Use our Holiday Assistant to find a list of all our venues which hold cats.