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BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WELS CATFISH (REPRODUCED FROM CAT TALES ISSUE 2 ORIGINAL ARTICLE BY DAVE COOK ) ©
THECATFISHSOCIETY) |
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THIS PAGE WAS LAST UPDATED ON THE 12/02/06 |
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The Danubian catfish (silurus Glanis)
is a member of a large group of fish found in the freshwaters of Europe and
Asia. The species is known in the UK by
its German name Wels which is derived from the German word walzen
(English wallow). This comes from its habit of wallowing in the mud. The Wels is mainly a lake dweller
though it does flourish in large, deep rivers. In eastern Europe they spawn
between May and July in the marshy area of the lake. They are one of very few
fish who make nests and are very protective, chasing away any fish who get
too near. On the continent the female can produce up to 15000 eggs per pound
of body weight. The female becomes mature after 3-4 years and at a weight of
between 2-4lb and at a length of app. 24-28 inches long. River catfish often
migrate upstream before or during a flood to spawn on suitable flooded land.
Common features of all catfish are their barbules found on the upper and
lower jaw, individual species varying the number of barbules. The Wels
species have two very long barbules extending from the upper jaw near the
corners of their mouths and four shorter barbules on the underside of the
jaw. Their closest relative is a species found exclusively in a Greek river
called the Aristotle Catfish. This fish differs from the European Wels by having
only two barbules on the lower jaw. The Wels is a scaleless fish and has a
rounded Caudal fin. Its body is described as being eel-like in shape and
varies in colour from a very dark almost black colour up to a light almost
sandy colour. It is a predator but is also an
efficient scavenger. It eats almost anything ranging from live fish, wild
fowl and rats up to decaying meat from dead animals. Although they feed at
any time of day the most active time is between dusk and 2 am. They use their
barbules to locate food. The feeding pattern of the catfish is dictated by
our weather and water temperature. Catfish are rarely caught during the
winter period. They favour warm or humid conditions. The best conditions tend
to be muggy, cloudy windless nights. With the increase in waters holding
catfish more anglers are fishing for them and fish between 20lb and 50lb are
regularly caught. The current record weighs 62lb and was caught from Withy
Pool in Bedfordshire. (The Catfish is no longer recognised for record
purposes by the British Record Committee) Catfish are not a native British
Species but were originally stocked way back in the late 1800s. The first
known stocking was at Morton hall Lake in Norfolk, although this was
unsuccessful. Several more stockings occurred before the Duke of Bedford
stocked Shoulder of Mutton lake at Woburn Abbey, this being the first
successful stocking. |