Silure Fishing in France Description

Silure (also called silurid fish or wels catfish) is a big carnivorous fish. It is characterized by the following features: speckled grey, big flat head with minuscule eyes and a huge mouth fitted with 6 barbells, flat and elongated body, naked and slimy skin without scales. Native to Eastern Europe, silures were introduced in France in the 1970's. Nowadays, some are surprisingly kept as pets. Nevertheless, exceptionally large specimens are rumoured to attack humans in rare instances. The silurid is also a clan symbol of the Ojibwe group of Native Americans.

Wels catfish is foremost the biggest fresh water carnivore but is also an opportunistic bottom feeder. During inactivity periods, it likes to gather and some pits are overpopulated in broad daylight. However, silures split for going hunting alone as soon as darkness falls. As regards the biggest ones, they tend to be loner and during the day they are more likely to be found in navigational fairways.

Silure Fishing in France Details

Powerful and aggressive, it is much appreciated by fishermen in search of challenge. As follows are some tips for successful silure catches.

Water temperature has an influence on this fish's appetite. The ideal temperature should not exceed 20°C. There are several suitable fishing methods. It can be taken by still-fishing with float-tube, worms, dough balls, stink baits, baitfish... The best method to catch a silure is probably the pêche au poisson mort manié, which consists in attracting carnivores thanks to a dead fish artificially animated so that it appears weak or ill. As you can see below, specialized strong and sturdy tackle is required.

• Rods should be either telescopic for sea fishing (4 to 5 m)or very powerful like the ones for carp fishing (more than 3lbs).
• The fishing reel should 150 to 200 m nylon and be premium. A progressive brake is a must.
• As regards float fishing, choose a big model of about 100g.
• Lures should be quite big and flexible, with as example a spinner as long as a shoehorn.
• It is preferable to fish silure from a small boat.

Wels catfish love shallow, warm waters near sand or mud bottoms and are tolerant of very poor environmental conditions. In France, they are to be found in almost all the rivers: Seine, Tarn, Dordogne, Garonne... They do particularly well in the Rhône, the Loire and the Seille but the Saone in Burgundy remains a top spot. Silure fishing is also possible in some lakes and ponds with low oxygen and muddy conditions (St Cassien Lake for instance).