The CatMagnet team has participated in an exciting catfishing competition held in Nőtincs again this year. In this article I will introduce the competition and share our overall experience. For those who are beginners in fishing for catfish, it will include some useful guidelines and preparation suggestions for a real catfish competition.

First, some interesting facts about the lake: this gem is located in Nógrád county, its size is approximately fifty-hectare and it was created by damming the Lókos stream in 2000. Basically the lake served flood protection and water reservoir functions but later its operators have turned it into a fishing paradise. In its impressive fish fauna various large-sized amur and carp can be found, its stock of whitefish is adequate too, and we can often find blunderbuss and red-winged bream in it. Thanks to the continuous stock expansion even those who only visit the lake only for a few hours of fishing adventure can have excellent experiences. There is no shortage of predatory fish either, not to mention plenty of catfish, which we also went for.

 CatMagnet in action at fabulous Lake Szent István.

The lake has catfish in sizes close to the national record, which is proven by the fact that two specimens over 100 kg were pulled ashore in a catfish catching competition two years ago. This year, right after the semifinals of the competition, we managed to catch a giant catfish as well, also over 100 kg.

102kg 228cm - Péter Nagy's catch 23.05.11. - 18:00 - 30 meters from the shore.

The gray catfish is the largest predatory fish in our country, so a thorough preparation is always necessary if we go even for a short fishing trip: there is always a chance to catch the biggest fish of our lives.

The strength of the equipment is crucial, especially in competitive conditions. My team specifically did focus on that as well. CatMagnet team: Zoltán Szacskó, Gábor Blaskó and Nieto Ramón. In addition to the appropriate fishing equipment, ensuring a sufficient feeling of comfort is amongst the primary considerations. These events are usually held in early spring and autumn, that is the catfish’s most active feeding time. The weather can be quite extreme during these times of the year. Morning frosts, snow and stormy winds are not uncommon either. It is advisable to choose a larger tent with adequate heating, a comfortable fishing chair and a bed.

 GalaB Team with their beautiful catches.

If possible, sleeping on a bed in a warmer sleeping bag is a good option. We also have to consider the days when it rains all day. In such cases, we can wait for the catch through the window in a comfortable tent. A van or caravan can also be an optimal option for this purpose. In this competition, thanks to its excellent organization, several apartment rooms were available, where the competitors had the opportunity to bathe and rest. We shouldn't forget about warm and waterproof clothing either. Remember that usually the data in the forecasts show only the average temperatures but it can actually be 4-5-6 degrees colder on the lake shore. A high-quality, waterproof thermal suit counts as essential to protect ourselves against the cold.

 Morning fog rises in the freezing cold.

I would also recommend some basic equipment. Rubber boots and/or chest boots are good if we have them available. If we end up at a muddier terrain, we can easily get annoyed in smooth shoes or boots. And when we release a nicer fish back in the lake, thanks to the chest boots, we could escort it in. Regarding catfish-specific accessories, I would like to mention the gloves. For those who do not like to reach into the fish's mouth, it is absolutely necessary to purchase an easy-to-put-on glove. When putting the caught fish ashore, we use a tarpaulin, which we moisten properly so that the layer on the surface of the fish is not damaged. For tie up we use a sheet specially made for this purpose, of which it is worth bringing more, even 5-10 pieces per team, in case more catfish shows up.

Hoki-Miki Team - the absolute winners of the 2023 Nőtincs catfishing competition.

In total, 30 catfish of more than 220 kg in the semi-finals and the final were caught. Unfortunately, it can happen that we are not able to catch baitfish of the right size and species right away and so we cannot start fishing for catfish in the earliest time. Based on our own experience, we always take with us enough baitfish for a few days, so that we can start the competition in the moment of the start. Be sure to find this out beforehand whether it is possible, and if it is, what types of fish you can take to the lakes.

 The picture shows the Süni Team with their beautiful catches.

About baits: it is also worth preparing nightingales and Canadian giant earthworms. For bait fishing, bring a sufficient amount of feeding material (4-5 kg) and bones/pinkies. Even if the water is full of dwarf catfish, no need to worry, because you can still catch the right baitfish with small tricks. We received this and many other catfish hunting tricks for this competition from my friend Gaben Oroszi: if we use the bottom method or the feeder method, we have to float our bait 30-40 cm from the waterbed. It worked for us, so at that evening we already offered burdock for the catfish.

 2023 awards at the Nötincs catfishing competition

When we have the right baitfish, the combat can begin. Boat and fish radar are essential tools at this point. There are a limited number of boats available for this race. We also got one, so we only took the battery and the electric motor with us. In addition to the fish radar, a good pair of binoculars can also be important in such competition.

In this photo, the Matula Team is proudly holding an eye-catching catfish

We are used to monitoring the water practically constantly for any sign of catfish (funnel, splash). Where and how to scout for catfish is always an interesting question. Our team chose the scout fishing. Since we had six rods at our disposal, we could easily fish different water depths. In general, we looked for fractures, underwater snags and lying places. I learned the basics from Ferenc Koós from his videos and personally from him in catfish camps. The bed of Lókos-patak stretched right in front of us, so there was no question as to where we would put most of our skills. We placed the first rod at the break in the streambed with a CatMagnet and a buoy tying.

 CatMagnets at work attached to buoys

We placed the bait about 1 meter from the water surface, where the water was about 3-4 m deep, 80-90 meters from the shore and waited for the miracle. Our first and last catfish came on this rod a few hours after the start of the competition. A nice 47 cm catfish that weighed 0.9 kg. The truth is, we were as happy about it as if we had caught the lake record. For us, small catfish is also a precious catfish. We placed our additional rods further in and out.

With one of their nice catches, the Giant Catfish Hunters team

We were very happy when we found an approx. half a square meter bathed bed. The bed in this area was rock hard. Usually we encountered mud, but at this point our search stick clicked. We fished this discovered bathed pit continuously during the competition, but unfortunately we did not meet its inhabitant, which was presumably a larger specimen. We would love to try this place again when it warms up in the spring. Such spots can worth gold, even if we catch the fish staying here, there is a good chance that another one will occupy the place and then we can catch that one as well.

 The photo shows the lucky result of the Bosodi Harcsakkergetők team

As mentioned previously, you should not be fussy with your equipment. For the buoy method, we used the Energofish - Koós Horizontot 3.3m rod. With a weight of 1300 g, a suitably stiff and strong rod is one of the best tools for stretching CatMagnets. The spindle was the well-proven and almost legendary Banax from Koós. We also used Teflon (DuPont) coated damils (0.58 mm 130 Lbs) twisted from Koós - Monster Braid 12 element fibers as main line.

 CatMagnet stretched approx. from 140-150 meters in a promising place in front of the willow tree.

With such an indestructible equipment, we can try any competition and we won’t be surprised. Our leaders were made from Koós Catfish Rig-It Kevlar 1mm (130 kg) braided fabric. We made these leaders using the auxiliary hook method, where the lower auxiliary hook is a smaller 4/0-5/0-6/0 and the upper main hook is a larger 6/0-7/0-8/0 - recommended by Koós Catfish Team. Professional pre-knitted leaders will arrive in the Energofish range soon, which we can also use in competitions. You can meet these and many other catfish novelties at the 2024 FEHOVA, where you will be helped to assemble any equipment at the Energofish stand.

All in all, we took part of a friendly competition with a family atmosphere, where we could enjoy catching catfish in a truly picturesque environment alongside the most helpful organizers.

Hereby we congratulate all the teams!

Author: Ramón Nieto