View Full Version : Split Lake Rules.....please be aware.
MikeLyddon053698
12-04-2009, 17:25
Just a polite reminder, as after a few days over there, it seems a lot of people are unaware of the new rules regarding fishing for catfish on CEMEX waters.
Minimum 15lb line (I would recommend 17lb minimum personally).
Minimum 50" landing net.
Minimum 5ft weigh sling.
Minimum 6ft unhooking mat (2 x 3ft side by side is ok).
Spent a few days over there this week and landed a few cats, but everyone of them without exception had at least one trailing rig hanging out of its mouth, the majority of them with at least 6ft of lline. One unfortunate fish had FOUR rigs, one of which had over 12ft of line and a huge branch attached to it. Thankfully we landed it and removed all the hooks and line from it.
These fish are now getting VERY big and are VERY powerful. Please do NOT fish for them if you do not have the neccessary equipment.
well this is gonna be an increasing problem now they are being fished for by people who wanna catch their first cat,its like people going to the carpark for their first carp! never fished for em,got no experience wotsoever so where do you go to learn? on a lake that holds bloody 60s!!! in my opinion totally ridiculous!!! also since they are not being fished for by the previous cat techniques ie big beds of bait be it pellet or boilies they are now being hooked more and more by carp anglers who arent even targetting them and so their tackle is totally inadequate! it is fast becoming a nonsense down there!!! and you dont need a bloody 50inch net for catfish either you just need to know wot the hell your doing!
simon_cat
13-04-2009, 20:14
Perhaps the minimum line should be 20 lbs on the Split now ,I know what you are saying musashi , however I caught my first cat on the Split in 2002 ( the biggest cat was around 45 lbs at that time in the lake) , If people use the correct tackle these problems shouldn't arise .The rules for fishing on the Split should be like on the Boat Pool to safeguard the cats.
For anyone looking to catch their first cat , you must use tackle strong enough to cope with these powerful fish.
i would guess in most cases fellas the tackle is more that up to the job, what needs to be tighted on most sets of gear is the clutch on the reels, poeple new to cats generally try and play them on clutchs set for carp. go on lad and lasses tighten them right up!
well when i caught my 62lb cat the clutch on my baitrunner couldnt go any tighter and it took line like the baitrunner was still on. aswell as flatrodding me for the whole fight. you will not stop a big catfish in the split on carp gear simple as that. at least not before it hits an island. prob is too many people fishing for carp now getting cats due to the rule changes and its gonna get worse!
MikeLyddon053698
13-04-2009, 21:18
The rules for fishing on the Split should be like on the Boat Pool to safeguard the cats.
If not even stronger. Admittedly the cats in the Boat go bigger, but there aren't any islands etc on the boat for the cats to swim around :(
this does not deal with the problem of the cats being hooked on carp gear by carp anglers . that is the problem as they neither have the tackle or the experience to deal with a big cat hence the number of big fish towing line,this didnt happen when the cat anglers were able to use large tight beds of bait,the cats homed in on these and left the more scattered areas to the carp usually. this problem was predicted and its becoming apparent already!
Whats the rod limit on the split lake guys?
i would go so far as to recommend a 4.5lb tc spod rod and 50lb braid for targetting cats. playing a fish for 45 minutes on a carp rod is not fair to them.
i have seen cats hooked on single maggots fished in the edge for livebaits to tiny jelly lures fished on 5ft rods. you can't odds it sometimes, but i agree, most carp anglers are unprepared.
for catfish tutorials please pm me.
**sam**
i would go so far as to recommend a 4.5lb tc spod rod and 50lb braid for targetting cats. playing a fish for 45 minutes on a carp rod is not fair to them.
**sam**
I agree Sam
I was using 70lb braid and spod rods on the Boat Pool 6 years ago when they were only 40lb'ers. Would not dream of fishing for 50lb+ cats with anything less than 50lb braid
Simon
Sorry fellas but no need. You ain't gonna snap a good qualify line in 15+lb on a straight pull and lets face it as long as you play them hard and don't let them get up a good steam of speed they generally come in okay. Trouble with most people from my experience is that they daren't give them too much stick and let them run far too easily. Unlike carp, you very rarely pull your hook out of a cat.
take it your biggun wasnt running strait round an island on its first dash then? so why then do the ccg members who fish for cats all over the country always use heavier tackle then,its not out of choice
Not only does the heavier braid give you more grunt when you need it but it can also help alot with snags. I've lifted up large branches along with 80lb+ cats from the Soane while out in a boat. Dont think mono would have stood up to that. I know UK catting is not quite the same but why go light? They are not tackle shy.
40lb braid or 100lb braid your never gonna stop a large cat in its tracks it will go wherever its wants to go on the first few runs.only when it starts to tire will you have any control over it, then i think 40lb braid is enough any more than this and your not going to enjoy the fight that you have waited for.
40lb braid or 100lb braid your never gonna stop a large cat in its tracks it will go wherever its wants to go on the first few runs.
My last 2 went 60 (snagged the tackle is was trailing) and 49 and managed to stop both of them on their first, and subsequent, runs. Now you won't manage that everytime but I really believe if you stop it running too far (fishing locked-up is a good starter) and don't let them get up to full speed you can stop them. I watched someone (a cat angler) loose a cat the other week who claimed to be "holding on for dear life" but hardly had a bend in his rod.
Have to agree with the braid for pulling up snags and do use 30lb power pro when actually targetting cats (or pike or eels).
My last 2 went 60 (snagged the tackle is was trailing) and 49 and managed to stop both of them on their first, and subsequent, runs. Now you won't manage that everytime but I really believe if you stop it running too far (fishing locked-up is a good starter) and don't let them get up to full speed you can stop them. I watched someone (a cat angler) loose a cat the other week who claimed to be "holding on for dear life" but hardly had a bend in his rod.
Have to agree with the braid for pulling up snags and do use 30lb power pro when actually targetting cats (or pike or eels).
trust me tug if you hooked one of the big girls on the boat pool and fished locked up you would be saying goodbye to your rod
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