Wels Catfish

Habitat Distribution

• Introduced, not native — first stocked at Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire in the 1880s; distribution has expanded steadily and now covers most English counties.
• The historical heartland remains within roughly 50 miles of Woburn; a major wave of imports from Croatia in the late 1990s spread fish much further across England.
• Prefers deep, slow-moving or still waters — stocked lakes, reservoirs, and sluggish river stretches rather than fast, cold, well-oxygenated rivers.
• Cooler UK temperatures limit growth compared to mainland Europe; the species is considered non-native and its spread is managed by fisheries authorities.

Key Locations

• Woburn Abbey lakes, Bedfordshire — the original introduction site and still one of the most historically significant catfish waters in the UK.
• Marsworth Reservoir, near Tring, Hertfordshire — one of the few waters with a legally established wild population, introduced by the Rothschild family.
• Claydon Lakes, Oxfordshire — a well-known commercial venue with a strong reputation for large fish.
• Arrow Meadow Fisheries, Heart of England — a dedicated catfish venue with a syndicate lake stocked with large specimens.

Specific Spots

• Deep holes and depressions on the lake or river bed — wels rest in these during daylight and move out to feed after dark.
• Undercut banks, sunken timber, and large submerged snags give cover; fish hold tight to this structure and are reluctant to move far from it.
• Shallow margins and bays become productive at night when wels move up from depth to hunt resting fish and other prey along the bottom.
• Murky, coloured water concentrates fish more than clear water — turbid areas near inflows or disturbed silt are worth investigating.