Freshwater · Summer through autumn; best on warm nights
Soldatov's Catfish
Silurus soldatovi
The giant Silurus of the far north-east — Heilongjiang (Amur), Ussuri and Lake Khanka (Xingkai) — famous locally as 怀头 (huaitou). Fish of 20 kg and more are real here, making it one of China's true freshwater heavyweights, fished for with live fish baits in big, deep water.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Very large, smooth scaleless catfish with a broad head and a long, tapering body
- Two pairs of barbels: a long pair at the mouth corners and a short chin pair
- Body grey-brown with darker speckling, paler below
- Small forward dorsal fin; long anal fin clearly separate from the rounded tail
- Reaches sizes no other Chinese Silurus except the southern catfish approaches — 20 kg-class fish occur
Habits
- A big-river, big-lake nocturnal predator of the Amur system
- Feeds on fish, including carp and other catfish, hunting deep holes and channels at night
- Rests by day in the deepest pools of the main river and lake basins
- Spawns in early summer in flowing water over gravel
Distribution
Regional coverage expanding
Where to find them
- Deep holes in the Heilongjiang and Ussuri main channels
- Lake Khanka deep basins and channel edges
- Confluences of large tributaries after dark
Where they live
How to catch them
Big-water bottom fishing for giants River
Rig: Heavy sliding-sinker rig, 6/0-8/0 circle hook and a whole live fish bait on bottom
Bait/lure: Live carp or other hardy live fish of a hand's length
Key tip: Fish the deepest holes at night, use heavy gear and a secure rod rest, and let a big fish move off fully before tightening up.
Heavy ledgering at deep holes River
Rig: Strong ledger rig with a large scented fish chunk anchored in deep holes
Bait/lure: Fresh fish chunks and large loach groups
Key tip: Keep the bait hard on bottom in the deepest water and wait — takes can be long apart but are rarely small fish.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Heavy catfish rod
- Line: 40-60 lb braid with a heavy leader
- Terminal: Heavy sliding sinkers, 6/0-8/0 circle hooks
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
9' 5-weight fly rod outfit
≈ US$180-260
Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.
Flies · Budget
Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)
≈ US$25-40
Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 10-30 lb; large specimens 45 lb and up
On the table
Good to excellent — a prized Amur food fish; big fish are best stewed or braised.
Similar species
Amur CatfishAmur catfish is the smaller, nationwide everyday catfish, rarely into double figures of pounds; Soldatov's is a Heilongjiang-system giant that passes 45 lb
Southern CatfishSouthern catfish lives in southern rivers and its anal fin runs into the tail; Soldatov's is a northern Amur fish with a separate rounded tailRegulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
Plan a trip for Soldatov's Catfish
Build today's plan