When used correctly, a catapult can be one of the best accessories an angler can have in their bag. Using a cheap, poorly built catapult, however, will land you in a world of pain and frustration. A catapult has long been used as a way to introduce loose offerings into your swim, helping propel them much further than they could be thrown, allowing you to get feed around your hookbait when fishing past a range of around 10m.
Catapults are generally built on the same deign, a straight handle that splits into two arms, with elastic fastened to the top and a pouch to put your chosen bait into. This is where the similarities end, however, as they all vary on strength, pouch designs and durability. Some catapults are designed with finesse in mind, they will have a small pouch, a lightweight frame and thinner elastic to allow you to introduce baits like maggots at a range of around 15m. There are also big catapults, with thick elastic designed to fire boilies up to a range of around 60m and they are built to be far more durable and powerful.
The best fishing catapults at a glance...
It is important to choose the right catapult for the task you have in mind, choosing the wrong one will have detrimental effects on your accuracy and how easy it is to use. If you can't get the bait to your chosen area accurately, then the catapult is useless to you, so always check with the manufacturer that the catapult can reach the range you need it to. Here is a guide to some of the best catapults available on the current market...
Best all-round fishing catapult
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The Guru Adjustable Catapult is a great all-round catapult that is perfect for most short to medium range fishing, whether that be a pole at 16m or a bomb up to 30m. The catapult has slots on the arm that allow you to tension the elastic how you want to, so you can adjust it to suit the type of angling you're doing.
The mesh pouch holds plenty of bait and helps group it nice and tight, helping to maintain your accuracy. There is an improved ridged grip on the handle which is especially useful when holding a pole. The elastic is durable, which helps in prolonging the life of the catapult and you can easily change it when it deteriorates.
Pros
- Accurate grouping of bait.
- You can customise the tension in an instant.
Cons
- The elastic can twist.
Best fishing catapult for accuracy
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Matrix have revolutionised the catapult with their latest Matrix Silk Catapult offering. Now with the introduction of the V2 model it's even better improving on the connection of the elastic and pouches.
It is a completely twist free design, that removes the headache of having to untangle the catapult every time you use it. The Slik elastic offers a much more durable product than a standard catapult elastic, meaning you will have to change it far less than you would have to normally and it also maintains its memory so it doesn't loose any elasticity.
The pouch is made from a soft and flexible rubber material, and it is perfect for feeding smaller particle baits like maggots and pellets. The medium version is great for pole work, while the large version is better for fishing out in the lake at range. The key thing with these catapults is how precise they are, the grouping of the bait is incredibly tight and the more accurate you are, the more you'll catch. These catapults also benefit from two elastic strengths, so you're sure to find one that is right for you - they are seriously good catapults!
Pros
- Completely twist free.
- Very accurate grouping of bait.
Cons
- The elastic is tied so if not knotted correctly can slip
Best fishing catapult for groundbait
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A special cup on the Drennan Softened Groundbait Catapult gently cradles hard balls or soft fist-shaped ‘barrels’ of groundbait, which prevents them being crushed when loading the catapult to fire them in. Three different grades of elastic cover a range of distances from 20m to 50m, ensuring accurate feeding.
Drennan’s groundbait catapults have always been top notch, and this latest incarnation is the best yet. Not only great for groundbait, its super-sized pouch is also ideal for heaping in corn or pellets. If you need to put balls of groundbait out at range, you definitely want to check out the Softfeed from Drennan, as they are perfect for the task.
Pros
- Perfectly designed for using with groundbait.
- Very accurate once you have got used to them.
Cons
- No use for firing particle baits in.
Best catapult for pole fishing
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Designed for using with Preston's very popular pole elastic range, the Preston Innovations Dura Slip Catapult benefits from that very elastic in sizes 17 and 19 to ensure you get a fantastic performing product. The elastic is not hollow, so it tends to be more durable and powerful, maximising the distance and the time you'll get out of it before it has to be changed. The handy PTFE bush system makes changing the elastic really quick and easy when it does require changing.
The design all but eliminates twisting, so you'll never have the annoyance of untwisting your catapult again, the elastic having no twist in it also benefits how accurate it is. As the elastic is in its natural position, it will follow the line you set perfectly when tensioning it, allowing the trajectory of the bait to follow exactly where you want it to go. This makes for a very accurate catapult and you'll notice the difference in the grouping of your bait when using one.
Pros
- Very durable catapult.
- Highly accurate, twist free design.
Cons
- The pouch could be more durable.
Best fishing catapult for pinging pellets
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The Drennan Pole Range Pellet Pult, has been specifically designed for feeding pellets little and often, a popular means of feeding on commercial fisheries.
The catapult lends itself to pinging pellets when fishing the pole with pellets and for feeding pellets regularly when fishing shallow. With its rubberised grip it offers effortless handling even with wet hands.
It has a tangle free design thanks to the twin swivel attachments. The light and medium elastic option provide exceptional pinpoint accuracy when feeding just a small amount of bait at short distance.
Pros
- Tangle free design
- Very accurate
Cons
- Limited range, elastics available intnded for short range
Best catapult for boilies
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If you're looking to put large particles like boilies or dog biscuits any distance, you need a strong catapult, you simply won't get the distance with a smaller framed, lighter version. The Korda Katapult is a great option, not only is the frame lightweight and durable, the elastic is strong and will enable you to get the bait out at range, with distances of 60-70m achieved with 16mm boilies.
The medium version in the range has a much larger pouch than the other two and this is to allow heavy baiting close in, whether you want to bait with lots of particles or if you are floater fishing and want to maintain a good amount of floaters going into the swim. All the catapults in the range feature a new and improved bearing system to attach the elastic to the frame, this helps alleviate the elastic twisting, so you can bait up much more efficiently.
Pros
- Large pouches for heavy baiting.
- Very strong catapults for baiting at range.
Cons
- Occasionally the pouch can hit your hand.
Best Fishing Catapult For Pellet Waggler
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The Drennan Waggler Range Pellet Pult is an advancement in catapult technology incorporating new features to ensure that the user gets the best out of it and surpresses some common problems with existing catapults on the market.
It has a tangle free design by incorporating twin swivel attachments on the pouch and the frame, the catapult benefits from an enhanced grip and remains versatile offered in a light and medium elastic options.
The catapult offer flexibility in its use, it can be released from any angle offering versatility and adaptability to any given fishing situation.
Pros
- Tangle free design
- Unique pouches offer tightly grouped bait delivery
Cons
- Pouches rely on friction to hold into elastic, if removed can be difficult to replace
What to look for in a fishing catapult
When looking for a catapult for fishing there aren't a huge amount of factors to consider, the only objective of a catapult is to fire your bait into the lake and every one on the market will do that. However, there are a couple of things to consider that will make the process more effective. When choosing a catapult you have to buy one that will get your chosen bait out to where you're fishing, so always look at the manufacturer's guidance on how far that model will reach.
Most modern catapults come with features to stop the elastic twisting up, we would say this is a must have feature as the elastic tangling and twisting after each use is not only annoying, but it will reduce how efficient you are. Not only that, but the twist will alter the tension in the elastic, which can make your baiting up far less consistent and accurate, causing you to spread bait over a much wider area, reducing your chance of a bite.
Catapult elastic breaks, there is no changing that. The stress the elastic is under from constant use and the UV from sunlight breaking it down, will mean it needs replacing. Always opt for a catapult that has readily available spares and a system that makes changing the elastic easy, as a lot of the time they will break during use, so it will need changing on the bank. If you don't have a spare and it is difficult to do away from home, this will render it useless for your session, thankfully, most catapults have very easy to change components now for this reason.
Glossary
Catapult: A forked, plastic or metal frame with elastic attached to the ends for propelling objects out of its pouch.
<strong>Frequently asked questions of fishing catapults</strong>
How do you feed with a catapult whilst holding a pole?
Feeding whilst holding a pole does look complicated, but with a bit of practice it's not as hard as it looks. For right handed anglers, the easiest way is to trap the pole under your elbow on your right arm, this leaves your left hand completely free. Load the pouch with your left hand and then pick up the catapult, grip the pouch with your right hand and force the catapult forward with your left hand, releasing the pouch when the correct tension is applied.
How often do you need to change the elastic on a catapult?
This will vary with usage and how much exposure the elastic gets to the sun, as the UV will degrade the elastic over time. Generally, the elastic deteriorates quickest where it attaches to the pouch or the frame and you will see it begin to fray. With little usage, expect a catapult to last a season, with heavy usage they will last about a month before they will need a change. Most companies sell a pack of replacement parts and they are very easy to change, it's always worth carrying a set of spares with you.
How much should you fill the pouch?
If you want to get lots of bait out quickly, then filling the pouch will reduce the time it takes to get your bait out. However, the fuller the pouch, the more the bait tends to spread. It is far more accurate to fill a pouch up to half full, as this will reduce the weight and allow the elastic to spring better, keeping your bait in a much tighter area when it hits the lake.
Author Aidan Bordiuk is an enthusiastic angler who enjoys all fishing disciplines from match fishing to beach casting. He is currently occupying the position of Commercial Content Writer at Angling Times.