Listen to the Song –Giant of the Deep
The complete lyrics are included in the companion book, Our Jewels in the Water, allowing readers to follow every song while discovering the remarkable stories behind our freshwater fish.
Enjoying the music?
The companion book Our Jewels in the Water includes the full lyrics, additional stories, exclusive photographs and beautiful illustrations for every species.
The Wels Catfish
Giant of the Deep
“Beneath the dark water lies a giant — silent, powerful and waiting in a world ruled by touch, vibration and instinct.”
Species Profile
The Wels Catfish (Silurus glanis) is one of Europe’s most extraordinary freshwater predators.
With its enormous head, wide mouth, smooth scaleless body and long barbels, there is simply no mistaking a large Wels.
Native to parts of continental Europe and western Asia, the species has been introduced to waters well beyond its original range, including Britain.
It is certainly not one of Britain’s native jewels, but its presence in our fisheries makes it an important part of the modern story of our freshwater fish.
And what a fish it is.
In continental Europe, Wels Catfish can reach extraordinary proportions, growing to lengths and weights that place them amongst the giants of European freshwater.
Clive’s Story
There are certain fish that make even an experienced angler stop and look.
A big Wels Catfish is certainly one of them.
It doesn’t really resemble anything else in our waters.
That enormous mouth.
Those tiny eyes.
The long barbels.
And a body that seems to go on forever.
But perhaps the most impressive thing about a large catfish is its sheer power.
When a fish of that size decides to move, the angler is suddenly connected to something very substantial indeed.
It is one of those encounters that reminds us just how large freshwater fish can become.
Somewhere beneath an apparently peaceful lake may be a fish considerably larger than most people standing on the bank would ever imagine.
Natural History
Wels Catfish favour warm, productive lakes and slow-flowing rivers, particularly where there is deep water, cover and abundant food.
They possess an extremely well-developed sensory system.
Their characteristic barbels help them investigate their surroundings and locate potential food, particularly when visibility is poor.
Wels Catfish are opportunistic predators.
Their diet changes as they grow and can include aquatic invertebrates, fish and other available prey.
Larger individuals are capable of taking surprisingly substantial food items.
They can be particularly active during warmer conditions and may feed at night or during periods of reduced light.
Their smooth body lacks the conventional scales found on many familiar freshwater fish, adding to their unusual appearance.
Interesting Facts
- Scientific name: Silurus glanis
- Family: Siluridae.
- Commonly known as the Wels Catfish or European Catfish.
- One of Europe’s largest freshwater fish.
- Has a smooth, scaleless body.
- Possesses a broad, flattened head and extremely large mouth.
- Has distinctive long barbels.
- Uses highly developed senses to locate food.
- An opportunistic predator.
- Can reach exceptional sizes in suitable European waters.
- Native to parts of continental Europe and western Asia.
- Introduced to Britain.
- Not a native British species.
- Particularly associated with warm, slow-moving or still waters.
Behind the Song
When writing Giant of the Deep, I wanted the music to capture the feeling of something enormous moving unseen beneath the surface.
Imagine standing beside a lake at night.
Everything appears quiet.
Then somewhere out in the darkness there is a movement.
Perhaps a swirl.
Perhaps the sound of a fish turning.
You know something substantial is down there, but you cannot see it.
That is the world of the Wels Catfish.
It doesn’t need brilliant colours.
It doesn’t need magnificent scales.
Its presence comes from something else entirely.
Size, power and mystery.
Conservation and Responsible Fishery Management
The Wels Catfish presents a different conservation story because it is not native to Britain.
Where non-native fish become established, their effects upon native ecosystems need to be carefully considered.
Fish should never be moved or introduced into another water without the appropriate permissions.
What may appear to be an exciting new fish for anglers can have consequences for the existing ecology of a lake or river.
Responsible fishery management is therefore essential.
Where Wels Catfish are legally established in managed fisheries, they have become impressive sporting fish.
But protecting Britain’s native freshwater wildlife means ensuring that non-native species are not spread irresponsibly into new waters.
Clive’s Reflection
The Wels Catfish seems an appropriate fish with which to reach the end of this extraordinary journey.
We began with some of the smallest jewels in our waters.
Tiny fish that many people hardly notice.
And now we arrive at a freshwater giant.
Yet size has never really been what Our Jewels in the Water is about.
A Minnow can be every bit as fascinating as a Catfish.
A Stickleback building its nest can tell a story just as remarkable as a giant predator moving through the darkness.
That has been one of the great pleasures of putting this collection together.
Every species has given us something different.
Beauty.
Mystery.
History.
Survival.
And occasionally sheer power.
The Wels Catfish certainly provides plenty of that.
Perhaps somewhere tonight, beneath the surface of a quiet lake, a great catfish is moving slowly through the darkness.
Nobody on the bank sees it.
Nobody knows exactly where it is.
But it is there.
Another secret beneath the surface.
And one final reminder of just how much remains hidden in the world beneath our waters.
“Never judge a lake by its surface — you cannot know what giant may be moving silently below.”