The Best Fishing Catapults for 2026
A good fishing catapult is a key piece of equipment in your artillery. Being able to fire loose feed out accurately and at the desired range is a key requirement for most angling situations. But how do you know what catapult to buy?
There are so many fishing catapults on the market today made by many different brands that it can be a bit of a minefield when picking the right one.
This article will detail 7 of the best fishing catapults in the tackle shops today. Different angling disciplines require a different catapult and this guide will suggest good options for different fishing situations.
Quick Answer
The ESP Boiliepult Catapult is my top pick for firing boilies, but the best catapult really depends on the bait, so the table below matches each one to the job.
For an all-round budget option, my starting point would be the Preston Dura Slip Catapult. The table below ranks the catapults by the bait and feeding style each one suits best.
| Rank | Best for | Catapult | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Best for Boilies | ESP Boiliepult Catapult | Carp anglers firing boilies to a tight spot at range. |
| #2 | Great for Particles | ESP Particlepult Catapult | Anglers baiting up with pellets, corn, hemp and tigers at range. |
| #3 | Top Groundbait Pult | Drennan Soft Feed Groundbait Catapult | Match and pleasure anglers feeding balls of groundbait accurately. |
| #4 | Great at Distance | Gardner Ultrapult Catapult | Carp anglers who want to bait a swim accurately without the disturbance of spodding. |
| #5 | Reliable for Pellets | Matrix SLIK Catapult | Commercial anglers feeding pellets, casters and maggots on the pole or bomb. |
| #6 | Handy Match Pult | MAP Catapult | Match anglers who want a tangle-free caty for feeding particles. |
| #7 | Best Budget | Preston Dura Slip Catapult | Pole anglers after a cheap, reliable caty for continuous match feeding. |
What Makes A Good Fishing Catapult
There are some key fundamentals that make a good fishing catapult no matter what fishing discipline you choose. Some basic features to look for include the following…
Handle
This may sound obvious, but there are many catapults out there that just get this key basic wrong. To fire out freebies accurately, you must start with a solid base. The base on a fishing catapult is your grip. If there is too much movement when you pull the elastic back you won’t achieve accuracy.
The best fishing catapults allow for a solid and comfortable grip whether its indents in the plastic that fit your fingers or a rubberised handle to aid comfort and grip even in wet conditions.
Elastic
Depending on your tactics, elastics can differ in strength and elasticity. For example, if you are float fishing 20 yards outs, a thinner elastic with a lot of stretch will fire out small baits more accurately than a large catapult with a heavy elastic.
And to the contrary, if you are fireing out a number of large baits such as boilies at range, a thicker stronger elastic will be a lot more robust and accurate than a thinner elastic. So, it’s important to pick a fishing catapult with an elastic that suits the style of fishing you are conducting.
Cup or Pouch
Fishing catapults tend to come with either a cup or a pouch attached to them. A catapult with a cup is designed for smaller baits or just a small quantity of larger bait, whereas a pouch is for much larger baits in volume.
As a general rule of thumb, for small baits such as maggots or pellets or if you just need 2 or 3 boilies fired out at once, pick a catapult with a cup and for large baits such as balls of ground bait or for firing multiple boilies at once, a pouch should be used.
Width
The width of the arms on a decent fishing catapult should be balanced with the elastic and indeed the intended use of the catapult. A large catapult being used for large baits or ground bait should have a wide gap between the arms of the catapult to allow the heavy elastic and the large pouch or cup to follow through efficiently.
For smaller baits, the width of the arms doesn’t have to be as wide although there still needs to be sufficient clearance to allow for accuracy and to prevent your knuckles from taking a painful hit.
The Best Fishing Catapults
ESP Boiliepult Catapult
#1 Best for Boilies
The ESP Boiliepult is the catapult I reach for when firing boilies, because it is built for maximum distance and tight grouping with minimum spillage.
The special cone-shaped pouch is the clever bit. It holds the baits together on the release so they land in a tight group rather than scattering, and ESP reckon that with a bit of practice, tight groupings around 40 metres out are achievable. Reducing the quantity and weight of bait pushes the distance out further still.
The pouch takes roughly ten 18mm or sixteen 15mm boilies, so it covers the usual carp bait sizes, and spare pouches and latex are available, which matters because latex is a natural material with a limited lifespan and should be replaced regularly.
It is a dedicated boilie tool rather than a groundbait or particle pult, so for feeding maggots or method balls a softer-pouched caty suits, but for accurate boilie work at range it is excellent.
Best suited to
Carp anglers firing boilies to a tight spot at range.
Pros
- Cone pouch groups boilies tightly
- Distance around 40m with practice
- Spare pouches and latex available
Cons
- A boilie specialist, not for groundbait
- Latex needs regular replacement
ESP Particlepult Catapult
#2 Great for Particles
The ESP Particlepult is the one I would choose for firing particles, because it is designed to deliver large quantities of small baits quickly and efficiently.
Particles are the awkward job. Unlike boilies, loose baits like pellets, hemp and corn are hard to catapult much beyond 15 to 20 metres because they spread and lose energy, and this pult is built to maximise distance and minimise spread with exactly those baits, including sweetcorn, tigernuts and hemp.
It gets a good volume of bait out in a hurry, which is what particle fishing needs when building a swim, and like the rest of the ESP range spare pouches and latex are available, with the usual advice to keep the latex out of prolonged sunlight so it lasts.
It is a particle specialist rather than a long-range boilie tool, so for single big baits at distance the Boiliepult suits better, but for hemp and pellet work it is spot on.
Best suited to
Anglers baiting up with pellets, corn, hemp and tigers at range.
Pros
- Built for pellets, corn, hemp, tigers
- Maximises distance and minimises spread
- Spare pouches and latex available
Cons
- Particles carry less far than boilies
- A particle specialist, not for single baits
Drennan Soft Feed Groundbait Catapult
#3 Top Groundbait Pult
The Drennan Soft Feed is the catapult I would pick for balls of groundbait, because its special cup is made for exactly that job.
The cup is the point. It gently cradles balls, barrels or soft squeezed hand-sized portions of bait and delivers them on target with real accuracy, which is what groundbait feeding needs, whether that is priming a swim on the pole or feeding a bream line.
It comes in a range of elastic strengths to match the distance, with the soft-elastic version most accurate between 20 and 30 metres and the X-strong version reaching a consistent 40 to 50 metres, so there is a version for close work or feeding well out. Spare pouches and latex are available.
It is a groundbait specialist rather than a hard-bait pult, so for boilies or particles a different caty suits, but for feeding balls of groundbait accurately it is hard to beat.
Best suited to
Match and pleasure anglers feeding balls of groundbait accurately.
Pros
- Cup cradles groundbait balls
- Elastic options for 20m to 50m
- Accurate feeding on target
Cons
- A groundbait specialist
- Not for boilies or hard particles
Gardner Ultrapult Catapult
#4 Great at Distance
The Gardner Ultrapult is the catapult I would choose for consistent, accurate baiting at range, because it is a real step up in build and performance.
The frame and elastic do the work. A strong, reinforced moulded frame stays rigid yet light, and high-quality American-made elastics on anti-twist fittings mean the elastic does not tangle, so I can get into a rhythm of firing bait without the annoying pauses that untangling causes.
It is a genuinely useful alternative to spodding for getting bait out without the disturbance, and unlike a throwing stick it does not spin boilies, which is what holds them up in the water long enough for gulls to rob them. It comes with a large particle pouch or a medium boilie pouch, on a comfortable 16cm frame with a sculptured anti-slip grip.
It is a step dearer and bigger than a basic caty, so for close pole feeding it is more than needed, but for accurate carp baiting at range it is excellent.
Best suited to
Carp anglers who want to bait a swim accurately without the disturbance of spodding.
Pros
- Anti-twist American-made elastics
- Rigid reinforced frame, anti-slip grip
- Particle or boilie pouch options
Cons
- Bigger than a close-range caty
- More than pole feeding needs
Matrix SLIK Catapult
#5 Reliable for Pellets
The Matrix SLIK is the catapult I would pick for commercial pellet and caster work, because it is accurate, durable and comes in two sizes to match the range.
It groups bait well. Matrix built it around their SLIK elastic for durability and it offers genuinely good accuracy and grouping, which counts when feeding a tight pole line or a pellet waggler spot where the fish expect bait in one place.
The two sizes cover most jobs. The medium is made for pole and shorter-range fishing with a soft, flexible pouch ideal for pellets, casters or maggots, while the large is designed for feeding at distance with a bomb or pellet waggler. An improved pouch connection makes changing elastics much simpler, and it has an anti-twist design and an ergonomic over-moulded grip.
It is a match and commercial feeding tool rather than a long-range boilie pult, so a carp angler baiting at range wants something bigger, but for pellets and casters it is spot on.
Best suited to
Commercial anglers feeding pellets, casters and maggots on the pole or bomb.
Pros
- Durable SLIK elastic, accurate grouping
- Medium and large sizes
- Easy elastic changes, anti-twist
Cons
- Aimed at match and commercial feeding
- Not a long-range boilie pult
MAP Catapult
#6 Handy Match Pult
The MAP Catapult is the handy match pult I would keep in the box, because its anti-twist design solves the most annoying part of catapult feeding.
The single-elastic idea is neat. The elastic runs through the hollow frame with no extra fixing points, which eliminates the twist that leads to tangles, so the feeding stays smooth and quick through a session rather than stopping to sort out a knotted caty.
It is built to last and easy to use, with soft-touch rubber handles, PTFE inserts in the frame to prolong elastic life, and a strong durable pouch that suits particle baits. It comes in two sizes to match the feeding.
It is a straightforward particle-feeding caty rather than a specialist groundbait or boilie tool, but as a reliable, tangle-free match pult it earns its place.
Best suited to
Match anglers who want a tangle-free caty for feeding particles.
Pros
- Anti-twist single-elastic design
- PTFE inserts prolong elastic life
- Soft-touch handle, two sizes
Cons
- Best suited to particle baits
- Not a groundbait or boilie specialist
Preston Dura Slip Catapult
#7 Best Budget
The Preston Dura Slip is the budget pick, and it shows a reliable match caty does not have to cost much.
It is made for pole feeding with all baits, offering pinpoint accuracy and anti-tangle properties, which is exactly what a pole angler wants when feeding the same tight spot cast after cast.
It is built for continuous use, featuring Preston's trusted 17 and 19 Dura Slip elastic and a patented PTFE bush anti-tangle design so it keeps feeding cleanly through a long match. A lightweight moulded pouch with a fixed cord, a light frame, a soft-touch grip and a quick-change elastic design finish it off.
It does not have the range or the specialist pouches of the dearer catys, so a distance carp angler wants more, but as a cheap, dependable pole-feeding caty it is excellent value.
Best suited to
Pole anglers after a cheap, reliable caty for continuous match feeding.
Pros
- Anti-tangle PTFE bush design
- Trusted 17 and 19 Dura Slip elastic
- Quick-change elastic, light frame
Cons
- Aimed at pole and short-range work
- No specialist distance pouches
Fishing Catapult FAQs
Still choosing a catapult?
These are the questions I would settle before buying.
What makes a good fishing catapult?
The pouch and elastic matter most. The pouch should suit the bait, a mesh or firm pouch for pellets and boilies, a soft cup for groundbait, and the elastic should match the distance and stay tangle-free.
A comfortable grip and an anti-twist frame make continuous feeding far easier.
What catapult should I use for boilies?
A dedicated boilie catapult with a cone or firm pouch, like the ESP Boiliepult, groups baits tightly at range with little spillage. General or soft-pouch catapults spread boilies and lose distance, so a purpose-made boilie pult is worth having for accurate baiting.
How do I stop my catapult elastic tangling?
Anti-twist designs are the answer: a single elastic running through a hollow frame, or elastic on anti-twist fittings, stops the twisting that causes tangles. Replacing perished latex regularly and storing the catapult with the pouch relaxed also helps.
How often should I replace catapult elastic?
Latex is a natural material with a limited lifespan and degrades with sunlight and use, so it is best replaced regularly rather than left to snap mid-session. Carrying a spare pouch and latex is sensible, as most ranges sell them separately.
Final Thoughts
In simplistic terms, the best fishing catapults allow you to fire out the required bait at the required distance accurately. To do this the fishing catapult needs to be well designed with the width of the arms, the elastic and the bait container all balancing nicely.
Hopefully, this guide has provided you with some clarity on the features to look out for as well as the type of fishing catapult you require if you are looking at purchasing one.
Many thanks for reading
Tight Lines!