When Atomic Tackle first released the T-Pult range of catapults a few years back, praises from the angling world could not have been higher due to the full metal frames that did not bend or flex like others on the market at the time, as well as the design being one that minimised the risk of knuckle rap (which as we know is something that anglers do not want when it is wet or cold at the very best of times). Over the past couple of years, anglers have really started to lighten up with their tackle, and the additional weight that the T-Pult caused to the angler that may only want to take minimal tackle when stalking or floater fishing, was simply too much - Enter the new lightweight versions of these catapults!

The Black-Kat is designed as a tool for putting boilies out at range or close in with both accuracy and also tight grouping of the baits.

The frame of the catapult is very similar on shape to an American Football goal which gives a wider gape between the uprights - something that UKMA found to be the main resolution to the knuckle rap problem. The frame has been made out of a synthetic material that is plastic in feel but is as robust as the metal frame it replaced. There is no flex at all in the frame when the elastics are stretched. This is a very impressive feat in itself and something that other companies are sure to try to emulate.

The handle of the frame is textured similar to an off-road tyre on the palm section of the grip, with the opposite side being of the more traditional "mould to the fingers" grip. This grip looks like a standard plastic, but when gripped has a very soft touch to it without feeling like it moves in the hand when the elastics are extended. This is a bonus in cold or damp conditions as it will not slip in your hand.

The pouches are amongst the very best that we have seen in far too many years of angling across the board. The material used looks like a synthetic plasticised leather that is relatively soft but retains enough rigidity to hold open on it's own for easy loading. The elastics are connected to the pouch by a very strong plastic "split pin" type connection that pushes up into the elastics very securely. The connector attaches to the pouch through a metal ringed punched hole. This is where a lot of catapults let themselves down as the hole tears through prolonged use meaning that a new pouch has to be purchased every few sessions. This is great for the manufacturer and shops in selling lots of spares, but no good for the angler if they are left without a catapult during a long session. For additional security, Atomic have had the pouch material doubled over where the connection is to reduce the risk of the pouch tearing. At the base of the pouch, a lot of thought has been put into the pull tab. Atomic have extended the tab to almost double the length of a lot of other catapults on the market. Atomic have also made the tag out of the rough side of a strip of vecro. This may feel funny to some anglers at first, but it offers tremendous grip to be obtained in conjunction with the extended length. Even with damp or cold hands, there is no slippage between the fingers even at full stretch of the elastics.

The elastics are slightly longer than your usual catapult, but not too long so that you are required to have arms the length of Mr Tickle to fully extend them! The slight addition in length enables better grouping of baits as the acceleration of the bait during the process of the elastics retracting is slower meaning that the baits are not fired everywhere. During our tests on the bank, we put out 200 boilies with each catapult - 2 at a time with the Black-Kat and 5 at a time with the Kamo-Kat - and the grouping was exceptional at 40 yards range. We found no difference at all with the grouping which ever the way the frame was pointing - from upside down through to fully vertical (although I generally hold the frame at around a 45 degree angle through habit - as well as reducing the risk of knuckle raps!).
On the distance test, I took 10 x18mm boilies and put them out one at a time using the Black-Kat. The far margin of the venue was 80 yards away (measured using Google Earth), and 7 of the baits went over the water and onto the far bank with 3 baits dropping just shy of the far margin. I did not feel it was fair to do a comparison test using the Kamo-Kat and particles as the vast majority of use for the Kamo-Kat would be under 20 yards to keep the grouping of the lighter, smaller baits as required when fishing with particles.

Final Thoughts

After using literally hundreds of different catapults over the years, I truly believe that I have now found the ultimate catapult range. I did consider the original T-Pult but the weight put me off - both from a carrying point of view as well as holding the additional weight for a prolonged duration whilst putting a lot of bait out really puts a strain on the arm. Now Atomic have reduced the weight dramatically with the Kat range, these will be with me on every angling trip I go on.
Top marks Atomic Tackle on these products and these will be tremendous sellers over the foreseeable future.
I give these catapults a full seal of approval and will be promoting them to any angler that wishes to listen to me go on about them!

For more information on these catapults or any other item in the Atomic Tackle range, please visit the Atomic Tackle website by clicking the image below.