Massive catfish bottoms out scales
Ian Windsor wished he’d had a bigger set of scales when a 45-minute battle ended in the capture of this huge catfish that he believes could have weighed over 80lb.
He hooked the predator during a carp fishing session on the Park Farm 2 Lake, which is part of the popular Great Lindford Lakes complex in Newport Pagnell, Bucks.
He said: “It’s a shame that I couldn’t get an exact weight of the fish, but I’ve caught loads of big cats abroad and I’m confident that this fish could have been over 80lb.”
Full story in next week's Angling Times
Record 245lb catfish caught by UK angler
The biggest Wels catfish ever caught by a British angler has been taken by Jon Avery in the form of this 245lb specimen from the River Segre in Spain.
The colossal fish was the result of the 31-year-old Somerset-based rod’s only bite of his week session with CatMaster Tours fishing a stretch of the waterway at Mequinenza.
After locating a 14ft trench at 100yds range with the use of an echo sounder he offered four large hair-rigged halibut pellets over a couple of handfuls of freebies, and received the all-important bite on the second day.
“It didn’t scream off like you’d expect a fish of its size to do, and the only indication I had was a couple of bleeps on the alarm,” he said.
“As soon as I lifted into it, though, it felt like nothing I’d experienced before. The only way I can describe it is as if someone had tied my line to a car and driven off. It made several runs to try to reach a set of snags towards the far bank but thankfully I just about managed to stop it before it got to them. When it was around 50yds from the bank it rolled on the surface and we could all see it was a huge fish. I’ve caught catfish to 19lb in the UK but when we got this on the bank I had no idea how big it was."
The guides were all very excited though, and when we weighed it at 245lb I was delighted to hear that it was not only the biggest cat to be caught with the guiding company but also the biggest by a British angler anywhere in the world.”
Jon managed to beat the huge predator with a 100kg braid hooklink and a size 8/0 hook attached to a 75kg mainline.
53lb catfish shocks carp angler
Specimen angler Roger Tooley was given a huge shock when he slipped the net under this 53lb catfish during a session after carp.
The Hemel Hempstead-based ace had never landed a ‘cat’ of any size in previous outings but managed to outmuscle the beast after an hour long battle.
“I’m still buzzing from the capture and it came as a massive surprise. I’ve never landed a catfish of any substantial size before so to land one this big is a big bonus,” explained an elated Roger who fooled the fish on a large piece of luncheon meat presented on an underwater shelf.
Big cat sets new record
Well known specimen angler Phil Smith had every reason to smile after not only beat his personal best catfish but also setting a new venue with the capture of this 55lb 9oz catfish.
The Coventry-based specialist popped-up a big bunch of lobworms to attract the attentions of the fish that sets a new Church Lake record, which is part of the popular Orchid Lakes complex in Dorchester-on-Thames.
Phil used 15lb mainline, a 45lb braided hooklink and a size 2/0 hook to tame the cat and needed the help of youngster Curtis Welch to hold out the tale of his fish for the camera.
*Orchid lakes are currently running an offer called ‘take a friend fishing for free’ and to find out more visit: www.orchid-lakes.co.uk
Huge 194lb albino cat is caught
Albino catfish are rare beasts – especially when they weigh in at a colossal 194lb.
This impressive specimen, caught by Sheffield angler Chris Grimmer (holding the head of the fish) from Spain’s river Segre is one of the biggest ever recorded from the waterway, falling for the 35-year-old’s bait during a frantic week-long fishing trip with Cat Master Tours.
The big cat, with distinctive black, markings took Chris’ hookbait of five 22mm halibut pellets hairrigged to a size 6/0 hook – an approach which also accounted for other cats of 172lb, 143lb, three 90lb specimens and a couple of 70lb fish - five days into the seven day session, and ‘fought like hell’.
Canal catfish wins Grand Union match
The winner of the latest event held on the Grand Union Canal was given the shock of his life when he netted this 16lb 15oz catfish.
GOT Baits and Matchbox ace Nick Darke decided to target the elusive big fish during the Verulam AC match on the Marsworth stretch of the waterway and managed to land a carp and two chub on 4mm pellet before the unexpected bonus fell for the hookbait.
The lump helped Nick place a winning 25lb 3oz on to the scales.
Shatterford cat record smashed
Regulars to the prolific Shatterford Lakes had been circulating rumours that some of the biggest residents had been piling the pounds on during a feeding spree and Sean Mills proved them right when he netted a record 70lb catfish.
Despite having only fished for the species at the venue for a short period of time, the local rod became etched in the venue’s history books when the fish fell for a large piece of luncheon meat.
“I’ve caught them to around the 40lb mark but this absolutely dwarfed them and made being woken up at 6am more than worthwhile,” explained Sean.
Catfish and zander do more harm than otters, goosanders and cormorants
It is wonderful to see such superb sport emanating from St Helens’ Carr Mill Dam.
This is a water that has been through the doldrums and, as with many others before and undoubtedly since, cormorants were to blame.
Now I’m no expert on fish longevity but I am a reasonably qualified observer and I would say the bream currently appearing in the match nets will be anything from eight to 15 years old. They have managed to keep out of trouble for quite some time before re-appearing.
We have experience on rivers that have been denuded of fish, yet last year many of our big rivers fished better ‘...than in living memory’ to quote anglers such as Wayne Swinscoe, in respect of the Trent.
I recall writing last year that if the fish in the Wensum have been eaten by cormorants, why haven’t those in the Yare, a tributary of the same river?
We sometimes have to accept that we get things wrong, and while I have absolutely no doubt that cormorants and goosanders eat millions of fish, they don’t eat enough to cause terminal damage – otherwise the Trent, Thames and Yare would have been fishless years ago.
I still maintain that our ‘enemy’ predators, currently listed as otters, cormorants and goosanders, don’t cost us anywhere near as many fish as illegally stocked zander and catfish – even barbel, notorious fry and spawn eaters that they are.
KHV, often caused by back-door deals for illegally imported fish, has killed more carp than otters will manage in the next 100 years.
I am entirely and completely behind any moves that will make protecting our fisheries from all predators a viable proposition, but I meanwhile hope that we can put our own house in order and stop doing stupid things ourselves.
Ignoring advice produces 20 catfish to 46lb 4oz in four-day session
Ignoring the advice of friends not to fish for the species until warmer weather, John Hill targeted catfish on a local gravel pit – with stunning results.
Fishing for four days at the large water, the 31-year-old landed 20 cats. Six of these tipped the scales to over 30lb, while a further eight exceeded 20lb. The haul of big whiskers was topped off by a 46lb 4oz fish.
John took all his cats on triple 15mm Soar Baits Darkfish boilies.
