Tyler Rutherford reeled in a brand new state-record channel catfish on July 21 whereas fishing his household’s farm pond in Wayne County, West Virginia, in keeping with a current announcement from the state’s Division of Pure Sources. He knew from the second the fish hit his bait that it was a monster, and the massive cat simply dethroned the standing document. What’s much more spectacular, although, is the deal with Rutherford used to land the leviathan.
Rutherford didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark, however he informed WV MetroNews that he and his daughter have been fishing the pond for bluegills and different panfish that afternoon. They have been utilizing a pink Zebco rod-and-reel combo that he’d purchased her from Academy Sports activities for $10.
“She’s three and may reel them in, however she will’t forged it out. So I forged it out for her and was holding the rod whereas she was sitting on my lap,” Rutherford mentioned.
The massive channel cat snatched their nightcrawler on the second forged of the day, and he instantly knew it was a fish that he must reel in himself.
“I set the hook, and there was a giant black and blue tail that flopped up within the water,” Rutherford mentioned. “My dad instantly mentioned he was going after the online. All three youngsters took off screaming after him.”
The tiny, light-weight reel was spooled with 6-pound-test line appropriate for reeling in small bluegills and crappie, not for hauling in record-breaking mud hogs. Rutherford instantly loosened the drag and tried to let the massive cat tire itself out. It was an extended and difficult ordeal.
“For many of the battle, there was nothing I might do however maintain her and hope her little sandpaper tooth didn’t grind via the road,” Rutherford mentioned. “Each time she bought inside ten or 15 yards of the financial institution, it was like she knew she was about to be caught, and he or she’d take one other run.”
Apprehensive that the fish wouldn’t match within the internet if he managed to wrangle it shut sufficient to shore, a worn-out Rutherford waded into the water to scoop the drained cat up along with his naked fingers.
“Even as soon as I bought her, I used to be so drained from reeling. Dad and I grabbed her and rolled her up on the limestone rock. It was all we might do to get her up on the financial institution,” he mentioned. “It was positively the battle of my life.”
West Virginia Division of Pure Sources biologist Jeff Hansbarger and assistant fishery biologist Jake Whalen traveled to the small farm pond to weigh and measure Rutherford’s catch. Rutherford had already put a stringer via the catfish’s mouth and he held it in deep water till they arrived.
The large channel cat weighed 46.7 kilos and measured 43.51 inches lengthy, which was greater than sufficient to beat out the standing weight and size information. The 2 state information have been beforehand held by Allen Burkett; he set the size document in 2022 and the burden document in 2023. Each catfish have been caught in South Mill Creek Lake in Grant County.
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After Rutherford’s mud monster was formally weighed and measured, he gingerly launched the beast again into the household pond.
“I jumped within the water for about 10 or quarter-hour, simply working to revive her,” he informed MetroNews. “She was exhausted, however fortunately, the great Lord needed the legend to dwell on. She was in a position to get again to the place she might travel on her personal. She is alive and effectively.”