13.03.2017
Monster catfish tamed from a kayak
At the beginning of March, Quantum team angler Daniel Katzoreck arranged with his friend Uwe Roth to target catfish on a backwater. With the Rhine at high tide, the pair sought out a tributary with a steady current. The objective was to target the catfish in open water. This means impatiently watching the fish finder and, as soon as a promising signal appears, lowering the bait to the depth of the indication. At 22:00, a small echo appeared on Daniel’s monitor. However, as he was lowering a bunch of worms to the depth of seven metres, the signal increased to a remarkable size. Could it be a coveted spring monster?
He twitched the bunch of worms with subtle rod movements. Two or three seconds later came a violent jerk of the short rod. The kayak immediately began to turn and the fight was in motion. After a nerve-racking battle lasting around 15 minutes, a 2.29-metre catfish appeared at the surface. Obviously, such a large fish could not be hauled into the kayak so the giant was taken ashore alongside the boat using the catfish grip.
Catfish angling from a kayak is undoubtedly a unique experience and potentially addictive! To ensure the angler’s safety, we recommend using a tip-resistant angling kayak. Daniel and Uwe use a Native Watercraft Slayer kayak for this form of angling. As well as a suitable boat, catfish fishing from a kayak also requires suitable angling equipment. This means short rods and multiplier reels for rapid lowering and retrieval of the bait. Daniel’s catfish fell to a two-metre Black Cat V-Twist rod and Black Cat BC² LH reel.
