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The Cult of the Wels: Catching Giant, 200-Plus Pound Catfish in European Rivers
The Cult of the Wels: Catching Giant, 200-Plus Pound Catfish in European Rivers
You may think trophy catfishing is a distinctly American activity, but across the Atlantic there's a group of anglers who share a similar passion for their own species of whiskered freshwater monster. I'm talking about cats so big, hundred-pounders are routine. Cats so powerful anglers come from all over the globe for a chance to catch one. This is the story of the Wels catfish.
NOTE: Most of these photos come to us via Wels guide Colin Bunn of CatMaster Tours. These are his clients and though we don't know exactly who they are (or why so many go so scantily attired), you've got to see the size of these cats to believe it.
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Photo Gallery Comments (115)
These things look so gross. Would these be just like eating CatFish and the Fishcamp?
Were do I sign up for a trip....
Those are some big cats. How much fun would it be to fish those from a kayak? Yippi-ki-ay, hang on, we're going for a ride!
Going for a ride? that ride would be underwater. Those are some massive fish. Can you imagine noodleing a fish that big. Pretty much GAME OVER.
That is incredible - I'm going to have to look into that trip. Maybe I could take my wife too - I'm sure she could find something to keep her busy in Europe......!
I wonder how many Asian carp one would eat in a day.
is it just me or am I missing something? why in allot of photos are thp eople in the water with the fish up to their necks or in other shots completely wet like they just wrestled the fish, and boy do they hold em tight in those shots they don't mind gettign a lttle wet or slimey.
I like the way they lay the fish on the tarp to protect it. They sure are big.
Extraordinary! Somewhere upriver from this site, there must be a pharmaceutical company releasing steroids into the river! These are massive, and I've not seen anything so huge in Oregon.
Extraordinary! Somewhere upriver from this site, there must be a pharmaceutical company releasing steroids into the river! These are massive, and I've not seen anything so huge in Oregon.
Is it just me or is she topless in #3?
I think they probably get big enough to swallow a person (like Jonah perhaps?) Wouldn't mind getting ahold of those big 'uns.
They need to release some of these in the USA!
I have been there and those fish get a big as 300 or more pounds and can swallow an adult.
Skiing?
WHO NEEDS A BOAT!
Pic 3 looked like she went for a ride!
thats nothing those are small ones
can we start getting women to fish topless in America?
Those are some massive fish. There are few things as interesting as massive fresh water fish, they are so mysterious. That is the appeal in catching them I think, it is amaizing to pull something so massive out of muddy water, that few people actually see.
I love the idea of planting them to eat our Asian carp here in Illinois! Would provide some great sport, and eating!
i am w/ duckling WHERE DO I SIGN UP??????? & I AM NOT gay but, look there is a boob lucky to be a boob up close & personal............... i'd crap if i caught one of those, 21" bass is exciting to me......
That's something, that's really something...I think the fish look happier with the women.
Personally, I'll stick to Brown and Brook trout.
But...What an impressive haul.
This would be so fun to go do for about a week!
This would be a fun adventure to say that you have done it. Especially if some of the women were your guides.
Doesn’t Picture #3 gives Catfish Noodling a twist?
That is just amazing!
I checked and no one can say for sure what the largest species of catfish is in the world. It's basically between the European Wels catfish and the Asian Mekong catfish. One website suggests the Wels is probably the longest, while the Mekong is heavier. The Mekong is currently endangered and the new dams in Cina ain't helping them at all.
An impressive fish! Kind of looks like an eel.
pic #18 almost looks like an anaconda
Reminds me of noodling. Monster fish
I grew up in West Virginia on the Ohio River. In 1967 "The Silver Bridge" spanning the Ohio River collapsed sending 46 people to their deaths. More than one recovery diver quit the job on their return to the surface as, "there are fish down there bigger than I am!!!"
My father was the Cabell County Attorney for many years and told the story of looking over some aerial photos from the 1930's at a time when there had been a chemical spill into the Kanawha River that then dumped into the Ohio. In the photo, a catfish had made its way from the Ohio into the shallows of the Guyandotte River and was apparently just waiting for the polution to pass. It scaled out to 12 feet long in the photo.
I don't know if the big guys are still in there, but I'd make a tripo to the Ohio before I'd make my way to Europe. And for you family men, we do require women anglers to wear their shirts.
If I saw one of those, I would not think to jump in after it, I would run to go get my shotgun!
id love 2 noodle one but all it is is a lesser evolved flathead on steroids but the shotgun would be my second option lol
id love 2 noodle one but all it is is a lesser evolved flathead on steroids but the shotgun would be my second option lol
i hv 1 ? for the tackle anglers what kinda bait do they use if your gonna ctch a blue cat around where im from over a hundred pounds the only way is to use some STANKAY!!!!!! with a capital stank bait?
For a while there, I thought I was looking at the Playboy website.
I did not notice a fish in 2 & 3 untill I read the comments. ;)
i have heard many stories of cats that big in the ohio but they're not caught as regularly as comes off in this story so i would be willing to save the money and go on trip over there to fight a 200lb plus catfish
Those are monster fish. It would be nice if we had cats that size over here in the states. But whats up with the eel like tail.
I just realized what these things remind me of ... tadpoles. They look like giant tadpoles. Imagine the frogs!
I'd fish with those ladies any day. Where do I sign up?
We definitely need to get more women who look like that fishing for cats in Georgia!
Looks like that big ugly fish in #3 caught a nice one!
That fish could swallow my (previous) dream fish without noticing!
The fish in #1 looks like he's smiling (I think I know why).
Is that fish i pic 1 smiling oh i see way
Gosh it would be fun to catch one of those!
wat an aut standing catfish that fish must be around 175 200 lbs
these cat fish are huge i want to go there n get me one
That would be an awesome noodling trip
tailhunter82-that would be awesome, if you could manage to survive it.
yeah only problem
I'd book the trip today if some of those ladies would be my guides...
It looks like they would be one heck of a fight.
Wats up with the cat in the water not trying to swim away-must already be dead!?!
They do look like giant tadpoles.
HMM I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE PICS OF THE CAT BEHIND THE BIG FISH!!
If more woman fished like in picture 3, fishing would be a bigger sport than football.
does she have anything on in pic 3 ?
don't you wish you were the fish in #1 haha?
Naked women AND big fish?! Dear calendar makers of America, are you listening?
i know what i'm doing on my next trip to europe.... finding those topless cat fisherwomen!
just wow. i believe if i ever go see the relatives in europe i will be making a side trip
They are kinda cute actually. I suppose all the pics with chicks in them are promotional in nature. AND TO THOSE WHO SUGGEST LETTING THESE LOOSE IN THE US: NO!!! Imagine having carp and these guys running around!! Not Good.
Topless fishing? That might get more people involved depending on who's fishing.
I need some new fishing buddies
#3 looks topless to me!
I'd like to take that fish's place!
There sure see to be alot of babes interested in those nasty catfish....
That's a crazy big catfish. I'm surprised it didn't just tear the pole right out of her hands.
It kinda looks like a tadpole and a catfish put together
I would love to have that at the end of my line.
monster catfish, but what's in the water?
That would be too much fun!!!! Sign me up
Hum... photo #3, topless Catfish Wrestling...sounds like someting a redneck chic in the south would do!
I would like to try
we need some of those California reservoir's
Looks like it could be alot of fun.
Holy Cow! These are just like our politicians, all mouth and bottom feeders.
This biggun could easily drown her.
Amazing catfish. Transplant to USA anyone?
nice but, I know of some that get bigger
Woah thats a huge catfish
I want to catch one of those!!
Those are really big fish and some beatiful woman.
thats huge i would love to catch a cat that big here in tennessee that would be some fun times.
I'm sure they're fun to catch, but they sure aren't pretty.
This is just great !!!
This is really great.
Wow giant...
Naked fish wrasslin? Dang, those Europeans sure do know how to party!
Some fish have all the luck !
We have a lot of catfish where I live but nothing in this size! great job!
They say everything is bigger in Texas but I've lived here all my life and have never come across a cat that big
i am not brave enough to tackle on of those topless... and i'm a guy!
how many of these fish are killed by people wanting to spend 20 minutes taking photos. while you take pictures, be sure to hold your breath!
those would be some big fillets. Although they probably dont taste good at all.
Those cats are huge. like to see jeremy from river monsters catch one of those.he'd probably water ski behind it.
topless fishing..... its a new sport haha
Nice
So, how would one catch one of those on a fly?
that would be pretty sweet.
Those things are HUGE...I mean the fish of course.
Wow, what spectacular fish! My bucket list just grew!
you all can have the fish, I'll take the girl. :)
thats one big fish!
Wel....those fish seem to attract attractive women. Wonder if they eat those things [the fish].
mmm, that fish has the expression I would have, pressed up against that beauty...:P
thats not a 200 plus. ive got 80pd flats that stand that broad
hunter84- he has done an episode about them
What a monster!
Wow what a nice Catfish!
Hallo und petrie heil!!! (Translation: means good fishing in German)So gentelman and ladies. I see some looks on faces of surprise but theses fish are really this big and in 2009 a 12 year old girl and her dad set a new record in spain it was right at 9 foot long and close to 450 lbs As far as were can you go to fish for these monsters well there is a what they call catfish camps and the one i went to is in italy it is located on the river Po oh and the really big ones are normaly only weighed and measured and released back in the water these are there breeding fish. so there is a little info for you guys. Oh P.S. make sure you have good tackel and are ready for a long fight (;
Hello again. Just so you guys that are wondering it is a catfish but most places take the smaller fish and hang them in smoker units and smoke the entire fish and im telling you it Mmm mm good eaten. And if any wonder how i no so much about these fish i was an american soilder stationed in Berlin German and lived in europe for more than 17 years so comes my knowledge of these Beautiful fish have fun if you go and bring back pictures if you do and as we say in Germany Petri Heil!! Good fishing.
of all fishes.. I hate catfish!
Your in a Resturant having a meal with your wife,girlfriend, or whatever. You excuse yourself from the table and go into the restroom you are an American and you come out of the restroom you are an American, What were you while inside the restroom ???
UR A PEEIN !!!!
those are some huge cats
I would sooo love to catch one of these giants!
Post a Comment
Is it just me or is she topless in #3?
can we start getting women to fish topless in America?
Those are some big cats. How much fun would it be to fish those from a kayak? Yippi-ki-ay, hang on, we're going for a ride!
Going for a ride? that ride would be underwater. Those are some massive fish. Can you imagine noodleing a fish that big. Pretty much GAME OVER.
I wonder how many Asian carp one would eat in a day.
For a while there, I thought I was looking at the Playboy website.
Were do I sign up for a trip....
is it just me or am I missing something? why in allot of photos are thp eople in the water with the fish up to their necks or in other shots completely wet like they just wrestled the fish, and boy do they hold em tight in those shots they don't mind gettign a lttle wet or slimey.
I like the way they lay the fish on the tarp to protect it. They sure are big.
This would be so fun to go do for about a week!
Looks like that big ugly fish in #3 caught a nice one!
The fish in #1 looks like he's smiling (I think I know why).
these cat fish are huge i want to go there n get me one
That is incredible - I'm going to have to look into that trip. Maybe I could take my wife too - I'm sure she could find something to keep her busy in Europe......!
They need to release some of these in the USA!
Those are some massive fish. There are few things as interesting as massive fresh water fish, they are so mysterious. That is the appeal in catching them I think, it is amaizing to pull something so massive out of muddy water, that few people actually see.
I love the idea of planting them to eat our Asian carp here in Illinois! Would provide some great sport, and eating!
That's something, that's really something...I think the fish look happier with the women.
Personally, I'll stick to Brown and Brook trout.
But...What an impressive haul.
This would be a fun adventure to say that you have done it. Especially if some of the women were your guides.
That is just amazing!
I checked and no one can say for sure what the largest species of catfish is in the world. It's basically between the European Wels catfish and the Asian Mekong catfish. One website suggests the Wels is probably the longest, while the Mekong is heavier. The Mekong is currently endangered and the new dams in Cina ain't helping them at all.
I did not notice a fish in 2 & 3 untill I read the comments. ;)
Those are monster fish. It would be nice if we had cats that size over here in the states. But whats up with the eel like tail.
I just realized what these things remind me of ... tadpoles. They look like giant tadpoles. Imagine the frogs!
I'd fish with those ladies any day. Where do I sign up?
We definitely need to get more women who look like that fishing for cats in Georgia!
That fish could swallow my (previous) dream fish without noticing!
Is that fish i pic 1 smiling oh i see way
Gosh it would be fun to catch one of those!
These things look so gross. Would these be just like eating CatFish and the Fishcamp?
I think they probably get big enough to swallow a person (like Jonah perhaps?) Wouldn't mind getting ahold of those big 'uns.
thats nothing those are small ones
Doesn’t Picture #3 gives Catfish Noodling a twist?
An impressive fish! Kind of looks like an eel.
id love 2 noodle one but all it is is a lesser evolved flathead on steroids but the shotgun would be my second option lol
i hv 1 ? for the tackle anglers what kinda bait do they use if your gonna ctch a blue cat around where im from over a hundred pounds the only way is to use some STANKAY!!!!!! with a capital stank bait?
wat an aut standing catfish that fish must be around 175 200 lbs
That would be an awesome noodling trip
tailhunter82-that would be awesome, if you could manage to survive it.
yeah only problem
I'd book the trip today if some of those ladies would be my guides...
If more woman fished like in picture 3, fishing would be a bigger sport than football.
does she have anything on in pic 3 ?
don't you wish you were the fish in #1 haha?
Naked women AND big fish?! Dear calendar makers of America, are you listening?
Extraordinary! Somewhere upriver from this site, there must be a pharmaceutical company releasing steroids into the river! These are massive, and I've not seen anything so huge in Oregon.
Extraordinary! Somewhere upriver from this site, there must be a pharmaceutical company releasing steroids into the river! These are massive, and I've not seen anything so huge in Oregon.
I have been there and those fish get a big as 300 or more pounds and can swallow an adult.
Pic 3 looked like she went for a ride!
pic #18 almost looks like an anaconda
Reminds me of noodling. Monster fish
If I saw one of those, I would not think to jump in after it, I would run to go get my shotgun!
id love 2 noodle one but all it is is a lesser evolved flathead on steroids but the shotgun would be my second option lol
i have heard many stories of cats that big in the ohio but they're not caught as regularly as comes off in this story so i would be willing to save the money and go on trip over there to fight a 200lb plus catfish
HMM I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE PICS OF THE CAT BEHIND THE BIG FISH!!
i know what i'm doing on my next trip to europe.... finding those topless cat fisherwomen!
just wow. i believe if i ever go see the relatives in europe i will be making a side trip
They are kinda cute actually. I suppose all the pics with chicks in them are promotional in nature. AND TO THOSE WHO SUGGEST LETTING THESE LOOSE IN THE US: NO!!! Imagine having carp and these guys running around!! Not Good.
Topless fishing? That might get more people involved depending on who's fishing.
I need some new fishing buddies
There sure see to be alot of babes interested in those nasty catfish....
That's a crazy big catfish. I'm surprised it didn't just tear the pole right out of her hands.
It kinda looks like a tadpole and a catfish put together
I would love to have that at the end of my line.
monster catfish, but what's in the water?
That would be too much fun!!!! Sign me up
Hum... photo #3, topless Catfish Wrestling...sounds like someting a redneck chic in the south would do!
I would like to try
we need some of those California reservoir's
Looks like it could be alot of fun.
Woah thats a huge catfish
I want to catch one of those!!
Naked fish wrasslin? Dang, those Europeans sure do know how to party!
how many of these fish are killed by people wanting to spend 20 minutes taking photos. while you take pictures, be sure to hold your breath!
topless fishing..... its a new sport haha
Skiing?
WHO NEEDS A BOAT!
i am w/ duckling WHERE DO I SIGN UP??????? & I AM NOT gay but, look there is a boob lucky to be a boob up close & personal............... i'd crap if i caught one of those, 21" bass is exciting to me......
I grew up in West Virginia on the Ohio River. In 1967 "The Silver Bridge" spanning the Ohio River collapsed sending 46 people to their deaths. More than one recovery diver quit the job on their return to the surface as, "there are fish down there bigger than I am!!!"
My father was the Cabell County Attorney for many years and told the story of looking over some aerial photos from the 1930's at a time when there had been a chemical spill into the Kanawha River that then dumped into the Ohio. In the photo, a catfish had made its way from the Ohio into the shallows of the Guyandotte River and was apparently just waiting for the polution to pass. It scaled out to 12 feet long in the photo.
I don't know if the big guys are still in there, but I'd make a tripo to the Ohio before I'd make my way to Europe. And for you family men, we do require women anglers to wear their shirts.
It looks like they would be one heck of a fight.
Wats up with the cat in the water not trying to swim away-must already be dead!?!
They do look like giant tadpoles.
Holy Cow! These are just like our politicians, all mouth and bottom feeders.
Amazing catfish. Transplant to USA anyone?
nice but, I know of some that get bigger
Those are really big fish and some beatiful woman.
thats huge i would love to catch a cat that big here in tennessee that would be some fun times.
I'm sure they're fun to catch, but they sure aren't pretty.
This is just great !!!
This is really great.
Wow giant...
Some fish have all the luck !
We have a lot of catfish where I live but nothing in this size! great job!
They say everything is bigger in Texas but I've lived here all my life and have never come across a cat that big
i am not brave enough to tackle on of those topless... and i'm a guy!
those would be some big fillets. Although they probably dont taste good at all.
Those cats are huge. like to see jeremy from river monsters catch one of those.he'd probably water ski behind it.
Nice
So, how would one catch one of those on a fly?
that would be pretty sweet.
Those things are HUGE...I mean the fish of course.
Wow, what spectacular fish! My bucket list just grew!
you all can have the fish, I'll take the girl. :)
thats one big fish!
Wel....those fish seem to attract attractive women. Wonder if they eat those things [the fish].
#3 looks topless to me!
I'd like to take that fish's place!
This biggun could easily drown her.
mmm, that fish has the expression I would have, pressed up against that beauty...:P
thats not a 200 plus. ive got 80pd flats that stand that broad
hunter84- he has done an episode about them
What a monster!
Wow what a nice Catfish!
Hallo und petrie heil!!! (Translation: means good fishing in German)So gentelman and ladies. I see some looks on faces of surprise but theses fish are really this big and in 2009 a 12 year old girl and her dad set a new record in spain it was right at 9 foot long and close to 450 lbs As far as were can you go to fish for these monsters well there is a what they call catfish camps and the one i went to is in italy it is located on the river Po oh and the really big ones are normaly only weighed and measured and released back in the water these are there breeding fish. so there is a little info for you guys. Oh P.S. make sure you have good tackel and are ready for a long fight (;
Hello again. Just so you guys that are wondering it is a catfish but most places take the smaller fish and hang them in smoker units and smoke the entire fish and im telling you it Mmm mm good eaten. And if any wonder how i no so much about these fish i was an american soilder stationed in Berlin German and lived in europe for more than 17 years so comes my knowledge of these Beautiful fish have fun if you go and bring back pictures if you do and as we say in Germany Petri Heil!! Good fishing.
of all fishes.. I hate catfish!
Your in a Resturant having a meal with your wife,girlfriend, or whatever. You excuse yourself from the table and go into the restroom you are an American and you come out of the restroom you are an American, What were you while inside the restroom ???
UR A PEEIN !!!!
those are some huge cats
I would sooo love to catch one of these giants!
Post a Comment