CATFISH are an increasingly popular target with anglers of all ages, but few fans of the species are able to boast a better haul of hard-fighting ‘moggies’ than young Hannah Truscott.
The 15-year-old, from Derbyshire, who was fishing with her father Paul at White Lakes in Essex, took six big cats totalling almost 400lb, topped by a 96lb 4oz personal best.
Using 28mm Withy Pool Halibut and Mackerel pop-ups over a large bed of halibut pellets presented on the edge of a drop-off in 10ft of water, Hannah also slipped her net under fish of 45lb, 56lb 8oz, 64lb, 66lb and 69lb. She beat them all using Sonik Xtractor rods, 80lb braided mainline and size 4/0 hooks.
Paul, who chipped in with cats of 87lb and 95lb during the same session, said:
“She took the biggest cat on Friday 13th, after telling me that she didn’t think she’d catch anything because of the date. I told her that it couldn’t be unlucky for everybody… and not long after that her rod roared off!
“I taught her how to play big cats about four years ago, and since then she battles every one of them herself and is getting pretty good. They’re her favourite species, and she recently won a Gold Award for juniors from the Catfish Conservation Group.”
