Incredible fishing adventure: the Knigge family catches 60-kilo-wels!

Incredible fishing adventure: the Knigge family catches 60-kilo-wels!

On Maundy Thursday, May 3, 2025, the Knigge family from Reichensachsen experienced an unforgettable fishing adventure at the Werra Valley in Hesse. The spectacular catch of a 1.84 meter long and 60 kilogram catfish set a new highlight in Armin Knigge's 30-year fishing activity, which is a member of the Eschwege fishing club. The catfish is one of the largest freshwater fish in Europe and becomes an average of 60 cm to 1.5 m long and weighs between 15 and 45 kg. The most impressive catfish that has ever been caught, weighed 127 kg and was caught in the Po-Delta in 2015.

The fishing day began for Armin, his sons Leon (14) and Lukas (9) with a promising bite that Lukas initially considered a big pike. However, Armin quickly realized that he was dealing with a completely different caliber. The subsequent fight with the fish lasted 15 to 30 minutes and was characterized by violent jerk movements, with the catfish the boat back and forth. The family received support from other members of the Eschwege fishing club that helped land the Great Fish.

traditional boat fishing

The event took place as part of the traditional boat fishing on the Werra Valley Lake, which marks the start of the pike season. Seven club mates met in the early morning to go on the water with club's own and own boats. In fresh temperatures, the first fish contacts were quickly hoped for. This also happened: a pike over a meter was caught and provided the expectations of the anglers far beyond reality.

By the end of the event at 12 noon, two smaller pike were caught. The Werra Valley Lake is known for its capital fish and regularly offers the opportunity for anglers to demonstrate their skills. After the exciting experience on Maundy Thursday, the Knigge family returned in the evening and was able to catch further pike.

the catch and its consequences

The captive catfish provided the family around 20 kg of high -quality, bone -free fillet, which was particularly valued at the Good Friday meal. The joy of fresh fish was shared by relatives, friends and neighbors. Armin Knigge described the entire experience as successful and full of special moments that will remember him and his sons for a long time.

Numerous anglers know that catching a catfish is a challenging affair that requires special equipment and techniques. Longer rods, large inpatient roles and high -quality cords are crucial for the successful catch. The choice of the optimal location and the usability of baits are also important to localize catfish.

With these aspects and the wonderfully successful fishing day, the Werra Valley lake remains a popular place for all anglers who are looking for the adventure of catfish fishing. The combination of community, nature and the challenge of catching big fish makes fishing for many.