Angler reels MONSTER 9ft catfish from Czech river in epic 50-minute battle
Jakub Vagner, 43, hauled in the epic catch just south of Prague, in the Czech Republic - setting a new national record.
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The celebrity angler was drifting past a rocky overhang in the Vranov Reservoir, on August 4, when he spotted the giant fish gliding below in the early morning light.
He cast his custom-made rod towards it and waited.
"Ten minutes passed and nothing happened. Suddenly, it turned and went straight into my trap," Jakub said.
What followed was "the hardest battle I have ever had with a catfish in the Czech Republic", he continued.
The fish put up such a fight that Jakub had to call in a friend to help him hold onto the rod.
Jakub said: "After almost 50 minutes, it was lying half-tired next to my boat. I was shaking, completely done."
He released the record-breaking fish back into the water after taking photographs.
He explained: 'At 2.68 metres (8.8ft) in length, it's four centimetres (1.6in) longer than the one I caught last year.
'This is one of the biggest catfish I've ever seen in Europe.'
Pictures show the Fish Warrior TV host, aired on the National Geographic Channel, standing in the shallows with the enormous catfish.
The 8.8ft whopper was "not only long, but also brutally tall and broad… a beautiful, almost flawless fish with the potential to grow even bigger", Jakub said.
He added that catching big fish is all about 'morale, dedication and determination' - and stressed he never kills his catches, releasing them so they can keep growing.
It comes after another angler landed a monster 20-stone catfish in Italy following a 45-minute fight to reel it in.
Dramatic images show Benjamin Grunder, 37, wrestling with the catch of a lifetime on the banks of the River Po.
At first, he thought his hook had snagged a submerged tree, but the sheer weight revealed it was a huge fish.
The German angler finally hauled in the 8ft 8in Wels catfish - the largest freshwater species in Europe - estimating it at a colossal 20 stone.
That fish was also released back into the water safe and sound.
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- BBC News
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The Sun
18 hours ago
- The Sun
Angler reels MONSTER 9ft catfish from Czech river in epic 50-minute battle
AN ANGLER reeled in a massive 9ft catfish after a gruelling 50-minute battle. Jakub Vagner, 43, hauled in the epic catch just south of Prague, in the Czech Republic - setting a new national record. 4 4 The celebrity angler was drifting past a rocky overhang in the Vranov Reservoir, on August 4, when he spotted the giant fish gliding below in the early morning light. He cast his custom-made rod towards it and waited. "Ten minutes passed and nothing happened. Suddenly, it turned and went straight into my trap," Jakub said. What followed was "the hardest battle I have ever had with a catfish in the Czech Republic", he continued. The fish put up such a fight that Jakub had to call in a friend to help him hold onto the rod. Jakub said: "After almost 50 minutes, it was lying half-tired next to my boat. I was shaking, completely done." He released the record-breaking fish back into the water after taking photographs. He explained: 'At 2.68 metres (8.8ft) in length, it's four centimetres (1.6in) longer than the one I caught last year. 'This is one of the biggest catfish I've ever seen in Europe.' Pictures show the Fish Warrior TV host, aired on the National Geographic Channel, standing in the shallows with the enormous catfish. The 8.8ft whopper was "not only long, but also brutally tall and broad… a beautiful, almost flawless fish with the potential to grow even bigger", Jakub said. He added that catching big fish is all about 'morale, dedication and determination' - and stressed he never kills his catches, releasing them so they can keep growing. It comes after another angler landed a monster 20-stone catfish in Italy following a 45-minute fight to reel it in. Dramatic images show Benjamin Grunder, 37, wrestling with the catch of a lifetime on the banks of the River Po. At first, he thought his hook had snagged a submerged tree, but the sheer weight revealed it was a huge fish. The German angler finally hauled in the 8ft 8in Wels catfish - the largest freshwater species in Europe - estimating it at a colossal 20 stone. That fish was also released back into the water safe and sound.
Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Daily Mail
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In a city which features one of the most famous breweries in Europe, Rangers fans arrive in Plzen feeling like their glass may already be half-empty. Despite the fact they hold a commanding 3-0 lead over Viktoria Plzen following last week's emphatic first-leg victory in Glasgow, the feeling of pessimism among supporters cannot be overstated. The league campaign is threatening to go down the drain after only two games, with an insipid 1-1 draw with Dundee on Saturday following on from an equally woeful display at Motherwell on the opening weekend. Taking only two points from the opening two games, Russell Martin has a serious problem on his hands. Hardly the most popular appointment in the first place, whatever goodwill he had is evaporating by mid-August. With his new-look team toiling so badly on the domestic front, the European campaign now takes on even greater significance for Martin as he and his players look to finish the job tonight in the Czechia. 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Only last year, Hearts lost 1-0 here in a Europa League qualifier which saw them blow several good chances. The reality for Rangers is that they don't need to go chasing this game. They don't need a bucketload of chances or to dominate possession. What they and Martin need is a professional, polished performance to secure their place in the play-off round. If they can do that, the new manager buys himself some breathing space. However, if the unthinkable were to happen and Rangers were to somehow blow it, it won't just be the local brewery here in Plzen that's calling last orders.
