Angling Excellence: The Quest for the Record Catfish

An Unexpected Morning on the Ohio River

On May 9th, a tranquil morning on the Ohio River transformed into an unforgettable adventure for angler Michael Ramey. Participating in a local catfish club competition, Ramey, accompanied by friends Tyler McCoy and Mark Taylor, sought their fortune near Ravenswood. After an unproductive start at their initial fishing spot, the trio relocated around 8:30 a.m. to a promising 45-foot deep hole, characterized by a significant current break. Shortly after deploying their lines, a rod dramatically bent, signaling a powerful bite, which Ramey quickly secured.

The Battle with a River Giant

The formidable blue catfish, attracted by a cut white bass bait and a 10/0 circle hook, was firmly hooked. Ramey, a 37-year-old heavy equipment operator from Poca, West Virginia, faced a challenging task. The riverbed, notorious for its snags and large rocks, demanded swift action to prevent the powerful fish from entangling the line. Despite a momentary snag with another rod, Ramey skillfully maneuvered the fish towards the boat, where Tyler successfully netted it, albeit breaking their large net in the process. Ramey's robust gear included a 7.5-foot carbon fiber rod, a Penn revolving spool reel spooled with 100-pound braided line, an 80-pound mono leader, and a catfish rig featuring a 3-way swivel and a 12-ounce sinker, essential for holding bait in the deep, strong current of the Ohio River.

State Recognition of a Monumental Catch

The anglers immediately suspected their catch might be a record-breaker. An initial weigh-in on their boat's scale indicated a weight of 71 pounds, exceeding the previous state record of 69.45 pounds set in 2023 by Michael Drake. To confirm this momentous catch, Ramey contacted fellow angler Todd Anderson, who verified the weight on his own scale. Subsequently, the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was alerted. Two DNR fisheries biologists, Nate Taylor and Drew Carter, met Ramey at the Ravenswood boat ramp. Using certified scales, they officially recorded the blue catfish's weight at 71 pounds and its length at 50.23 inches. This formally recognized Ramey's catch as the heaviest blue catfish ever documented in West Virginia.

A Record-Breaking Day Concludes with Release

Following the official weighing, Ramey and his team returned to the Ohio Hills Catfish Tournament. The impressive catfish not only secured the state record but also earned them $500 for the largest fish in the event. After the tournament's weigh-in, Ramey made the commendable decision to release the record-setting fish back into the river. He humorously noted that despite the record, his team didn't win the overall tournament due to other teams having a greater total weight. Nevertheless, Ramey reflected on the day, stating that catching a state record catfish made it an indelible memory.