Minnesota Master Angler - Zach Gartner
Zach Gartner did, on August 8, 2024, caught and Released by sportfishing method from Minnesota waters a 32" Catfish - Channel and is hereby recognized as an official Minnesota Master Angler.
Fish Catch Details
- Angler Name: Zach Gartner
- Angler Home: Maple Grove, Minnesota
- Date of Catch: August 8, 2024
- County: Anoka
- Lake/River: Rum River
- Species: Catfish - Channel
- Size: 32"
- Catch Was: Released
- Catch Story: This was the last thing I expected to catch that evening. I took my cousin, Caden, and two of the neighborhood kids out fishing in the evening to try to catch smallmouth bass, pike, carp, and possibly even a catfish out below the Rum River Dam. When I got there, I cut up one of the frozen suckers one of the kids brought and I placed a piece of the cut frozen sucker on a 2/0 octopus circle hook. My setup was a basic Carolina rig: a 3-oz no-roll sinker, a bead, a swivel connecting my 20-lbs braided line to my 30-lbs monofilament leader line, and the 2/0 octopus circle hook. I dropped the bait down into the water and I started tying up one of the kids' poles for carp. In the middle of tying, I notice my rod bounced a bit. Then, the take... and I stood up, grabbed the rod, and set the hook hard. The weight of the fish immediately told me I had a monster fish. I asked for the kids and my cousin to get ready because I was going to need help. One of the kids and my cousin went down to the bank with the net to see if they could net the fish. I fought the fish for over 10 minutes before the fish was secured. I couldn't be happier to say that this behemoth is my biggest fish of 2024 (so far), my new PB Channel Catfish, and also the biggest catfish I have ever caught (for now). Thank you, Caden, for the outstanding net job! I really could not have done it without you.
- Witness Name: Caden Weltzin
- Witness Home: Brooklyn Park, MN
Official Certificate
