In a true “fishing tale” moment, John Tyler Rutherford from West Virginia made history with an unexpected catch on his father’s farm. Using his 3-year-old daughter’s $9.99 pink fishing rod, according to West Virginia Metro News, Rutherford reeled in a massive 46.70-pound, 43.51-inch-long channel catfish—a new state record! What started as a casual day of fishing with his daughter turned into a record-breaking adventure that showcases just how amazing West Virginia’s fishing scene can be.
“I got my daughter a little $9.99 pink rod and reel from Zebco at Academy Sports,” Rutherford explained on West Virginia Outdoors. “She’s three and she can reel them in, but she can’t cast it out. So I cast it out for her and I was holding the rod and she was sitting on my lap.”
The big catch has put Rutherford and his daughter’s trusty pink rod into the fishing history books!
