OLATHE, Kan. — An Olathe woman has set the unofficial record for the largest blue catfish caught in a Kansas lake. At 82-and-a-half pounds the fish is the size of most 10 year olds! But there’s still one person she has yet to beat — her husband who holds the record for the largest blue catfish caught in a Kansas River.
During the week you’ll find Stefanie Stanley behind the desk at Marvin’s Tow Service, but on the weekend she’s on the water.
“We fish! That’s what we do. We fish for fun, we fish tournaments,” she said.
It was in the Catfish Chasers Tournament this past weekend at Milford Reservoir Stefanie reeled in the more than 80 pound blue catfish.
“I was shaking, I couldn’t breathe. I was just nervous, but super excited,” she said. “I mean because my biggest fish before was 48 pounds.”
It is unofficially the largest blue catfish ever caught in a Kansas Lake. With her catch, her team won the tournament and $2,000.
“It’s kind of like giving birth, that feeling you’re just shaking, you’re in awe. It’s an amazing feeling!” she said.
But Stefanie’s not the only record holder in her family. In August 2012, her husband Rob snagged the largest blue catfish ever caught in the state of Kansas — his catch in a river.
“[It was] 102.8 pounds, but no I don’t think unless she’s trying to beat that,” he said. “More power to her. I was excited that she did it and by herself too.”
Besides catching more fish what do the Stanley’s plan on doing with some of their winnings?
“Kinda rumored to myself if I ever broke 100 pounds I would get a catfish tattoo, and so it actually happened,” said Rob.
The couple says in the future they both plan on getting catfish tattoos.
