First Catfish

[Goosepond Monster]

I have never really gone fishing for catfish before as I don't know that they are in the waters I frequently fish. My f-i-l's buddy had stocked a few channels in his pond years ago, but it was believed they had all been caught or died when the pond turned over a few years back. My f-i-l caught an eighteen pound channel last fall on a half a red wiggler, so we knew there were probably a couple still hanging around. Monday I had a bluegill on a hook under a bobber hoping to catch a big bass. I was casting out a Rapala when I noticed the pole with the bluegill was being dragged into the water. I grabbed the pole, set the hook and the fight was on. I was thinking I had hooked into the monster bass of the pond, but at one point I had it close to the bank, saw the tail come out of the water and knew it wasn't a bass. It took me about five minutes before I was able to get the fish to where my f-i-l could net it. I have to say after that fight I understand why people like going after big cats so much. This channel measured just shy of twenty-seven inches and weighed around ten pounds...



An interesting note, I caught this cat with the same rod and reel that my f-i-l caught the cat with last year. It must be something about that pole.