Big Ohio Catfish 55lbs.

[mazter]

I got the chance to go Night Fishing for the first time this year lastnite. I was fishing with a 6 inch Bluegill here at our Local Lake, When at 930 this 55 pound Flathead took the bait. It took me 20 Minutes to land him, I took pictures, weighed him & turned him Loose. What a monster of a fish for our Lake. Its the Biggest I have ever caught out of the Lake & I have never heard of a Bigger one being caught at Lake Logan. What a Nite, I am going to try to go back out this week after the rain's.;)

Good luck to all of you out fishing,
Mazter

[TreeDoc]

That's a big ol' Slob, Ed! http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/html/emoticons/smiley-wow-eyes-yellow.gif

and a Big Catfish too! http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/html/emoticons/smiley-ugly-lol-bashing-sign.gif

Seriously, nice fish! What did it take to land that slob energy-wise? You look a little pale in that photo are you feeling OK or are you just on the "10 most wanted list" or something? http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/html/emoticons/smiley-hidin-curtain.gif

Man, you let it go too! Aren't those flatheads any good for eating?

[mazter]

TreeDoc- It took every ounce of energy I had to get him in, If My wife wasnt there to help me I dont think I would of got it all the way in. She took the Pictures too. It took 20 Min. to bring him in, & it was a fight Ill never forget. Its the Biggest Catfish I have caught out of Lake Logan, I talk to some ODNR guys & a they said it was a Lake Record for our Lake. No one but my wife & myself know where I caught it at, Ill never tell either.

With my Back being as Bad as its been Ill be in bed for a few more days over it. It took everything I had to get him in & take Picture's. It was worth every bit of pain Im feeling from just catching him, let alone the constant pain I deal with everyday. I have to Thank my Wife for all the help too.

Yes they are good eatin too, But I dont keep any that Big. It takes them up to 30 years to get that big , So I turned him Loose to catch again when he is 70 Pounds. :)

I was using a White Rhino Reel w/ 30lb Test on a 10ft. Heavy Pole just for Big Cats. It bent my Net 6-7 inches & that net is a Big Cat net as well. Thanks TD;)
Maz

I dont eat Bluegill's either, I just use them as Bait. The Bigger the Better.:D

[TreeDoc]

That's cool, Ed....you're my hero now!

I have NEVER caught a Catfish. Well, let's say I have never landed one as I think I have hooked a few in my tournament bass fishing days where they took off and attempted to "spool" my reel before they break off.

Until about 10 years ago I had never considered eating one of those bottom feeding suck bags. I had a friend that took up temporary residence in my Condo for a couple weeks and brought with him an 18# Channel Cat that was in his freezer. (I think he got the fish and a TV Remote as his wife chased him from the house! LOL!!) I had no room for it so it was eat it or trash it. I cut the fat filets and coated them with a Cajun Spice Seasoning and black pepper and blackened them over an Oak fire. To this day I swear that was one of the best tasting fish I have ever had and I have had lots of fish being on the ocean here on the Pacific Coast.

Is that considered a Trophy Fish? I have had some Slob Northern Strain Largemouths that I have caught and always release them. If you get the measurements with a seamstress' tape and shoot a picture there are taxidermist that can build identical models for those biggin's!

[mazter]

Trophy Fish- Yes To me it is ! Our lake is only about 200 acres, So its not normal to catch this size of fish from there. The biggest I had before was 39 pounds. I have saw a few 40 pounders But none this Big. So Yeah I guess its a Trophy Fish.

We have Pay Lakes here too, I have caught them as big as 70lbs. at the Pay Lakes, But Its like Hunting a canned hunt. We have caught 2-3 70 pounders a nite & saw 15 or so caught in a nites time.

But our lake gets fished hard for the size it is. I just know I am the Master of Our Lake now.:p The State Record is 75lbs. So I got pretty close, Next time Ill get it. :D

I keep a few small one's( 10-15lbs.) a year just for us to fry up, They are the Best fish to eat, at least to me it is. Everything else gets to live.;)

[AK NIMROD]

matzer, very nice fish. CONGRATS- PAT

[ol_spark]

Growing up we caught many of those but none even close to that size. Way to go Nice cat.. On MSN today is the story of a guy that just caught the world record Blue....124Lbs.check it out.

[TreeDoc]

I saw that today ol_spark. Dang, that was a BIG FAT SLOB! Hate to ruin a good feeling Maz but that 124 pounder makes a 55 pounder look like a booger don't it? I didn't think that was possible after eyeing Maz's Pic.

I saw the interview with our "oh so perky and liberal communist commentator", Katy Couric. I had to laugh at those folks that caught it. Let's just say that "personality" wasn't really one of their strong points! LOL!

[mazter]

Yeah I saw the Big Cat too, Its really sad that it died. They could of took the Measurements for a Mold for it & Weighed it & Let it go. Now its dead waiting to be Molded for Display, If It were me I would of got it Certified as a World Record on Hook & Line, But it would of been let go where I caught it at.

Yes TreeDoc is makes mine look Small, But If you saw the lake it came out of Its a Big Fish for the area I live in. No one can ever take that nite away from me or the feeling of Catching one that big from our Small Lake. Having my wife there to help me meant alot too, I dont think I could of got it in without her. So I give her alot of Credit too with this fish. I did make the Local Paper here in Town & Ill be in Several other Mag's here in the State. Most of the Big Cats that get caught here in Ohio are from the River's, Rarely they come from a Small lake like our's. Since I have caught my Big One The Lake has been Packed every Night.

I havent been able to go back out yet, But I have my Boat ready now. I hope to get out in it soon, But it dont look good for getting it out anytime soon. But its ready if I can get the chance to go in it.

I need to come out there & go on the Ocean Fishing with you. Ill bring a few Gizmo's & We will have a Great time.:D :p :D You cant turn that down can you ?:D