Catfish during lunch.

[FishnDave]

Haven't fished during lunch in quite some time. I did today, however. I fly-fished a public pond not far from work. This is the pond that got hit hard this past winter by ice-anglers, which decimated the bluegill population. I tried for bluegills anyway. Didn't catch any.

I did catch a 21.5" channel catfish, which was really fun. Good healthy fish, excellent fight:


It was kind of a long fight, but I had time after releasing the fish to make some more casts. That's when I hooked this next catfish. Its a personal best for me, at 31" long. I ran the length through a complicated mathematical formula to come up with an approximate weight, which suggested just slightly over 12 pounds. What a brute! The pics don't do it justice...but it sure makes the fly reel look small! Awesome battle on a 5wt.






It was caught on a silver-ish boa yarn leech pattern tied on a #8 streamer hook.

[Greg Hunsicker]

Simply AWSOME!!!!! Way to go buddy!
Greg

[FishnDave]

Thanks!

[CharlaineC]

man o man looks like some really tasty cats their mmmmmm fire up the deep frier and get out the batter. hehehe

[SteveGibson]

Dave,

Could you post a photo(s) or your fly?

Thanks!

[iaflyfisher]

Way ta Go Dave! Great lookin catfish

I am going to have to get back out on the ponds.

[FishnDave]

Dave,

Could you post a photo(s) or your fly?

Thanks!

You can see the fly in the catfish's mouth in the last photo...but it got all muddy during the fight.
Here's a picture of the pattern (the fly is wet)...but the one I used for the cat happened to be...I think it was called SWAN color bernat boa yarn? Kind of a light bluish-silvery color. Rick Z's got the instructions for the pattern in the FOTW archives here.



Its a very simple pattern to tie, and very effective. Its practically all I use when fishing at night, too!

[s1rGr1nG0]

Wow, that makes my 1 bluegill I caught today look...tiny.

[Eight Thumbs]

That must have been an amazing fight on a #5 weight. 8T

[FishnDave]

It was!
I finally got to practice playing a fish on the reel for a while. But I eventually switched back to lining the fish in. When it wanted to run, I let it!
The real trick is landing the darn things without a net! The smaller one I could grab across the back behind the head. But the bigger one I couldn't, so I had to grab it by the jaw. My hands are scraped up pretty good still!