EricM, Chickamauga, 37 & 55 blue cats, 4-26-15

[EricM]

What a nice morning! I wanted to get out and try for that 6 lb line class record again today, and when I got there (not all that early) I found my friends rsimms and shsimons of Scenic City Fishing Charters both in their boats with clients fishing for the blue cats. It looked like they were successful and had happy folks with them! Always nice to see.

I made my first drift and hung a nice blue cat of 37 pounds that I seriously overestimated at 50 when I was fighting it and before I saw it. It took me about 30 minutes to put it into the boat. A short while later I hooked a much bigger fish. It fought amazingly hard (slow but extremely strong) and I was SURE that I had finally found the 65+ that I had been looking for!! I fought that fish for 1 hour and 55 minutes before landing it. Drumking and korngrinder stopped by to chat during the fight, and later WLG came by and stopped to chat and watch the end of the fight. He took some video and pics for me, and it was great to see him again too.

I was astounded when I finally saw the fish. I was expecting a much bigger fish from the fight! It weighed 55 lbs - a terrific fish under any circumstances but especially on 6 lb test line - but I was convinced that it was at least 65-70 pounds. What a fighter - it refused to budge off of the bottom and when I finally did get it up to 25 feet it would dive right back down and stay there. A great catfish but just not quite the one I wanted. Well, that's what we have tomorrows for!!!!

 

[Kingfish]

You are the man! emoThumbsup

 

[korngrinder]

Nice to finally meet you Eric and congrats on the big fish today

 

[drumking]

Great job, Eric. I was hoping that this one was the record that you are searching for. If the 55 lber took you that long to land, how long is the 65 lber going to take? emoThumbsup emoBigsmile emoGeezer When we talked to you, you were 40 minutes into the fight. Another hour and 15 minutes??? I could have had a birthday by that much time. emoUpsmile

 

[sdbillyg]

Good job

 

[reeltime]

Great job! You never disapoint with the pictures and reports. Especially it all being on 6lb test

 

[jjellison]

Nice fish!

 

[Strato-G]

emoThumbsup emoThumbsup ............ emoGeezer emoUSA

 

[rsimms]

And I get excited when we <a href=https://youtu.be/50ExBYuT6DQ>catch a 60 lber. on 10-pound test</a> emoDoh

You're a great fisherman, a VERY patient man and a glutton for punishment. emoBigsmile

 

[SpurHunter]

Pic from Wade.

 

[WLG]

It was great to see you out there doing your thing again my friend ! I had gone upriver and fished a few spots...glad I decided to come check out the nuke and get to watch the show !

 

[BassERT]

And may there be many tomorrows for you
Great report, but some of the people you run with emoPoke
Thanks for your report emoThumbsup

emoCool

 

[Muskrat]

emoThumbsup emoWorthy

 

[Mr. S]

I think he was using 4 lb. bass for bait!