In search of the World Record Flathead

[polo-dog]

I have a good idea that I hooked the new world record flathead catfish today. The only problem was my fishing line. I was fishing with 2 lb test and fought the monster for over an hour and a half before he/she broke me off. It was the first time that I had hooked and played a big fish in my hole on the skinny line. After all that work I never got to see him/her. I guess that I just put a little bit too much pressure on too soon, Ha! Thanks so much for the help Biofisher!!!! He, his son, and a next door neighbor watched the last half hour of the battle and was going to help me land it. Just one too many shakes of the head and it was gone. I do know where to fish for another and the conditions are perfect. Friday I will start earlier, as today I started at 4:30 and had the fish on my second cast. It was well past dark when it broke me off. I would have loved to see how big it was but next time I plan to wait it out a bit longer before putting the pressure on. Thanks again Gary, Gabriel, and I think his neighbor was Steve. I hope to be in need of help again Friday.

 

[rsimms]

Are you going for a "line class world record?" Or are you using 2# line because you are a glutton for punishment? emoScratch I'd suggest you start about 8:30 in the morning... then you might have a chance of seeing him before dark. emoBigsmile

 

[polo-dog]

Yep, last year I caught a 26lber on 4lb line and I know that there is a fish bigger than the record that has been in my hole before. The record is somewhere between 30 and 32lb and I've caught a 33lber out of there in years past. I have caught many fish at this time of year out of this "hole" and only one was less than 25 lbs. I did call the IGFA to get the record numbers and unless someone has caught a bigger fish on 2lb test since I would expect it still to be in the low 30's. Richard, the fish yesterday was somewhat tired and I did recapture some line before it broke me off. I am going to get some new line as that line was from last year and sat on my boat all winter long. Maybe Friday will be my day.

 

[JerDog]

Sounds like a blast...what did he hit on, a live bluegill? Did you have the drag set or did you "back-reel" on the fish? Were you in your boat or on the bank? I have heard that if you backreel you can sometimes have better luck getting the fish in...unless or course it is a screamer and runs faster than you can back reel.

 

[polo-dog]

It is a blast, and also a challenge. To tell you the truth, I always catch them on plastic crawdads. I used to catch them on Texas rigged 'dads but with 2 lb test I have gone to a 1/8 oz jig with a 'dad. I do sharpen the hook as sharp as I can get it. I did set the hook with my drag set at a level that the test could handle. I use a jig without a weed guard even though it's rocky where I fish. I do back reel the whole time, whenever the fish shakes or makes a run. The IGFA rules do let you use a swivel and unlimited leader strength, so I use a leader that is 17 or 20 lb test. I fish from my boat and always stay as close to straight up and down on the fish as I can unless he gets too close to the rocks or an obstruction, then I put constant pressure out towards the channel. Does anyone know how to use a double line above the leader? I think that salt water anglers use a double line using a bimini twist but I've never memorized how to tie it and don't understand the advantage. If anyone does, let me know.

 

[polo-dog]

Guys, what do you call a guy that looks like this?

 

[polo-dog]

That's right, fishless. You wouldn't believe what happened to me today. After fighting a big fish for an hour and a half Tuesday and having nothing to show for it. I almost took rsimms' advice and started early this morning fishing for the "world record flathead". It was too cold for an old guy like me and besides, I had to respool with new 2lb test, tie on a double line loop before the swivel/leader(new approach) and it tood me until just before 11 am to get out there. I cast for maybe 10 minutes before I hooked up with what I thought was going to be a smaller fish than the one from Tues. None such luck. I had this fish on from 1105 am until 311pm. He pulled my boat around the whole time, stopping from time to time to rest at which time I could not budge him/her. It went for the wood multiple times but I was able to coax it away each time. Finally at just before 3pm it pulled hard to get back to the exact spot where I had hooked up with it, give or take 3ft max. I couldn't believe that a cold blooded animal of any size could fight for 4hours and not give up or die or at least break me off. In stead it wrapped me in a submerged limb/tree that I was unaware of and that was it. 5 1/2 hours of fighting two fish and nothing to show for it other than a pulsing aching left shoulder and bicep. It really is sore and feels like it will for days. Luckily I had my winter coat, hat, gloves, and long johns on today or I would be even more miserable. Maybe these fish aren't catchable on 2lb test. I couldn't believe that a fish could last that long! My window of opportunity may be over as once the water gets a little cooler and we get into mid Dec. the fish are usually out of the area. I feel kind of stupid spending all that time and then getting wrapped up by a "stupid" fish.

 

[flip1up]

Polo, I have read your posts for a few months now. You and I and everybody on this board know that somebody as detailed and studies this great sport that we all love like you will get this record. Let me ask you this, when they pull out of your holes, where do they go? Homework time my friend, because everybody and everything is somewhere. You will win this one. What kind of line do you use? Is this record based on line diameter or pound test?

 

[rsimms]

Polo-dog - I applaud your efforts... don't give up. Perseverance pays! Besides, when you break that line-class world record, it'll make a story for me to write. be sure and call me!

By the way, what they heck does "polo-dog" mean?

 

[polo-dog]

The record that I am after is the 2lb test flathead catfish record. Last year I called the IGFA and they told me that the record was 31 or 32 lbs. I can't remember which. I have caught and released fish out of my hole bigger than that and I would expect that the two that I had on this week were close to or bigger than that. The fish do go to deep water initially but they then cruise up and down the channel and here and there go out of the channel. Most of the channel near the hole is fairly well known to me and so I for the most part know where the obstructions are. The fish today just overpowered me to get to an unknown underwater obstruction. rsimms, I used the polo-dog name on some other forums and in some other places and so I just decided to keep it simple for me and not change it. Where I went to college our water polo team was nick named the "polo dogs" and so that's how it stuck with me.

 

[DHaun]

Way to go Polo-Dog! Keep at it - even though you spent half the day on the lake and lost the fish it's still better than sitting in a cube all day making software and dealing with a stolen credit card number like I did today... Rub a little icy-hot on that arm, take an advil and maybe you can get back out there next week after the rain - We're rootin for ya! emoThumbsup

Is there a requirement for rod length with the record? I don't know what you are using, but I just wonder if a longer light-action rod would allow for a bit more pressure on the fish and absorb more stress off the line...

 

[rsimms]

FYI... I have the Official 2005 IGFA World Record Book. The 2 lb. Line Class Record for a Flathead Catfish is 33 lbs. even It was taken by Edward Davis from the Cape Fear River in North Carolina on Sept. 21, 1995. And if you're curious, here are the 2 lb. Class records for other catfish species: Blue (36 lb. 9 oz), Channel (21 lb. 8 oz).

 

[polo-dog]

rsimms, thanks, I'm hoping that the fish that I've let go over the past few years have gained a few pounds and are record breakers.

DHaun, I'm using a 7ft Ultralight rod that I bought just for this fish. I got it for a great deal as it was at the unclaimed baggage place in Scottsboro AL. It is a micro lite by Bass Pro Shops and has a very light action. It does a great job absorbing the shock and keeping pressure on the fish. I also am learning, now that I have had two big fish on with the rig I've got how to set the drag on the reel. The reel was a great deal also as it's a Quantum Catalyst pti 40 that I bought on ebay for less than 1/3 of retail. I have found two others that I have and they are great spinning reels, smooth drag and great for backreeling. In fact today I had trouble breaking the 2lb test off today after the fish got in some limbs down deep. Next time I'll keep the fish away from that spot too. I just hope that the 17 lb leader isn't keeping that fish stuck to the tree limbs down there. I sort of got acquainted with that fish today as what else was there to do but talk to the fish for 4 hours. I was alone and my dog Frieda wasn't with me as it was too cold. Has anyone ever read Hemmingway's the Old Man and the Sea? I think that was the name of it. He was out in the Atlantic and hooked a huge fish and talked to it for a long time while bringing it in. I kept trying to tell the fish to give up as I could tell that it was tired and hurting and let it know that I planned to keep it alive if at all possible. I have a plan to put it in a garbage can filled with water to transport it to the registered scales at the BI-Lo, I called them today and they said that they would weigh it for me. My house gets it's water from a well so, it's not chlorinated. I don't have a dolly but do have a wheel barrow or a wagon that I can use to move the g-can with so I think I've got it all figured out. I would expect that if I do everything right I can get him/her back into the water to fight again. I hate to think of such a great fish dieing just so I could weigh it. Such an incredible animal to be able to fight for 4 hours and still have enough strength and determination and smarts to wrap me up and get off! I hope to get another shot at a big one this season. One fish each of two trips to the "hole" is great.

 

[rsimms]

I have read Old Man and the Sea... it should be required reading for any angler. At least you don't have sharks to worry about (as the Old Man did).

And yes, it is 2:33 AM. I couldn't go duck hunting last weekend, so today is "opening day" for me. Can't sleep so I'm headed for a North Alabama Swamp>

 

[polo-dog]

I hope that you had fun!

 

[drc]

polo-dog, I'm not sure but I have heard that flatheads will group together by size during the winter like blues. It might not be a bad idea to fish your hole with larger tackle just to land a few fish and see how big they are. If your fishing a hole where the fish are in the 40-50lb range you could be wasting your time looking for that line class record. Big cats are not hook shy even after being caught a few times. This past summer I caught a 44lb blue with a hook and leader still in his mouth.

 

[polo-dog]

I wouldn't doubt that there are a bunch of fish in the same weight class in the same area. All but one of the fish that I have caught in there was less than 25 lbs. It is sort of frustrating not getting the chance to see the fish and see if they are only 15 or 20 or 40 lbs. I think that I will stay with the 2lb test for now as if I do get one of them in it has a good chance of beating the record. If I go with anyone with me I would plan to use 17 or 20 lb tackle as then I'd be out there to just catch and release. I really do hope to lull one of the big ones to sleep and get him within range of a net or a gaff. We'll just have to see if I get another shot or not.

 

[polo-dog]

I tried fishing the "hole" twice this week and didn't get a hit from the flatheads. I would expect that they are out of there as the water temp is in the low 40's. I think that I will try to get one tomorrow if I have time as the water will be muddied up and if they are in there, most of the time that's when I catch them. The water may have been too clear for them to be where I usually catch them. Wish me luck.

 

[rsimms]

I'll be thinking about you... PM a cell phone number. I'll call and give you some "coaching," or at least live vicariously through your exploits while I'm toiling away at work.

 

[polo-dog]

The day is moving on and I am not going to be able to get out. Too many pre Christmas things going on today, Rats! Well, maybe in the next couple of days.