tndoe270, Chickamauga, Bass, Flathead PB HOF, 5/4/12, Jason Syler

[tndoe270]

We got to the lake Friday evening around 8:30 or so anticipating to fish until around 11 or 12:00 am since jason had to work this morning and I had a bday party to go to. The fishing started out pretty slow until we hit a small area just off the river and Jason boated 5 decent keeping largemouth and I was able to talk two more into biting. After our first pass and approx 7 fish, we decided to make another pass before moving onto our second stop of the evening. As we were getting close to making a move, I had a light hit in about 15 fow. I layed into the hook set and immediately knew, BIG fish had latched onto my plastic bait. It was BIG and had me wrapped around some sort of structure below. After a few hard pulls the line finally comes loose from whatever it was around and the fish wash heading north and a very fast pace emoWorthy. I continued to fight the fish on 15 lb fluro and again I knew by lifting on the fish, it was ginormous. emoScratch. The fight began a little before 11 pm and now it was around 11:15 and I would gain ground only to lose several more yards of line to this fish. Now its 11:25, still fighting and if anyone was anywhere around the river they would have noticed the black lights going in circles, then up the river and down the river. This was by far the biggest fish I have ever fought. 11:35 and now I'm getting not only tired but pissed because the fish is wearing me out more than I'm wearing her out. Around 11:40, I give Jason the rod so he can feel the strength and power this heavy weight has. Around 11:45, we finally get her to the top of the water to realize not only will she not fit in the net, but how we were going to lift her into the boat emoScratch .The first time Jason could get his hand on her, he had his hand in her mouth to lip her, NOT Happening emoHoppingmad, a few choice words came out of his mouth as she bit down and tried to ingest a thumb and finger from his hand. Now Jason is getting right with this fish and the second try is determined to get a better grip by reaching into her gills and mouth, NOT happening again emoHoppingmad , this time we both got showered from the splash of her tail and off goes the drag and line again. Ok, third time is the charm right, this time he got both hands on her and was able to hang on under her gills to heave the heavy weight into the boat. Now miss picky me, says don't put her on my carpet because I didn't want slime everywhere however after watching the behemouth come into the boat there was no way to hold onto her any longer so he layed her in the bottom of the boat. Now I'm not a pro at guessing wt especially on a catfish, but she was approx 4 ft long with a girth over 3ft. emoWorthy She appeared to clearly hit the 70plus lb mark and maybe even over 80. We headed to take pictures where there was some light and when we got to CFP to the fishing pier, I called two friends to come see what a flathead we had caught. A couple of quick pics and I was determined, I didn't want to kill this incrdible fish that had to be much older than me. What a beautiful speciman of a flathead. It took two to pick her up and place her back into the chick and only then did I realize the state record was 85 lbs and some oz's. This could easily have been a new state record however we will never know. It wasn't worth killing such a fish to get a record. I thought of the aquarium but at midnight, who would one call to get the fish certified and donated so like I said earlier, back to the chick she went to fight again another day. Later in the night after the flatty ordeal, I was able to catch a decent lgmth and lost one that appeared to be between 5-6 lbs right at the boat. We called it a night around 1:45. Enjoy the pics of the behemouth flathead that is by far the largest freshwater fish I have ever caught.

 

[the Wolftever Kid]

Awesome, I read it 3 times! Great fish and post!

 

[tbinchrist]

Awesome flatty! Congrats!

 

[Strato-G]

emoPlease tug o war, enjoy some of Eric M's battle time............ emoGeezer emoUSA

 

[whenwegoin]

That's what happens when you fish with a corndog! Great fish!

 

[EricM]

Congrats! Loved the post emoThumbsup

 

[drumking]

Great fish, Kathy. I know that you were tired after that fight. emoBigsmile emoGeezer

 

[Jmax]

So let me get this straight, it was longer then you are tall and weighed more then you. emoPoke Little woman, you done good. It was also good to see you last night at the HBSP tournament, I guess since you did not show for the weigh in you and Jason did not do well?

You take care and don't let one of those big cats pull you in. emoBigsmile Jmax

 

[foodsaver]

thats a good one!

 

[Fishin Fool]

Wow Kathy, that was some fish. You'll never forget a fight like that. So glad you let it go to fight another day. Congrats on a once in a lifetime experience!

 

[tndoe270]

Hey Jmax, that was a good one "longer than I am tall and heavier" LOL...It was good seeing you last night and no we didn't do well at all, two measly lil keepers. I have no idea where they went but oh well, we'll get em next time... That's just fishing..

 

[2jigs]

Great report& fish!!!! I'm surprised Jason didn't get in the floor & put it in a head lock!!!

 

[Labman]

Way to go Kathy!! That whole story made my back and arms tired emoLaugh A once in a lifetime fish. Remind me to never hook one that large, I would just have to give up. Good job and thanks for the report. Fun read.

Regards, Labman

 

[Bigcat]

is Kathy sure it was a flatdag and not a dorkfish. Dorkfish are notorious for inhaling corndogs. No matter a hogamighty either way.

whywecatchsomany...

 

[whenwegoin]

Bigcat - 5/6/2012 8:41 PM

is Kathy sure it was a flatdag and not a dorkfish. Dorkfish are notorious for inhaling corndogs. No matter a hogamighty either way.

whywecatchsomany...

HOLY COW A WHYWECATCHSOMANY SIGHTING!!! TALK ABOUT OLD SCHOOL FORUM!!!

 

[bronzeback45]

emoThumbsup emoToast ,that dwrafsmy 44lber I caught below dam a couple of years ago. I had to put on nylon fishing gloves to get herin boat,here is a pic of her.