Ictalurus Furcatus - Blue Catfish - Another Drawing by Special K

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Blue catfish are a species of fish that I have loved to go after since I was a very young boy. I still remember my first encounter with such a fish was while I was fishing the Cape Fear River here in Central North Carolina with my Grandpa and two younger brothers for bream at the old Buckhorn Dam. We were casting our trusty Zebco 33's out with corks rigs and red worms and crickets with only a split shot and a small wire hook and catching big ole' bull bream as fast as you could bait your hook. I remember being totally amazed at how any fish could even see the bait in all that turmoil of white water churning at the base of the dam. Suddenly something tightened up my line and began stripping drag as it began running away from the dam and I had no clue what in the world was going on.

Well, after the most fierce battle I had ever had with any fish... that seemed to go on for an hour (really maybe only 5 or 6 minutes) it turned out to be about a 12 pound blue catfish when I finally managed to get him in. I was utterly amazed!!! I thought I had surely joined the ranks of elite fishermen in the state... if not the entire world. I had never seen anything like that fish in all of my 8 to 9 years of life and that was for sure... and certainly never had any idea that any fish could fight like that fish did!!! Well, needless to say it was on after that.

Since that time, I have caught hundreds of catfish of all species and still love the fight and the thrill of catching them and man do I love to eat 'em too. I'm sure that will never change until the day I leave God's awesome creation. It was my love of cat fishing and some of the awesome memories I am blessed with while fishing that actually helped to inspire this drawing. I have entitled it "My First River Blue."

Please take a moment and let me know what you think of the drawing and feel free to share your own catfish story with the rest of us.

May God Bless you & Yours,

Wayne aka Special K

Great story and awsum picture Wayne

Beautiful

Thanks guys. I appreciate your comments and support. I love doing the drawings of God's awesome gifts to us sportsman.

Man that's great as always. What about a flathead?

Read it with big smile on my face, thanks for sharing your talents.
I always enjoy

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Originally Posted by lowe175

Man that's great as always. What about a flathead?

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A flathead would be no problem brother. I hope to do most every fresh water species before it all over... that is Lord willing.

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Originally Posted by Red190

Read it with big smile on my face, thanks for sharing your talents.
I always enjoy

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You know the memories and the story of the memories is the best part of fishing don't you? Thanks for the comments and the support.

I asked because flathead cats are one of my favorite fish to chase. I can't wait till you get some of your work ready to sell .

Yup, that's a beautiful sketch of a blue fer sure :ThumbsUp and a great story.

A heart warming story and a beautiful picture of one of my favorite fish

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54 lbs and still swimming

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Originally Posted by Tony the Tiger

Yup, that's a beautiful sketch of a blue fer sure :ThumbsUp and a great story.

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Appreciate the response and the comment Tony. It's funny how you can remember memories from you younger years with such clarity... just like it was yesterday.

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Originally Posted by short grub

A heart warming story and a beautiful picture of one of my favorite fish

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54 lbs and still swimming

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WOW!!! Now that's what you call a blue catfish there. I know that must have been a thrill. My biggest so far on rod and reel was in the forty some pound range (although I actually didn't weigh it) and it was a blast to catch. I have caught some bigger than that personal best rod and reel catch... but they were flat heads and blues that were caught on trotlines and set hooks on the same Cape Fear River.

Very nice drawing, talented for sure!

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Originally Posted by H.M. Slab

Very nice drawing, talented for sure!

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Appreciate the response and the support brother. Best of luck to you.

That's talent right there! Thanks for sharing, Special K.

Thanks for taking a moment to say so. Good luck to you in all that you do.

One of my favorite things in fishing as a kid was sitting on the bank of the ole Mississippi at night with lanterns lit and catching catfish with my dad and sometimes uncle if he was in town. Simple fishing and listening to their stories of their childhood. Great pic! Thanks for sharing.

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Originally Posted by huntinslabs

One of my favorite things in fishing as a kid was sitting on the bank of the ole Mississippi at night with lanterns lit and catching catfish with my dad and sometimes uncle if he was in town. Simple fishing and listening to their stories of their childhood. Great pic! Thanks for sharing.

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Brother I have many fond memories of the exact same thing growing up. There was nothing quite like camping along the bank on the Cape Fear River with family and friends and cat fishing all night. We used to put the bells on the tips of our rods so you wouldn't have to sit and watch the rods constantly. I remember the sound of the bells jingling even while you were sleeping... and having to jump up out the yard type lounge chair to set the hook and land the fish... and you never knew just how big he might be. Then we'd get on the jon boat every few hours and go a check set hooks and jug hooks too. Pulling up those lines was always like Forest Gump said, "It was like a box of chocolates... you never know what you might get."

We would often catch anywhere from 50 to over 100 every night. Then we'd crank up the cookers and you know the rest of the story. AWESOME TIMES FOR SURE. Thanks for bringing back those memories; for sharing yours; and for the kind words about the drawing.

Best of luck to you brother.