It was a BRUTAL episode no doubt

I set the hook and it didn't move , I thought what the heck there isn't anything down there but fish ? :dono
Shortly there after it became a rather chatty , reel screaming, BRUTAL fight to the finish on my 4 lb test mono and a short rod .
How did I end up holding such a brute on this light of tackle for as long as it took to land it you might ask ?
No clue would be answer other than the grace from above , not many decent channel cat on tackle that light get to see dry land ......:Rofl
KABOOM is me and a no nibble/scent 1/32 hand tie down in that ugly mug was how it all began :highfive

Nothing like testing out ones drag settings. Healthy looking critter

Yeah I bet that was a fun little fight. Bet you had to cut off 6' of line slime and re-tie your jig on... :Rofl

Nice! No sling and fling with that bad boy!:Rofl Great catch!
Bob

Nice ketch, KetchN. Really puts a test to ones equipment quality for sure...

Those channels are fun to catch, fight like the dickens.

Did it become a fish dinner?

For a channel , that is a really nice one

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Looks like fried kitty nuggets to me!

Would have been if I caught it

I haven't got the gut's to try channels on a UL outfit yet. Do have a couple light level winds I put together though. Thinking for crappie and bull heads. Got three channels last Tuesday at 3 1/2#, 5# and 5#. Both rods light with low profile reels and 4# line. Get the freezer stocked up with fish and I might have to try one of them!

When that channel grabs your crappie jig you don't have much say in the matter. Shooting docks at times I hook into some decent size cats. I call them bonus fish. Sure get a fellas blood pumping when he is struggling to turn a fish

I get those channels up to 6 lbs on my catfish rods and reels and they are pretty tuff! have 10# mono on most and a couple with 20lb braid. All the rods are 6'6" to 7' with one 8' just because it was laying around. All have round level winds on them. I look at them then my UL and two light bait casters and just don't see landing those big fish on rods with 4# line. In fact my Smallest UL is on a 5" rod with 2# line. either I think I'd get spooled of break the line!

We've landed them up to 6lbs on 2lb but it pretty much ruins your line. Just from the light drag needed it really twists up to the point of having to replace it.

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Originally Posted by Oregon slabman

We've landed them up to 6lbs on 2lb but it pretty much ruins your line. Just from the light drag needed it really twists up to the point of having to replace it.

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had my drag set pretty tight actually , and to be honest the second time it surfaced ,the first thing I noticed was the line wrapped on it's pectoral fin spine ! :yikes
Somehow someone above let the line get off that line snapper and after multiple roller coaster up on top cartwheeling episodes and strong pulling runs ,it finally met the net !
it was for sure a right fairly epic battle in the midst of just slinging regular ole 9 to 10 inch crappie for sure :highfive

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

Did it become a fish dinner?

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my amigo said let's keep it and my sheriff friend took it to try it on his blackstone flat iron . Said he is going to blacken it ? :dono

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Originally Posted by Ketchn

my amigo said let's keep it and my sheriff friend took it to try it on his blackstone flat iron . Said he is going to blacken it ? :dono

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That should be some good eating. I have yet to buy one of those Blackstones but I sure want one

I hung into one a little over 7 lbs in my kayak fishing for gills. I was scratched all to pieces after he made a run for the bank and got me all up in some trees. I don’t know how but after probably 20 minutes I got him in the yak. Fun time for sure. I’ve hooked several that I just couldn’t do anything with on 4 or 6 pound line and light gear. But it is a fun ride in a yak. Lol


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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

That should be some good eating. I have yet to buy one of those Blackstones but I sure want one

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Me too! They look like they are fun to cook on.

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Originally Posted by Damion Kidd

I hung into one a little over 7 lbs in my kayak fishing for gills. I was scratched all to pieces after he made a run for the bank and got me all up in some trees. I don’t know how but after probably 20 minutes I got him in the yak. Fun time for sure. I’ve hooked several that I just couldn’t do anything with on 4 or 6 pound line and light gear. But it is a fun ride in a yak. Lol


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Haha yeah I bet that was a fun fight. Love it when they pull the kayak. Haven’t had one that big yet. Had close to 6 lb bass pull me around though.

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Originally Posted by Damion Kidd

I hung into one a little over 7 lbs in my kayak fishing for gills. I was scratched all to pieces after he made a run for the bank and got me all up in some trees. I don’t know how but after probably 20 minutes I got him in the yak. Fun time for sure. I’ve hooked several that I just couldn’t do anything with on 4 or 6 pound line and light gear. But it is a fun ride in a yak. Lol


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I used to run limb lines in the back waters for catfish put of a kayak. The catfish were as bad as those big mean snapping turtles �� hooked in the front shoulder up by those finger crushing jaws.

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

I used to run limb lines in the back waters for catfish put of a kayak. The catfish were as bad as those big mean snapping turtles �� hooked in the front shoulder up by those finger crushing jaws.

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I have wanted to do that but cant get up the nerve. Lol


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Originally Posted by Damion Kidd

I have wanted to do that but cant get up the nerve. Lol


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Make you some jugs out of pool noodles. The kids absolutely love it. That's some good times chasing down fish on the noodles.
Limb lining is a blast also. Something about it gets a fella heart thumping when you see that limb getting jerked up and down by that fish.

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

Make you some jugs out of pool noodles. The kids absolutely love it. That's some good times chasing down fish on the noodles.
Limb lining is a blast also. Something about it gets a fella heart thumping when you see that limb getting jerked up and down by that fish.

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I’ve done both from a boat. Bet the noodles would be fun in a kayak. May try both next spring before the gators and snakes get out too bad.


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Down in the Mobile river delta is where I limb lined. Never had a gator mess with them. The jugs on the other hand those gators wouldn't leave them alone.

Put two kids to a canoe, with a spotlight and turned them loose. They had a blast. I will see if I still have some photos

Attachment 408719

There is the only one I could find

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

Attachment 408719

There is the only one I could find

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Man yeah. Gonna try that for sure.


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Those are weighted tip up noodles. When a fish pulls it down the weight slides to the end and makes them stay standing in the water. Lets yiu know to go check on them.

used to yo yo and limb line and trot line some when i was a young one , a softshell the size of your truck hood will make you think you have a really really big yella cat on for sure ......:Rofl
had me a shoot out with one that went from side to side in the boat it was so large and later when we hit the bank we had another shoot out yet again , it was taking 22 rounds to the head and laughing at me ....:yikes

Had one avout 24 inches across the back on a limb line. It was hooked in the shoulder. When I grabbed the line and pulled. That head which was bigger than my fist came out of the water and smacked me in the forearm. I am certainly glad it didn't take a bite. Fairly unnerving when I think what could have happened if it got ahold

they can strike with the speed of lightning , and the neck is about long as you can possibly imagine

That shootout has me laughing hard!!
We used to fly fish for perch to bait trotline.
Those cats love little bee flies.
Quite the fight on a 5 wt fly rod


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Originally Posted by Ketchn

they can strike with the speed of lightning , and the neck is about long as you can possibly imagine

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Pretty grave mistake to underestimate how long that neck is

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Originally Posted by Redge

That shootout has me laughing hard!!
We used to fly fish for perch to bait trotline.
Those cats love little bee flies.
Quite the fight on a 5 wt fly rod


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A cat on a 5wt would make for a good fight

it would strike and i would shoot , it would strike again and i would shoot again , thank goodness i had a full mag .....:Rofl
darn thing would not die i tell ya ,seemed like all them 22 bullets were doing was stunning it and i was trying not to get bit ,
when i say it almost pulled me over he side when i first started wrestling with it , i aint joking either :yikes

Definitely powerful animals

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

Definitely powerful animals

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4 paddles the size of my hand and streamlined ,make them move rather efficiently thru the water at good speeds too ....

The one on the limb line was pulling the limb down into the water. Had that old woman that living on that houseboat within sight of it all tore up thinking it was a monster catfish

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

A cat on a 5wt would make for a good fight

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Man, I bet they would. Sounds like a lot of fun. The turtles I can skip! I would just cut the line and say “see ya”.
Bob