For years the Wisconsin River has made you wonder everytime you had a fish holding you down and giving you a headshake whether it was a catfish. I’m glad to say this summer the Mississippi is also bringing up that question a lot. Those that are concentrating on catfish are getting what they want on most days.
Being a Walleye specialist that catches his share of bass, and makes most of his living guiding, you might think I would consider them a pain. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Customers love their fight, their attitude, and sometimes even their taste. About 90% of our cats go back,(maybe not necessary but a habit),and as I get more and more requests for catfish trips I imagine I will start taking them. Almost all our cats are coming on 1/2 nightcrawlers.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of watching a young boy and either Dad or Grandpa land a high teens or low 20s cat off their dock on the Black river,(unfortunately my camera was in the truck). It took ten or fifteen minutes and the young man finally yeilded the rod and took up netting duties under the fight of the fish. I was really quite excited and didn’t pay attention to species but it looked like a mudcat. 
