I caught this Fish back on Oct 17th 2004 but its a great story and a I think you River Rats will enjoy!
I had launched at the St. Croix Bluffs and headed North to the Kinny narrows and was doing some jigging for Walleye. I was marking a lot of fish but couldn’t get much to go. Finally got a sheapshead but it was slow. I was just about ready to head south but I thought I’d give the hole one last good drift before moving on. I had a rod with a jig / night crawler combo on that I was just dragging on the bottom and then working the other rod with a jig and minnow presentation. The night crawler rod bent over like a snag and I picked up the rod and increased tension, not really setting the hook. I had the rod bent over like a wet noodle and then throb, throb, throb. That wasn’t no snag, that was a fish! The time was 12:30 PM… Remember that! The battle royal had begun.
The first Hour of battle: (Yes folks, this battle went on for hours!)
I was equipped with a ultra light rod with 4 lb test and 1/16 ounce jig. The fish dogged into the deep water. The hole is about 45 deep and the fish took me right down into it. I was just fine with that as I’d rather fight it in deep water without snags vs anything near shore. I spent the next hour in the deep water never getting the fish up for than a few feet off the bottom. You can only put so much pressure on 4 lb test before it will break. So I was pretty much helpless in the deep water.
2:00 PM ( 1 & 1/2 hours into the fight)
The fish made a break toward shore… Dam! Logs, sharp rocks, it wasn’t looking good. I followed the fish up the river using the trolling motor about 200 yards from where I had hooked it. I was at the mercy of this fish. I couldn’t turn it, I could do nothing but follow it to where she wanted to go. It was headed for a big downed tree and I was like man, to be fighting a fish for over an hour and to lose it in this fashion would be brutal. But just before the snag the fish turned and headed back towards the deep water. Although I still had no control over the fish I could tell to some degree it was starting to tire. I could get it off the bottom a few more feet than I could before she’s wallow back down into the depths. I thought Gibbonski, be patient. You can do this, you can get this fish!
3:00 PM (2 1/2 hours into the fight)
I’m like ok man, what the hell did I hook into? 2 1/2 hours of fighting this thing and I haven’t seen this fish. We were getting a few snowflakes on the river and then it settled into a light rain. I was wondering if I was going to have to stay until dark, perhaps later. There was no way I was giving up. I’d still be fighting that fish right now if I had to. I was not going to be denied! People fishing around me were getting pretty excited. The all wanted to see what I had hooked. In fact I had people who passed me in boats hours ago in disbelief that I was still fighting the same fish. The temptation to crank the drag down tighter was there but I was like no, not after this long. Stay the course, you can do it Gibbonski. I was getting her close. I had the drag set perfect but for a little added muscle I would hold the drag from spinning and work the fish by feel to give myself just a little more added pressure on the fish. I was maxing out my Maxima 4lb test line (which by the way I will testify after this experience is the best mono fishing line made…period) It was a risky move but I needed the leverage and trusted my ability to let the drag go when the fish dogged for the bottom. In the front of the boat I have a Lowrance X-51 Sonar unit hooked up in the trolling motor. So I could often mark this fish and see the fish work up and down which was pretty cool. I had worked the beast up to 15 feet but then she’d turn and go back down the bottom. A familiar face pulled up in a boat. It was “the Griz” a legendary guide that fishes the St. Croix. He took one look at my pole and told me I had a Catfish on. I had fought this thing for 2 1/2 hours and hadn’t seen it but Griz knew. I was impressed because he was right. Griz told me to hang on and that once I saw bubbles, that I was close. It was 2 1/2 hours into the fight and I hadn’t seen bubbles yet.
3:15 – 3:25 PM ( 2 hours 45 minutes into the fight):
At 3:15 PM I had the fish up and about 15 feet below the boat and I started to see bubbles. I was like I’m close, I know I’m close. A few minutes later I got a look at the prize. A big old Flat Head Catfish, in my estimation 35 Lbs, maybe more was on the surface next to the boat. But she wasn’t ready yet, back down she went and made one last run. he next time up she was on her side I knew she was ready. I grabbed a glove and grabbed her by the lower lip. She didn’t like that too much as I clamped down she clamped down on me, and pretty hard. I can only imagine what those Catfish noodlers must feel when they fish by hand. I dropped the rod and grabbed a hold of the fish with both hands. She struggled but no way was I going to let her go after all this. The fish was aboard at 3:25 PM after almost a 3 hour fight! It was like bringing a knife to a gun fight but after an incredible battle the monster fish was mine! Boats for 1/2 mile probably heard me shout with joy and those closer saw me do a little victory dance in the boat. It wasn’t pretty, but what a feeling to finally get this fish in the boat that was towing me around the St. Croix much of that afternoon! The jig dropped out of the fishes mouth when on board. I was that close to losing that fish!
Two problems I had. First I didn’t have a scale on board big enough to weigh this fish. The 25 LB scale I did have with bottomed out before getting a large portion of the fish off the ground. So the fish weight is only a estimate at best but I’ve been around big catfish and she was a pig. I keep my big scale with my catfishing equipment (no longer will I do such a thing) and didn’t have it along. Second problem. No camera. I’m normally very good carrying a camera and for all the times to forget it in the truck, today was the day. I flagged down a boat nearby and they had a camera and took some pictures and we exchanged info so I was able to get the picture that I attached to this post. I REALLY appreciated that and I think they got a kick out of seeing this monster Catfish on board my boat. My guess on the weight was 35 lbs, maybe more. And to catch a fish with 4 lb test, 8 to 10 times less then the weight of the fish is what I’m most proud about. After a few pictures I picked her up, put her back into the water, revived her a bit and she swam off into the depths from where she came. I had landed and released the one of the biggest Catfish of my life with the lightest pole and test line I fish wish….. Go figure! Its a fish I’ll remember forever!
