Landing a catfish

[GooBack]

I am starting to fish for cat fish this year and was wondering how to land a big cat fish.? I want to get a big gaft but cant find any int he stores Anyone know where to get a big gaft?

thanks jimmy

[Ralph Wiggum]

Buy a big net or grab with your hands. Please don't gaff a fish unless you plan on keeping it.

[Larry FlatCaster]

There is a reason they don't sell gaffs in this state or surrounding states. Do your self the favor and get one of the giant nets out there.

Don't short change or go cheap on them or you will loose your fish of a lifetime. Many have made that mistake, and had their cheap nets fail.

Plan on spending some coin.

[Shack]

The guys above are right on. I know many have their ways, but this is how I prefer to land a larger flathead:

[mrklean]

what is that music at the start shack??????

But plesae never use a gaff a fish unless its going into the pan, i remember seeing the guy gaff that sturgeon on here and he got lit up for it. nets are a fishs bestfriend

[bobbymalone]

what is that music at the start shack??????

[Larry FlatCaster]

Looking over some of the other/previous posts made by the OP..... gotta makes one wonder.

[aanderud]

A gaff should never be used on a fish you plan to release, and given the tight regulations specifying only one large flathead in possession, it's a given that many times you'll need to release them even if you aren't a C&R fisherman by nature.

I have a cheap $25 net from gander mountain. It's the one with the HUGE hoop on it, but feels chinzy and will most definitely break if you try to lever the fish in. (I broke one just like it by lever-ing in my first 'big' fish ever, about a 48-50 inch sturgeon, in 2007). Instead of using it like you would a walleye, just get the fish in the net, then hold the net vertically with the handle up and the hoop down, then pull it in by the hoop. You can pull in fish up to 60 lbs this way, even with the cheap net.

[TruthWalleyes]

I have a "big fish glove", but i'm thinking a $25 net will work better!

No Gaff!

[Gordie]

PLEASE dont use a gaff. Net it or hand grap. they dont call the bottom jaw of a flathead a suitcase handle for nothing...BTW the flattie rash is worth every bit of it

[rushing]

Got some pretty good flat rash last league night...was worth it.