Monster MN River Flathead Catfish!!

[hanson]

I'm not even sure where to start talking about the Minnesota River Flathead Catfishing trip that Darren ("dtro" from FishingMinnesota) and I had last night. Maybe I'll just start at the beginning.

A few days ago, I posted a photo of a 61" Lake Sturgeon that Darren caught up on the Rainy River this spring. I asked him if he wiped the grin off his face yet and jokingly said, "When we going fishing?" It didn't take us long to figure out when, and I was scrambling to leave work on Friday afternoon to go catch some bait for the trip. The bullhead bite was cooperating on a local lake, and I also had some help from fellow FMer & buddy "Fisher Dave". The tough part of the trip was over and that was obtaining good, lively bait!

Now I'm off to the Minnesota River just south of the Twin Cities with freshly caught bait wondering if we were even going to be able to fish. The skies were dark and there were a line of thunderstorms that were marching across the sky just north of us. We decided to go anyway and figured we could pull up to a sandbar and wait out the storm if need be.

We got anchored on our #1 fishing spot about 8pm. A little later than we wanted but still early enough to sit around and wait for dark to settle on us. Within about 5 minutes of anchoring, Darren had a really good run on his rod which he wasn't able to connect with. The fish are here we thought, that was a good sign! And then nothing happened until dark.

Somewhere around 10pm, we had a flurry of bite activity and flathead runs. I couldn't believe how much action we were getting but hooking up with these fish was becoming a problem. Darren broke the ice by getting a small flathead and then I followed up with a 9 pounder as well.

Darren w/ a Minnesota River Flathead Catfish

Hanson's 9lb Minnesota River Flathead Catfish

After this fish was in the boat, the activity slowed down and my eyes kept turning to the sky. There was obviously thunder & lightning to the north of us and now we were starting to see & hear some excitement to the south and all around us. Darren checked the weather radar on his cell phone and we discovered there were 2 big lines of storms that were basically straddling our location, 1 to the north and 1 to the south. Once again, we didn't feel like we were in too much danger and decided to keep fishing. And I'm glad we did!

About midnight, I heard the telltale sound of a rod getting thumped really hard in the rod holder. I looked over at the rod and Darren said I got wacked hard! The rod tip started to slowly load up and then my clicker went off a couple times. Wondering if the fish was still there, I picked the rod up and disengaged the clicker and started to feel for the fish. While thumbing the spool, the fish pulled a little line and started to swim off and then she put on the afterburners. Man alive did that fish take off! I engaged the spool and set the hook into what I thought was a decent fish. I don't have any previous experience with large flatheads so I was guessing a mid 20s fish with the way I got it up to the boat. Once boatside, however, this fish dove to the bottom like a big lake sturgeon and would not budge! Darren is looking over at me telling me I've got a big one on! I'm not sure how I was able to keep my cool but once the fish got below the boat, I backed off the drag on my Garcia 7000C3 not wanting to lose the fish with a sudden run. The fish came up from the bottom once and I saw the surface swirl & splash but didn't see the fish. I still wasn't convinced this was a monster and then it went back to the bottom for another tug of war. The longer that fish stayed on the bottom, the more my knees started to shake! Then it finally came up and surfaced and Darren was there with the net and we got it! I've gotta give Darren props for that net job, I didn't think it was going to fit!

So here it is! My biggest Flathead Catfish ever!

48 Pounds!! 44" Length x 29" Girth

And the Release!!

I can't tell you how cool it is to do battle with a fish like this and then watch it swim away!

It seriously took about 10 minutes to get my act together after landing that fish. I experienced a full range of emotions and I think the biggest emotion was disbelief.

Did that finally happen to me?

Did I finally catch that big flathead I've been fishing for 1-1/2 years now?

For those of you who follow the catfish forum, I contribute pretty regularly and you'll know that I have put time in, both last summer and this summer too. Since early May, I've been hitting shore spots on the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities about 2-3 times a week staying out until 1am-2am most of the time. So far, small flatheads under 15lbs have been the norm. Last Sunday I ventured down to the Minnesota River with "rushing" and missed 5 runs. The disappointment one experiences with these "failed" outings can really get into your head and you start to wonder what you are doing wrong. Then all of a sudden, a few of the pieces fall into place and you are left holding a big fish like this with a big grin on your face! I love it!

I keep telling everyone that I'm absolutely hooked on these Catfish and I really like the tactics behind fishing Flathead Catfish at night. Its an adventure no doubt! Now that I've got my big one, I need to get another one! Its probably going to take a couple years as upper 40lb flatheads are not a dime a dozen.

I've really got to thank all the guys who have given out great fishing info over the years. Guys like Dennis "fishhead" Steele, Fisher "That Guy" Dave, Brian "I Da Man" Klawitter are awesome flathead catfisherman and I've learned a ton from you. You guys have definitely helped acclerate my learning curve and I'm really greatful for that!

Now, its off to get more bait! There's a 50 Pounder with my name on it tonight! Darren & I are heading back to the same spot!

[DTro]

Now who's the one with the permanent grin????

[PierBridge]

Unreal Chris.......

50 freaking pounds of pure beauty......way to go Dude!

Good luck to tonight I'll try and hook a tug boat for ya...

[The_Duckslayer]

WOW... that is one NICE catfish! Maybe next year you can catch it again and get that 55 pounder you have been after! Looks like it was one of those nights that will keep you comming back for more! Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

[Dan Thiem]

Whoa! Way cool! I'm glad you finally produced fruit for all the labor. Congrats Hanson!

[Ihateriversnags]

Now Hanson,

Just because you got the monster (and i'm insanely jealous by the way) doesn't mean that you have to forget about us lowly channel cat guys up here does it??

We still love ya

[kslipsinker]

Nice fish Chris!

My fish buddy an I boated a 44", 45 pound flathead late last summer on the St. Croix. Believe it or not, it was caught on a crank bait at 6:30 in the morning while lead core trolling for walleye in 30 feet of water.

[hawkeye43]

That smile on your face, chris. PRICELESS

People that don't know you may think you have a new grilfriend or something.

[senkoskipper]

WOW!!! that is one big catfish nice job. what kind of line were you using by the way? Would my bass set up 6'6 MH rod with a shimano curado be able to handle a 40# catfish?

[PERCHJR]

Now that's a big bullhead!!! Serious nice CAT!!!

GOOD LUCK AND GOOD FISHING!!!

[Jim Hudson]

Heck of a fish Chris.. Great job man!!!

[wolfman-k]

WOW! Looks like another Catman has the fever! Great fish Chris, that has to be a knee-knocker to feel that fight on the end of your rod. Congratulations, Catman-Do!

[DTro]

Quote:

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WOW!!! that is one big catfish nice job. what kind of line were you using by the way? Would my bass set up 6'6 MH rod with a shimano curado be able to handle a 40# catfish?

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This all depends on the time of the year, and the area your are fishing. Bur if you were specifically targeting flats, then I would say NO.

Having said that, the very first time I tried for cats I hooked into a 40+ pound fish. I had a Med 6'6" with a small baitcaster on it and 10lb mono. It was pretty early in the year (Memorial weekend). Don't get me wrong, the fish fought, but not as much as a warmer water fish. Yet, I still ended up breaking the pole in half. I did get the fish though

[Rick]

Way to go Chris,

catfish fever is very easy to catch.

[walleyeaddict]

nice

[EBass]

WOW - Mr. Special wasn't lying My biggest was 38" and I never fought a shark, but I think that's what they would fight like. Like a big ol Flatty! Congrats man!

[marine_man]

Congrats Chris! That's a huge fish! As always, great story and great pictures!

marine_man

[iffwalleyes]

Hey Chris can I borrow that horse shoe you have been caring around in your pocket this year for a week in July when I go to Lac Seul . Wow that is a heck fish and and awesome story. Your story as usual put me right there in the boat.

[percherman]

Great fish and the way that unfolded in your forum you got my knee's a-shakin. I think its a full moon tonight, I might be able to fight the skeeters long enough to tie into one.

Thanks for sharing with us and putting us right in the boat with ya. Well Done!!

[Ray Esboldt]

Holy shnitt, that's a big fish.