Why didn't someone tell me about this catfishing thing...

[JoeTC]

I finaly bought some catfishing gear and now I'm regreting not doing it years ago...what a fight. Here's some pics from the last couple days. We've landed around 40 fish in the last week including 14 fish from 9-14 pounds. All caught in the Red River and all released.

12lbs

7lbs

36"

My personal best 14lbs

[Ralph Wiggum]

Very nice! Congrats.

[Farmboy1]

The head in the third picture looks humongous. Nice Catch.

[slipperybob]

Try carp fishing,

monster pikes,

elusive muskies,

prehistoric sturgeons,

crocodilelike gar's,

anaconda eelpout's,

unleashed dogfishies,

[Shack]

I might be wrong, but the first and fourth cat's kind look like blues. Look at anal fin. I could be wrong.

[Barbelboy]

Awesome! Those are some pigs! I just started last year. I too couldn't believe I had spent so many years driving by some of the funnest, relaxing and most productive fishing that existed. Welcome aboard.

[slipperybob]

There are blues in the red river

[hanson]

Not to [PoorWordUsage] on the Blue bandwagon but those fish are all Channel Cats.

There are some noticeable differences between the 2 species, including the round vs straight anal fin, but the only surefire way is to count the number of rays on the anal fin.

Having grown up near the Red, and having fished it many times, I can feel 100% confident in saying there are no blue cats in the Red.

Anywhoooo... Welcome to the world of cattin' JoeTC! You probably already know that the Red River is the most famous Channel Cat fishery in the world, its awesome! 14lbs is a great channel cat but they grow to 20lbs and more up there. When you catch a 36" 20 pounder, you'll know why I really like to catfish. I have heard of cats pushing the 27-29lb mark coming from the Grand Forks area so there are some monsters on the US side.

[JoeTC]

As a muskie fisherman I've battled some big fish, but pound for pound I think the cats pull harder, especially when they get out in the current. I can only imagine if the 36" fish I caught would have been as thick as the 14lb one I caught. The friend I fish with has caught a couple into the mid 20's in the greater Fargo area's that we fish so I'm sure with some time I'll get a true pig...I just hope it doesn't pull me in the river.

[DTro]

#3 looks like it's about to die

I really need to get up there this year

[katchaser]

I am glad you like catfishing. Lots of people evolve from baitfish to catfish as their skills improve

If you ever miss the weight of Muskie there are always blue cats and flathead

Catchbiggun,

Robby