Channel Catfish Photo Gallery

[mrklean]

you catch that in a lake?

[harvey lee]

That,s a real sumo pig kitty Ed.

[APCfishing]

[tjbassmaster]

you catch that in a lake?

Yes, the fish was caught in a lake.

Nice kitty apc.

[Ed Carlson]

Got this one Sunday..

Love that picture, very nice river fishing pic.....that is what makes river rats for life...places, moments, and fishing like that..right there.

[Gordie]

Those are some great channels guys and I really like the color of the one ed posted and ACP I actully think that cat has a bigger head than you that thing is a sumo of a cat

[TonyKay]

I forgot how much fun these guys are

[Fordo]

Well I got a pretty good story for you guys. Ive never gone catfishing before and decided to try it out. Ive caught 50"+ muskies, 6lb+ smallmouth and 30"+ walleyes and I didnt know what I was getting myself into when I decided to try catfishing. I live in Central MN near the cities and had no clue how to catfish. I went online and looked up information on how to fish for them and my buddy and I took the canoe out on the Mississippi River. I decided to use my light walleye rod with 8lb test thinking these fish can't fight much harder then a walleye and not expecting anything over 10lbs if we get lucky to hook into a few. We get out there and float out towards the middle and drop anchor. After about 10 minutes, I feel a quick pull on the tip of the rod and I set hook. All of sudden my drag is running out lighting speed and I scream to my buddy to pull anchor because this fish is pulling out all 120 yards of line on my flueger supreme spinning reel. After chasing this fish over a half a mile down river and shaking like crazy for 25 minutes, I finally get the fish up to the canoe when the gears on my reel break and now im trying to pull this fish in with my hands basically doing what you would on a tip-up ice fishing, trying not to let the line wrap around my feet in the process. Finally after about 35 minutes my buddy hand grabs the beast and im completly exhausted. All i gotta say is MAN CATFISH HAVE POWER! lol

The fish measured 42" and weighed just under 35lbs. Just a few pounds shy of the state record. Got a few pictures and back in the water she went, back down to the deeps.

[howellcanufish]

HOLY SMOKES, CONGRATS AND AWESOME STORY!

[Bleedin4Flats]

that is one nice fish!

[SteveD]

All I can say is "WOW". That is one sweet looking channel cat. I've been chasing cats a long time and just dreaming about a catch like that. Congrats.

[aanderud]

Wow, what a story. NICE channel cat!

[TonyKay]

WOW!

[DARK30]

Thats Special

[Ed Carlson]

That's a big kitty, and a good story to long remember. Nice fish, happy to see you let her go too.

[DTro]

Holy Sumo Batman!!!

[Larry FlatCaster]

Nice Fish!

[mrklean]

nice job on the fish that its a hog right there

[Gordie]

thats a true hog of a channel and a great story to boot.

[MN BassFisher]

That's a Giant channel!

[Shack]

Great channel and pics. I in the gill hold/vertical hold picture it does show how big this fish really was. Thanks & very cool for sharing.

That channel in size seems to rival the majority of the flats being caught right now.

[Whisker Warrior]

Awesome Fish!

[HotPocket]

Nice fish!

[Scott M]

Wow get a freakin replica for sure! No sense getting into cats now, you'll never top that one.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Holy smokes that is a huuuuge Channel Cat.