(09-08-2025, 03:31 AM)Mr. J Wrote: Yesterday I spent quite a bit of time writing up a report and lost it. Today I'll try a short one.

Vi and I got a late start to a magnificent day on U L, glass smooth water, a few wispy clouds and no boats, well maybe 2.

Catching started slow, then Vi caught a fresh WB that we immediately cut for bait. Ten minutes later everything changed. The new 9.5' cat rod took a good bend. I told Vi it feels like a good one. A minute later she let out a squeal, "did you see the size of that tail"? About 20 minutes later I got the fish to the boat. Vi was afraid it was not going to fit  into the net but she did a good job, she just couldn't lift it out of the water. We traded handles and I lifted the hog into the boat. That's just the first part!



 I knew right off that I wasn't going to move this fish around like other catfish we caught so I stuck my hand in it's mouth and hung on. After a brief wrestling match, I got it on the bump board then to the scale.

36.5"  23.9 #

Ten minutes later a 32" then a few others. 

 I sure like the new rod. 

      
rj

(09-08-2025, 12:20 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote:

(09-08-2025, 03:31 AM)Mr. J Wrote: Yesterday I spent quite a bit of time writing up a report and lost it. Today I'll try a short one.

Vi and I got a late start to a magnificent day on U L, glass smooth water, a few wispy clouds and no boats, well maybe 2.

Catching started slow, then Vi caught a fresh WB that we immediately cut for bait. Ten minutes later everything changed. The new 9.5' cat rod took a good bend. I told Vi it feels like a good one. A minute later she let out a squeal, "did you see the size of that tail"? About 20 minutes later I got the fish to the boat. Vi was afraid it was not going to fit  into the net but she did a good job, she just couldn't lift it out of the water. We traded handles and I lifted the hog into the boat. That's just the first part!



 I knew right off that I wasn't going to move this fish around like other catfish we caught so I stuck my hand in it's mouth and hung on. After a brief wrestling match, I got it on the bump board then to the scale.

36.5"  23.9 #

Ten minutes later a 32" then a few others. 

 I sure like the new rod. 

      
rj

Wow, what a hog, congrats Richard, makes me wonder of more cats that size will follow after you are broke the 36" barrier.

(09-08-2025, 01:41 PM)Piscophilic Wrote: Way to go Richard! That is a tremendous fish. I'm glad the day turned out so well and you like your new rod! Jon brought a similar rod along with us on Saturday. He really liked it as well and he got one #15/33". The only issue I saw is getting the fish close enough to net with all that extra length. 

Congratulations again!

(09-08-2025, 02:17 PM)Boatloadakids Wrote: Richard, I am offended! That is my fish... been looking for him for 50 years now. Guess it just took someone with the right skill level to haul him in. Wish I could have been there to witness you two hoisting that hog into the boat. Hope you have some good pics to share. Pretty sure that is the best cat ever entered in the contest. Great job!

Hope to see you on the water.
Lynn

(09-08-2025, 04:00 PM)TubeDude Wrote: Congrats guys.  Those measurements and weight are almost exactly the same for the biggest cat I ever caught out of Utah Lake.  But that was in the 1980s.  We got a few yard longs back then.   Hope to see a few more this fall.