Had several catfish on a stringer under my Tube years ago 1 came up and stuck my tube with his top fin. Took me a minute or two to figure out where the bubbles were comming from, I knew I wasn’t passing gas. Once I figured out what had happened you should have see me kick to shore, didn’t want to go down with chest waders on, I was wearing a life vest. The wife thought it was pretty funny.
I have been afraid of that myself, although that scenario would be unlikely with the basket. But when landing fish that’s another storie.
With someones advice, I started clipping the fins of the cats I was going to keep. 
I know TD does it, and my grandfather use to do it when he would take me catfishing when I was a kid. This experience took place while I was stationed in Illinois back in the mid 80’s. It’s something I’ll never forget. It sure makes one end pucker.
LH2- sounds like maybe it could be the fouled plugs. It does that to me so I have to have a can of sea foam tcarbureture spray and a couple of spare plugs. You take the plugs out and check it out… well better yet, first of all, take the old plugs out, spray inside the plug hole and then put new plug in and then run the hose water for your lower gear, then start the motor, if it starts, spray into the carbereture to clean out the old gas and oil build-up… this works for me. If it does’t work, then its off to a mechanic. It doesn’t hurt to try this first.
Paul