Hey Jeff, it was 14# and change. A 33" cat I caught last year in cutler was 16# and a few ounces. I caught a 22 pound channel cat on the Sabine River in Texas and it was 36" so I would guess a 30# would be in the 38-39" range.
I also caught a 32# blue cat also in Texas and it was 39". It seemed a lot like a channel cat in size and shape, but it was definitely a blue so that would also lead me to believe that a 30# channel would be around the same size.
With every inch of length after 30" I’ve noticed it results in pounds, not ounces, added to their weight. They girth out more than they stretch after a certain point.
I’m sure there are state record breaking cats in Utah lake, but I feel equally sure that the bear river/cutler has cats that big too. If I had the time to pursue them without regard to my time paying off with some action, I think I know a few spots that I could sit on for days on end with 1# bait on and I’d eventually hook up with one of the beasts. The biggest fish of all species definitely have their special haunts and nooks that they hide in and it’s just a matter of putting the time in to find them. This is, unfortunately, a luxury that I am not blessed with yet.
Next year maybe I’ll devote a weekend of all nighters to fishing with some obscene sized cut baits (half of a carp) in the deep slow main channel holes that I have got large ones out of in the past and see if anything good happens. Who knows, I may still get a chance before the months end to try it if I’m lucky!
Thanks Mike, that takes a big fish to hit 30 lbs, thanks for the reference. Guess I’m still too impatient to let a rod sit with huge bait balls, however the two pole helps make that possible. I like to do a cut bait and worm pole because somedays they won’t like one or the other. Anyway hope you get another chance to up the mark. When do you start your Bear Lake trips? Seems like its starting to get that time of year, may have to clean the mud off my poles and try the Clearwater before long. Later J
They’re still a bit deep here in bear lake, but that is set to change quick. The lakers will be starting to gather up into groups any day now if they haven’t already. Troll or jig through those spots and it’s busy fun! Come October they will be shallow spawning and it will be fly fishing time! Closest thing you can get to catching a big salmon in Utah.
Hey Mike that sounds like a lot of fun. What does it take to get them to take a fly? Pontoon and flyrod sounds really fun to me. Do your friends there at Pugstone’s guide that type trip? It would be fun to catch a big hog on my flyrod out of there. Thanks for the tips. J
You can do it from a pontoon. It’s a sight fishing thing. I just fish from shore. You get a BIG Woolley bugger and cast in front of cruising pods. Let it slowly sink and watch for the quick hit. Gotta be quick on the trigger.
I’m sure a float tube would be pulled around pretty good. Could be a hoot!
Yup that sounds like a lot of fun if you could catch a relatively calm day. Do you use a sinking line and how spooky are the fish. Sure sounds like a good time. Thank you for the info hope I can sneak over one day and give it a try. Jeff