Whether due to its fairly small size of 4,520 acres or the fame of its bass and striper fisheries, Boone Lake does not get a lot of acclaim as a catfishing destination. They had netted Shad earlier in the morning and were set with plenty of bait. When asked what it was like to release what was possibly a new state record catfish, Troy responded, It was a hard decision to make. Through the Tennessee Angler Recognition Program any channel, blue or flathead catfish of that size qualifies for recognition. Tom Keer is a Contributing Writer at Field & Stream. Every waterway sees more catfish anglers. Biologists say in many cases, fish that are caught and released, seemingly healthy, still die later as a result of stress. Anglers should be aware of a precautionary advisory against the consumption of catfish from Boone Lake because of PCB contamination. Supposedly, the record is a 123 lb. . The fish spend summer days in the biggest holes in the rivers and move shallower to feed after the sun goes down. Simms likes the diversity offered by Chattanooga cats. The same big river bends also yield giant flatheads, primarily to anglers who go out after the sun goes down and set up close to timber tangles with live bait. Challenges acknowledged, we've chosen half dozen spots in the eastern half of the state that offer outstanding prospects for summer catfish. The state record was an 85-pound, 15-ounce flathead caught in 1993 by Larry Kaylor on the Hiwassee River. Other's drift, fishing vertically with heavy three-way rigs and working the entire hole with the weight bumping bottom, but not quite dragging. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) employees love a good fish story and were delighted to learn about a possible state record. Inhabiting deep pools, lakes, and large, slow-moving rivers, the flathead catfish is popular among anglers; its flesh is widely regarded as the tastiest of the catfishes. McCary, Snake River, 6/28/1981, White: 19.85, Donald Huffman, Walla Walla River, 4/17/2002, Blue: 59.74, Mark Blauvelt, Ohio River, 2016, Channel: 33.42, Michael Sears, Patterson Creek, 2005, Flathead: 70-0, L.L. Its funny. One of the most popular catfishing spots in Tennessee is Reelfoot Lake. All rights reserved. Read Next: Texas Boy Catches Biggest Catfish By a Junior Angler. Blue catfish are highly productive and create high numbers of offspring each reproductive cycle. The Tennessee Angler Recognition Program (TARP) gives anglers an opportunity to have their trophy-size fish recognized by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Subscriber Services. Chunks of cut shad or herring draw fewer strikes, but increase the odds of a heavyweight blue or two adding to the fun. Mule Deer Foundation Chapters in Arizona Host Chinese Conservation Officials, Coho Salmon & Steelhead Eggs Hatching (Video), Copyright 2023 | MH Magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes, 5 Compelling Reasons To Give Fly Fishing A Shot, 5 Tips For Having A Successful Evening Fishing Trip, on Possible 100 Pound Tennessee Flathead Catfish Reeled In, The three didnt head for a favorite spot, but rather just fished throughout, noting and stopping a. It just really hasnt set in for me yet.. According to News Channel 9, Burkhart and his wife were fishing the Cumberland River using a skipjack as bait when he hooked into . The huge fish weighed in at 118.7 pounds on certified scales, with multiple witnesses including Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) Officer Dalton Gooch. Simple tackle such a spinning gear, 12-pound-test and a sliding-sinker rig that's heavy enough to hold bottom is all an angler really needs. Jolley, with TWRA, reminds anglers, Its your decision to report what you believe to be a new record. "The whole Tennessee River is well known for producing big catfish," says Mike Jolley, a Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency fisheries biologist. Buying your first fishing rod is a big deal. Fun run:The third annual Old Hickory Fun Run is Friday-Saturday on Old Hickory Lake. Flathead catfish are bottom-dwelling beasts that swim throughout rivers and lakes. At that point I dont believe the fish even realized it was hooked. Jacob Land, 19, landed . (k) Kentucky Reservoir . Flathead catfish are native to the Midwest, South, and West as far as Texas. The best flathead strategy is to pick a high-percentage spot, present a good live fish bait of some sort and wait patiently. Weight: 143 pounds Length: 57 Inches Girth: 47 Inches Nick Anderson, a high school football coach from Greenville North Carolina was on a father and son fishing trip (yes it was Father . The flathead catfish weighed in at 66 pounds and 6.4 ounces . Parksville Reservoir Harry E. Parker August 18, 1991 . The Flathead Catfish reeled in was guessed at near 100 pounds by the anglers. AgDaily, OutdoorHub All Rights Reserved Carbon Media Group Outdoors. It was at Elk City in May 1998, when angler Ken Paulie of Caney landed a flathead measuring more than 5 feet long and weighing an amazing 123 pounds. Deep water and changes in the bottom contour are both important at that time. At first it just kind of came in easily, swimming towards me a little bit. It was a hard decision to make, he said. The fish was too large to fit in the net, but it came in headfirst so the three anglers teamed to hoist it out of the water. Both channel and flathead catfish are reported from those fishing for catfish at Center Hill. A huge flathead catfish caught recently on Watts Bar Lake, which state wildlife officials estimate weighed around 100 pounds, may have set a state record. This lake has tons of open areas, as well as an abundance of smaller channels too. With that in mind, the TWRA has stocked more than 50,000 blue catfish in the lake since 1992. No one will truly ever know if this was a new state record. If each angler aboard maintains a tight line with the weight bouncing on the bottom, but not dragging the baits stay barely off the bottom, where cats can find them. The fish was enormous. You'll see how they catch bait, how to use Lowrance fishfinder and tips on catching flatheads. 7 Things to Ponder Before Buying a Fishing Kayak, Western Whiskerfish: Trophy Flatheads, Channels, Even Blues, Tackle Test 2022: Top Bass Rods & Reels Reviewed, Sweet Streams: 5 Hot Rivers for Midwest Smallies, Bass Crash Course: Topwater Pointers for Buzzbaits, Walking Baits, Best New Baitcasting Rods & Reels for 2022, Grouper Success Starts With the Right Gear, Target Lighted Docks for a Snook-Filled Midsummer Night, As Seasons Change, Cutting It Just Right Creates More Time for Fishing, Bass Crash Course: Side-Imaging Fishing Sonar, Turkey-Hunting Brothers Part 2: Minnesota Spring Gobblers with Friends, Bass Crash Course: Down Imaging and 2D Sonar, Turkey-Hunting Brothers Part 1: Texas Comes to Minnesota. I wanted to do everything in our power to release it.. Orange - Flathead Native RangeRed - Flathead Non-Native RangePC: USGS, StateWeightAnglerLakeYearAlabama80 lbsRick ConnerAlabama River1986AlaskaN/AN/AN/AN/AArizona76 lb 9 ozEddie WilcoxsonBartlett Lake2013Arkansas80 lbsWesley WhiteArkansas River1989California72 lbs 14 ozBilly Joe PotterColorado River2003Colorado30 lbs 10 ozMichael FlockLake Pueblo2017ConnecticutN/AN/AN/AN/ADelawareN/AN/AN/AN/AFlorida69 lbs 14ozLavon NowlingYellow River2020Georgia83 lbsCarl SawyerAltamaha River2006HawaiiN/AN/AN/AN/AIdaho58 lb 8 ozJ. The completed application must be forwarded to the TWRA Fisheries Division within 30 days of the catch in order to be considered for a state record certification. So what better way to illustrate this than by showing all the catfishing records by the state as something to shoot for? But he said it was extra special since his wife was along. CLASS A - Sportfishing Methods. Opportunistic feeders, flathead catfish will munch on anything from oysters to live bluegills. They stopped the pontoon on a drop-off point that showed fish along the wall. World record: 123 lbs 9 oz. Channel (tie): 41-8, John Cunning, Merritt Reservoir, 7/26/1985; Heather Cunning, Merritt Reservoir, 8/11/1986. Anglers target this species in a variety of waterways, including small rivers (barely large enough for a canoe), large rivers (such as the Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Colorado Rivers), and reservoirs. Mike Wherley, 46, of Fayetteville reeled in a 66-pound, 4-ounce flathead on May 14 while fishing in the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County. Largemouth Bass: 14.8: Sugar Creek: 1954: Smallmouth Bass: 11.15: Dale Hollow Reservoir Autrys father, Joshua Hogan, told Clarkesville Now that when he was reeling it in I could tell it was big, but not that big. By big he means 83 pounds biga fish nearly the size of the young man. [6][7] The fins are otherwise brown, though the body's mottling may extend into the fins. Dale Hollow Reservoir D. L. Hayes July 9, 1955 Largemouth 15 lbs., 3 oz. Flathead Catfish. McClungLittle Kanawha River1956Wisconsin74 lbs 5 ozN/AMississippi River2001Wyoming22 lbs 7 ozDallas StantonNorth Platte River2004, The Record Flathead Catfish For Every State In America. French Broad cats concentrate wherever there is a combination of current and relatively deep water during the summer, with the deepest holes generally holding the most fish. Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 and on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter. As far as I know everything is looking good.. But I think its going to be several years before we see it. Description: Silvery blue, humped back, eyes small. Reelfoot Lake chasing catfish on Reelfoot Lake One of the most popular catfishing spots in Tennessee is Reelfoot Lake. On Sept. 18, Hollenbach and his team, Krazy 4 Katz, caught a 57-pound, 3.8-ounces flathead at the . In addition to the blues, which have potential to reach giant sizes, Boone supports a great population of channel catfish and some heavyweight flatheads. Watts Bar no doubt has the right ingredients to produce trophy flathead catfish.". However, the biggest boon to big-cat production comes as a side-benefit to a bad history of pollution. . Not so big flatheads. Thats when they knew Burkhart had caught a likely new state record. Children, pregnant women and nursing mothers should not consume any Boone Lake catfish, and other persons should limit consumption to one meal per month. [6] Its maximum recorded lifespan is 28 years. The river is known to produce some of the biggest North American Blue Cats, typically weighing up to 50 pounds. A huge flathead catfish caught recently on Watts Bar Lake, which state wildlife officials estimate weighed around 100 pounds, may have set a state record. Flathead Catfish. Although Dale Hollow's fame remains as a smallmouth destination, the same waters also support a solid and largely underutilized population of channel and flathead catfish. **Photos Caption: Troy Powers with his Flathead catch. Burkhart fishes with an iPilot trolling motor and had hit spotlock, stopping his boat from drifting in the current when the fish first hit. The following criteria must be followed when applying for a state record certificate: State record fish application is available at www.tnwildlife.org under "Fishing". [2], The flathead catfish is also known as the yellow cat, mud cat, Johnnie cat, goujon, appaluchion, opelousas,[3][4] pied cat and Mississippi cat. Young flathead catfish are also cannibalistic, which has largely precluded their presence in aquaculture. The fish, however, was released by. Texas Boy Catches Biggest Catfish By a Junior Angler. Flatheads like cover, by day or by night, so they typically hang around boulders or among the branches of trees, especially near the heads of bluff holes. The fish, which was released alive, weighed 118.7 pounds on certified scales, topping the 24-year-old previous record of 112 pounds. Quite a bit of land along the upper river is public and within the Cherokee National Forest, but the banks are often either rock bluffs or steep, densely forested slopes. Commercial catfishing is prohibited at Fort Loudoun, and an advisory exists against eating any catfish over two pounds in the lake. Historically, the river has produced blue cats up to 130 pounds, and some of the best catfish action in the Volunteer State occurs in Lake Chickamauga and Watts Bar Lake. **IGFA recognizes the world white catfish record (19 pounds, 5 . Burkhart, 43, served as a mechanic in the Army and National Guard with deployments in Bosnia, Kuwait, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq and other hotspots around the globe until he was declared disabled. . . Flathead: 80-0, William Swanson, Loup Power Canal, 4/16/1988, Channel: 32-7, Scott Barrett, South Fork Reservoir, 6/27/2011, White (tie): 17-4, Corey Ryan, Lahontan Reservoir, 6/26/2008; Jose Mendoza, Humboldt River, 9/17/2005, Channel: 12-4.8, Dave Kellam, Connecticut River, 9/20/2014, White: 5-11, Zachary Cross, Big Cub Pond, 8/4/1996, Channel: 33-3, Howard Hudson, Lake Hopatcong, 1978, White: 14-4, Timothy Jasko, Dallenbach Pond, 2004, White: 10-5, Joe Silicato, New Croton Reservoir, 5/17/1998, Blue: 117-8, Landon Evans, Lake Gaston, 6/11/2016, Channel: 23-4, E.J. Center Hill Reservoir is not known as a top destination for catfish angling when compared to other reservoirs in Region 3, especially regarding Tennessee River impoundments. For the sake of comparison, the all-tackle world record for flathead catfish stands at 123 pounds That catch occurred at Elk City Reservoir in Kansas in 1998. Heavyweight cats call for seriously stout gear and big baits. Plenty of area anglers know about the lake's cats, and they aren't completely ignored. The Tennessee river runs rich with biodiversity and adventure . Burkhart caught one once that weighed 76 pounds. To be considered for a state record certificate, the fish must be weighed on certified scales, or scales legal for trade. A Monster trophy catfish fishery for Flathead and Blue catfish (State Record location for Blue Catfish) and high catch rates of panfish and multiple species. The current Tennessee state record flathead catfish weighed 85 pounds, 15 ounces. There they weighed the fish on Ladds uncertified scales. Join Thomas Allen and son Tommy on an Iowa turkey hunt that resulted in big toms for both hunters. Burkhart said he was fishing the Cumberland River near Cross Creek. During the past decade, however, records for all major catfish species have been broken. In the end, a crowd of friends, family and spectators showed up at the boat ramp when word spread of Burkharts probable new state record. A state fishing record was just broken in Pennsylvania.Well, it wasn't exactly broken. Generally large live baits are preferred such as river herring, shad, sunfish (such as bluegill), suckers, carp, goldfish, drum, and bullheads ranging from 512in (1330cm) in length. Stacker compiled a list of fishing records in Tennessee from Land Big Fish. Thomas Allen shares video from an April hunt in Minnesota that started and ended earlier than expected. Troy Powers from Kingston, TN, caught a mammoth Flathead Catfish. The Tennessee state record blue catfish weighed 112 pounds , according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. By Staff Report. Great catfishing opportunities can be found in all parts of Watts Bar, which impounds more than 70 miles of the Tennessee River and becomes broader with an increasingly complex shoreline toward its lower end. Apply for a North Carolina State Freshwater Fishing Record. "It's great to see a species of fish achieve a size that exceeds expectations, Jolley said. Farther downstream, near the headwaters of Douglas Lake, johnboats can be used. All the action was shot with a cell-phone camera. Oklahoma is best known for big flatheads, like this one caught by Haydn and Owen Williams of Grove. Blue: 112-0, Robert Lewis, Lock C, Cumberland River, 6/7/1998 . Alessandro Biancardi caught the enormous catfish in Italy's Give Dad something he can actually use on Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. Lake Texoma produced a 98-pound record blue, Taft Lake a 35-pound, 15-ounce channel cat, and El Reno City Reservoir a 78.5-pound flathead. Dec 5, 2019 2:50 AM EST Troy Powers displays flathead catfish that may have shattered Tennessee record. If an angler specifically wants to target jumbo cats, Simms can accommodate that just as easily, often by going above the dam and working main-river structural features. Circle hooks make fish hooking and unhooking easier. Lake Texoma produced a 98-pound record blue, Taft Lake a 35-pound, 15-ounce channel cat, and El Reno City Reservoir a 78.5-pound flathead. You can also catch Flathead and Channel Catfish throughout most portions of the river as well. BLACK BASS . The following criteria must be followed when applying for a state record certificate: State record fish application is available at. The three didnt head for a favorite spot, but rather just fished throughout, noting and stopping at promising areas found on the fish finder. Most Loudoun trophy hunters use large-capacity baitcasting reels spooled with 80- to 100-pound-test braid and match them with stout specialized catfish rods like Team Catfish 1 Ton Casting Rods. The state flathead record stands at 85 pounds, which means Autry is one of the biggest catfish ever caught in the state and was just a few pounds shy from setting a record. It also feeds on other small catfish and almost anything that moves and makes vibration. Learn how and when to remove this template message, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T202701A18234613.en, Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlifes Animal Information Series, United States National Agricultural Library, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Flathead_catfish&oldid=1157857711, Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque, Articles needing additional references from July 2009, All articles needing additional references, Articles with incomplete citations from August 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. At night they stray shallower to feed. TWRA employees hope so. Photo: TWRA Typically, when an angler reels in a fish almost certain to break a. At one point it went by the boat where I could see him again and knew he was nearly five feet long. His instinct was great. (Photo courtesy of FWC) Florida Catfish Records. The fish, however, was released by Troy Powers, the young man who caught it after taking photos, so there is no way to confirm whether it was a record. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Pete Thomas. . The big cats feed best when Loudoun Dam runs water and good current feeds the heads of the holes. Catching Giant Flathead Catfish on the Tenn River. The video posted was only about two minutes long but we actually stayed in the water with that fish for nearly 30 minutes, said Burkhart. Tennessee: 85 lbs 15 oz: Hiwassee River: 1993: Larry Kaylor: Georgia: 83 lbs 0 oz: Altamaha River: 2010: Jim Dieveney: Iowa: 81 lbs 0 oz: Lake Ellis: 1958: Joe . The Tennessee Aquarium puts jumbo cats in full view of every visitor, but those fish are only a microcosm of the cats that are found close by in the Tennessee River. Tennessee Wildlife Officer Dalton Gooch pictured with Micka Burkhart (right) with the likely new Tennessee State Record Blue Catfish. In fact, Elk City Reservoir is the only water in the state keeping the Kaw from holding all of the state's big-catfish records. But what if your first fish on your first rod winds up being one of the biggest catfish in Tennessee history? It felt good just to see it swim off and have a chance to grow and get bigger.. The closest living relative of the flathead catfish is the much smaller widemouth blindcat, Satan eurystomus. A look at the pros and cons, similarities and differences of two types of down-facing sonar with Crash Course host Shane Beliue. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. As it turned out, Amy was correct. The males, which also build the nests, fiercely and tirelessly defend and fan the clutch. The Tennessee River also holds big . Rules demand that any state record fish must be weighed on certified scales that have been officially tested for accuracy. 5/14/98 Elk City Rsvr., KS . Ties are accepted, but a new state record will be recognized only if the weight of the fish is one (1) ounce (oz) or more than the weight of the previous state record for that species or recognized hybrid (see #7). Fort Loudoun has all the ingredients needed to grow big numbers of catfish. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Bowden, City Lake in Rocky Mount, 9/1/1970, Flathead: 78-0, Brian Newberger, Cape Fear River, 9/17/2005, White: 13-0, Jerry Wayne Bentley, Lake James, 5/21/1990, Channel: 42-1, Tina Willis, Moon Lake, 7/25/2009, Blue: 96-0, Chris Rolph, Ohio River, 6/11/2009, Channel: 37.65, Gus Gronowski, LaDue Reservoir, 8/15/1992, Flathead: 76.5, Richard Affolter, Clendening Lake, 7/28/1979, Blue: 98-0, Billy Nabors, Texoma, 11/11/2004, Channel: 35-15, Gary Doak Jr., Taft Lake, 9/11/2005, Flathead: 78-8, Richard Williams, El Reno City Reservoir, 5/11/2010, Channel: 36-8, Boone Haddock, McKay Reservoir, 1980, Flathead: 42-0, Joshua Kralicek, Snake River, 1994, White: 15-0, Wayne Welch, Tualatin River, 1989, Channel: 35-2.5, Austin Roth III, Lehigh Canal, 1991, Flathead: 48-6, James Shabrach, Blue Marsh Spillway, 2006, White: 16-12, L. Angell, Tiogue Lake, 8/1994, *Channel: 58-0, W.H. The public is invited to check out a collection of powerboats and automobiles from Music City Motor Cars.. On Saturdayall the participating power boats, estimated at 100, will set out on the run at 11 a.m. from Sams Cove at Blue Turtle Bay Marina. But we did all we could and the fish stayed strong. After looking over the weights, I've never wanted to catfish more. Not long after he cast, came the hit. The Tennessee River is blessed with an abundance of trophy catfish, but Captain Jason Bridges singles out Wheeler Reservoir as his top pick for big flatheads. Smallies, while decent, but couldn't compare to the flathead. It was a hard decision to make, he said. (From Chattanooga, Tenn., Capt. Wels Catfish. [10], The native range of the flathead catfish includes a broad area west of the Appalachian Mountains encompassing large rivers of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio basins. They quickly snapped photos of Troy with his catch and enjoyed the moment. it reportedly will be the new Pennsylvania record for the species. Burkhart said, Yes, in the long run pressure can have an impact. All Rights Reserved. Burkhart said catching a probable state record catfish was special, of course. Terms of use and Privacy Policy : Blue: 120-4, John Paul Nichols, Holt Reservoir, 3/9/2012, Channel: 40-0, Donald R. Cox, Inland Lake, 6/17/1967, Flathead: 80-0, Rick Conner, Alabama River, 6/22/1986, White: 10-5, Roy Britton, Chambers Co. Public Lake, 4/3/1981, Flathead: 76-8.64, Eddie Wilcoxson, Bartlett Lake, 4/13/2013, Blue: 116-12, Charles Ashley Jr., Mississippi River, 8/3/2001, Channel: 38-0, Joe Holleman, Lake Ouachita, 6/3/1989, Flathead: 80-0, Wesley White, Arkansas River, 10/28/1989, Blue: 113-5, Steve Oudomsouk, San Vicente Reservoir, 7/24/2008, Channel: 53-8, Randall Gilgert Jr., San Joaquin River, 9/22/2008, Flathead: 72-14, Billy Joe Potter, Colorado River, 4/22/2003, **White: 22-0, James Robinson, Land Park pond, 3/21/1994, Blue: 24-7.7, Charlie Black, Pueblo Reservoir, 2016, Channel: 43-6, Jessica Walton, Aurora Reservoir, 2010, Channel: 29-6, Appleton Barrows, Mashapaug Lake, 2004, White: 12-12, John Shatas, Connecticut River, 1999, Blue: 69.5 pounds, William Stewart III, Choctawhatchee River, 5/30/2015, Channel: 44.5, Joe Purvis, Lake Bluff, 5/19/1985, Flathead: 63.8, Charles Patchen, Chattahoochee River, 5/15/2016, White: 18.88, Jim Miller, Withlacoochee River, 9/21/1991, Blue: 80-4, Earnest Timpson, Lake Walter F. George, 2/2/2010, Channel: 44-12, Bobby Smithwick, Altamaha River, 5/18/1972, Flathead: 83-0 (tie), Carl Sawyer, Altamaha River, 6/22/2006; Jim Dieveney, Altamaha River, 7/11/2010, White: 8-10, James Sanders, Savannah River, 6/10/1996, Channel: 43-13, Dayton Miyamura, Lake Wilson, 3/24/1974, Channel: 31-0, Kenny Decker, Mann Lake, 8/25/2001, Flathead: 58-8, J. Newberry/K.McCormick, Brownlee Reservoir, 8/23/1994, Blue: 124-0, Mississippi River, 5/21/2005, Flathead: 81-6.4, Sangchris Lake, 8/29/2015, Blue: 104-0, Bruce Midkiff, Ohio River, 1999 (also Kentucky record), Channel: 37-8, Randy Jones, Vanderburgh County, 1980, Flathead: 79-8, Glen Simpson, White River, 1966, White: 9.72, Melissa Grimes, Wabash County pond, 1985, Blue: 101-0, Mike Rush, Missouri River, 6/8/2004, Channel: 38-2, Dustin Curtis, Missouri River, 6/11/2005, Flathead: 81-0, Joe Baze, Ellis Lake, 6/7/1958, Blue: 102.8, Robert Stanley, Missouri River, 8/11/2012, Channel: 36.5, Rick Barnow, Mined Land, Cherokee Co., 6/3/2003, *Flathead: 123-0, Ken Paulie, Elk City Reservoir, 5/15/1998, Blue: 104-0, Bruce Midkiff, Ohio River, 1999 (also Indiana record), Channel: 32-0, Kyle Estep, Ohio River, 5/26/2004, Flathead: 97-0, Esker Carroll, Green River, 6/6/1956, White: 5.27, Ethen Vest, Guist Creek Lane, 10/11/2016, Blue: 114-0, Lawson Boyte, Mississippi River, 3/2014, Channel: 30.31, Harold Clubb, Minors Canal, 8/1977, Flathead: 95-0, Roland Lasseigne, Wax Lake, 7/2007, Channel: 27.92, Steven Trent Abell, Upper Potomac River, 7/5/2004, Channel: 26-8, Dana Dodge, Ashfield Lake, 1989, White: 9-3, Michael Payne, Baddacook Pond, 1987, Flathead: 52-0, Barron Lake (ice fishing), 2014, Channel: 38-0, Mississippi River, 2/16/1975, Blue: 95-0, Dakota Hinson, Mississippi River, 3/16/2009, Channel: 51-12, Tom Edwards, Lake Tom Bailey, 5/31/1997, Flathead: 77.7, Matt Bingham, Mississippi River, 4/21/2012, Blue: 130-0, Greg Bernal, Missouri River, 7/20/2010, Channel: 34-10, Gerald Siebenmorgen, Lake Jacomo, 10/12/1976, Flathead: 77-8, Scott Brown, Montrose Lake, 4/28/2003, Channel: 34.8, Dan Davenport, Fort Peck Reservoir, 7/26/2013, Blue: 100-8, Raynold Promes, Missouri River, 11/29/1970. Chicken livers or dip bait can yield fast action from channel cats many summer days. He was using a Mad Katz rod rigged with 30-pound test Berkley Trilene Big Game line and an 8/0 Gamakatsu hook. Oklahoma is best known for big flatheads, like this one caught by Haydn and Owen Williams of Grove. The current Tennessee state record flathead catfish weighed 85 pounds, 15 ounces. It took about 20 minutes for the angler to wear the fish out and bring it to the surface. Because of their absolute massive size, the Wels catfish is a praised sport fish. Top lakes to fish for catfish in Tennessee, with lake details tips, tactics and places for catching channel, blue and flathead catfish in TN. Great fishing exists both above and below the dam. But on the day of the catch, Burkhart wasnt sure he was going to get to submit his fish for the record. No creel or length limits apply to catfish 34 inches or less, but only one catfish greater than 34 inches can be harvested per day. McCormickBrownlee Reservoir1994Illinois81 lbs 7 ozJames KlauzerSangchris Lake2015Indiana79 lbs 8 ozGlen T. SimpsonWhite River1966Iowa81 lbsJoe BazeEllis Lake1958Kansas123 lbsKen PaulieElk City Reservoir1998Kentucky97 lbsEsker CarrollGreen River1956Louisiana95 lbsRoland LasseigneWax Lake2007MaineN/AN/AN/AN/AMarylandN/AN/AN/AN/AMassachusettsN/AN/AN/AN/AMichigan52 lbsDale BlakelyBarron Lake2014Minnesota70 lbsN/ASt. Chickamauga Reservoir Gabe Keen February 13, 2015 On November 2, 2009, 27-year-old Mississippi angler Joey Pounders caught a 77-pound flathead catfish in the Tennessee - Tombigbee Waterway. Check out his book, An Outdoor State of Mind. You can contact him at Richard@ScenicCityFishing.com. Coastal Baits, LLC 2023. Thomas Allen and longtime hunting friends Jeremy King and Derek Spitzer score gobblers in this classic roost hunting in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes.". Now thats epic, and thats exactly what happened last week to a young man from Tennessee. Insect larvae are the major prey type until an individual reaches approximately 100 mm (3.9 in) in total length, at which point the diet expands to include crayfish and small fishes. Powers, 16, from Kingston, Tenn., caught the fish, which was as tall as himself- 5feet 9 inches - while fishing with his father, Mike, and neighbor Derrick Stafford. Carp, buffalo, and drum pull very hard, but stay in open water. With Toro's TimeCutter MyRIDE Zero Turn Mower, maintaining your lawn becomes effortless, leaving you more time to catch grouper and prepare a delightful fish dinner feast. Burkhart waited at the ramp four hours and was actually close to setting the fish free, uncertified, when Officer Gooch finally called saying he had located a certified scale at Who Dat Processing. This page was last edited on 31 May 2023, at 11:41. Be sure to like and follow us on our social media channels to get all the latest news! By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. The Loudoun tailwater, which is accessibly by boat or from the bank, offers fast action fishing for channel catfish and smaller blues and yields an occasional jumbo blue or flathead catfish. Even the Alabama River, which produced the 80-lb. CATFISH, Flathead (lL)81 lb./6.4 oz. The second impoundment along the Tennessee River's main stem, Watts Bar begins where Fort Loudoun ends. Channel Catfish (Tie) 18 lbs. Flowers says this record could be broken repeatedly over the next several years as more avid catfish anglers . 78 lbs, 14 oz. On the lake, Simms uses heavier gear and he drift-fishes with heavy three-way rigs and vertical presentations. Below Douglas Lake, the French Broad runs though one of the only warm-water tailwaters in Tennessee, and there are three boating access points along this part of the river. . Luckily it was heading towards the boat and although it didnt fit in the net, it did swim head first into it. touched the bottom of the boat. (Photo courtesy Bryan Ladd). The old record was shattered! The rig consists of with chicken livers, fairly light tackle for catfish and no weight added to the line. and weighed 63.45kg (139lbs and 14oz.). . Editors Note: Since the publication of this story, the certification process has been completed and Micka Burkhart is the official Tennessee record holder for the 118.7-pound blue catfish he caught on the Cumberland River, on Sept. 24, 2022. ), Address:3761 AL Hwy. Not far behind that monster is the International Game Fish Association 8-pound line class record for blue catfish set in 2005 in Tennessee: 109 pounds, 12 ounces. Freshwater Fishing Catfishing 10 of the Biggest World Record Catfish of All Time From behemoth blues to fat flatheads, here's a look at 10 of the most impressive world record catfish ever. Sure, there is a chance he may not make it, he said. Watts Bar no doubt has the right ingredients to produce trophy Flathead Catfish. Boone impounds the South Holston and Watauga rivers, and most of its acreage is contained within two narrow, twisting arms. Autry planned to fish with his father Joshua, his grandfather Gary, and his younger brother, Kye. 14 Millbrook, AL 36054. The upper river can be floated in canoes, although most possible floats include rapids. In conjunction with the eventon Friday, there will be a high-performance boat and vehicle display beginning at 7 p.m. on Lower Broadway. Chattanooga guide Richard Simms fishes for everything that swims, but he's best known for connecting anglers with fine catfishing action. River flathead catfish are . It felt good just to see it swim off and have a chance to grow and get bigger. The biggest cat on record from Tennessee waters, a 130-pound blue that stands as the Class B Record for methods other than rod and reel, came . It never lost any of its color and he swam off healthy.. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) recently shared photos from the catch, which was made back over the Memorial Day weekend in Watts Bar Lake. I almost didnt get him certified because I didnt want that fish to die. ~ Micka Burkhart, Pending Tennessee State Record Blue Catfish. I almost didnt get him certified because I didnt want that fish to die, said Burkhart. Sport fishing for flathead catfish using either rod and reel, limb lines, or bare hands (noodling) can be an exciting pastime. Spawning of P. olivaris occurs in late June and early July, and the nests are made in areas with submerged logs and other debris. The best summer catfishing for channels or flatheads at Dale Hollow takes place after the sun goes down. Here at Bait Binder, we pride ourselves in helping our customers land the largest catfish possible. Its size also makes the flathead catfish an effective subject of public aquaria. A bell sinker normally anchors the rig, which also includes two hooks, spaced a foot or so apart and positioned above the sinker. A spring turkey hunt in Minnesota with Thomas Allen and his brother-in-law Ben Molstre led to the tagging of this hefty gobbler. Blue catfish grow larger than other cats in Tennessee. FLATHEAD CATFISH. The French Broad River enters Tennessee as a large mountain river, having already twisted, turned and tumbled more than 100 miles through the North Carolina highlands. The flathead catfish cannot live in full-strength seawater (which is about 35 parts per thousand or about 35 grams of salt per liter of water), but it can survive in 10 ppt for a while and thrive in up to about 5 ppt. On July 20, Tyler Barnes caught a record 78-pound, 14-ounce flathead catfish on the Neuse River. May 15 on the Minnesota River near Savage. Mike Wherley, of Fayetteville, Pennsylvania, caught a 66-pound, 6.4-ounce flathead catfish in the Susquehanna River on May 14. [8] More commonly, adult length is about 1545 inches (38114cm). 36. This is a turkey hunter's take on the classic Swiss dish. Catfish Although Channel, Blue, and Flathead Catfish are abundant in Pickwick Reservoir, Blue Catfish are the most harvested by sport anglers. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) It ended with Micka catching a 118.7-pound blue catfish that if certified, looks like it will become the new Tennessee state record. It also boasts a tremendous food supply and has sufficient turnover to allow for good dissolved oxygen levels throughout the water column, even during mid-summer. The state flathead record stands at 85 pounds, which means Autry is one of the biggest catfish ever caught in the state and was just a few pounds shy from setting a record. The catfish make good use of both river arms, with the best summer concentrations normally being in deeper holes, either at creek confluences or along hard outside bends in the channel. L. McCarySnake River1981West Virginia38 lbs 8 ozL.L. Blue catfish can grow to be larger than 100 pounds. Id say it took about 45 minutes before we got him in the net.. There's no denying that sonar in its many forms is an invaluable tool for all anglers. The first pool along the main stem of the Tennessee River, Fort Loudoun offers many miles of big-river habitat, with many hard channel swings creating classic pools. It is the only species of the genus Pylodictis. Likely fish-holding areas are also easier to identify and fish effectively up the river, where all the banks aren't completely vertical. Registration will be on-site from 7 to10 a.m. But one thing was still most important to Burkhart. The catfish was older than me. Blue catfish and flathead catfish, which are native to the Ohio, Missouri, Mississippi and Rio Grande river basins, were introduced in Virginia tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay in the 1960s and . A photograph is not acceptable for identification. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. His first Outdoor Life piece appeared in 1997, and he landed in Field & Stream a few years later. The teen may not have his name in the record books, but it is still the fish of a lifetime. That fish did finally turn its big head, and a buddy eventually slipped his net beneath about 40 pounds of Tennessee River blue only a "decent catfish" in quite a few East Tennessee waterways. . Channel Catfish are the predominant species, but large Flathead and Blue Catfish provide a trophy component to this fishery. The fish topped Mississippi's old state record by 11 pounds. TWRA Region III employees were excited to see the photos that were quickly spread through the office. Some anglers anchor at the heads of holes and cast bottom rigs down into the deep water. The fish must be alive, fresh or frozen until positive species identity can be established. We really only keep Crappie and everything else we release shared Troy. According to his father, Now, he has pretty high expectations.. A common element of flathead catfish location is submerged wood cover . Burkhart said, It took a while but we got in touch with him and then we just waited at the launch ramp with the fish in the livewell while he went looking for a certified scale. He is also the Editor of our sister magazine, CrappieNOW.com and serves on the Board of the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association. A big chunk of fresh skipjack on a 10/O Daiichi Circle completes the rig nicely. Loudoun's highly fertile waters support big numbers of all three species of cats, with blues and flatheads growing to extra large sizes. 5lb musky were the weakest. A common element of flathead catfish location is submerged wood cover such as logs and rootwads which often collect at bends in rivers. All Rights Reserved. . As it turned out, Sept. 24, 2022, was ANYTHING but another day on the water for Micka and his wife, Amy. He and his wife spent the morning catching shad for bait before they began catfishing. Newberry/K. Still, the blue cat I had just hooked was surging downstream in the strong current, and I wasn't certain it was ever going to stop. (Photo courtesy Bryan Ladd). It hasnt really set in, said Burkhart. People actually stopped launching their boats while we stayed with it there on the boat ramp.. But a 92-pound flathead taken by a commercial fisherman from the Mississippi River in 2000 holds the state's non-sportfishing . Mike Wherley, of Fayetteville, Pa., caught a giant flathead catfish May 13 below the Safe Harbor Dam in the Susquehanna River. Flathead catfish are bottom-dwelling beasts that swim throughout rivers and lakes. If you do, great. Just $1 per month , The young angler landed an 83-pound flathead with a rod that he'd paid for with his allowance, By The fry frequent shallow areas with rocky and sandy substrates, where they feed on insects and worms such as annelids and polychaetes. To address this concern, DNR has created a record program for catch-and-release length for three species: muskellunge, lake sturgeon and flathead catfish. The men were able to scoop the fish into the boat and whoa, what a fish it was! The world angling record flathead catfish was caught May 19, 1998, from Elk City Reservoir, Kansas, and weighed 55.79 kg . He added, The catfish was older than me. (Photo courtesy Bryan Ladd), The official certified weight of Burkharts huge catfish was 118.7 pounds, 6.7 pounds larger than the previous Tennessee state record vlue catfish. Illinois record Fish are updated as new records are set. I small-guyed it, telling my wife, It feels like a decent fish but not real big, said Burkhart. Modest pressure combined with good growth rates results in good average size for both species. TENNESSEE ANGLING RECORDS. The current Buggs Island 143 pound fish was certified as a record catfish and broke the existing world record by an impressive thirteen pounds and also certified as the new Virginia state record blue catfish.. STEWART COUNTY, Tenn. When I woke up (that day) I figured it would just be another day on the water.. Growing up to 16 feet (5 meters) long and weighing up to 660 pounds (299 kilograms), the wels catfish are the only catfish native to Europe, found in the Baltic, Black, and Caspian Seas. . Along with revealing which holes contain the most fish any given day, graph study reveals whether most fish are concentrated toward the heads of the holes, in the deepest water, along the side slopes or elsewhere. See more. This type of catfish usually grows longer and weighs more. The Pennsylvania record for flathead catfish is 56 . He caught the 56-pound 3-ounce fish from the Shuylkill River in East Falls, a neighborhood in Philadelphia. A good flathead spot usually also includes relatively deep water compared to the rest of a particular section of river, a moderate amount of current, and access to plentiful baitfish such as river herring, shad, carp, drum, panfish, or suckers. Tom Keer "This is like smoking cigarettes . Now, he may be the next state record-holder for the heaviest catfish ever caught in Pennsylvania. Once Officer Gooch located the certified scale, they drove the huge fish in Burkharts livewell and tried to work swiftly during the weighing process.
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