The Heartbreak Cat

[KansasBoy13]

Have to get this story in the open maybe it'll help me recover. Well I was bluegill fishin like i do a couple times a week in the pond behind my house. Shallow fishing about 2-4 feet deep with little pieces of worms. Fish about 5-10 from bank is all with my crappie outfit 4lb test light action diawa combo. I wasnt having any luck where I was at and windy so to stay out of the wind I could only fish a small small piece of the pond, bank fishing of course. So I move down a little toss out and immediately the bobber goes under nothing like a bluegill would take it but its bluegill so you never know. Set the hook, solid! Definitely not a bluegill my first thought was hung up which does happen often in that pond then felt it fight just a bit, so really thought it was a turtle have caught two out of there on accident. Then it went on a run yeah not a turtle! Thank God I grew up snagging so I had an idea of how to fight this thing. Loosened the drag up and cupped my hand around the reel and it was on. I knew it couldnt be a carp cuz the only carp I believe are in there are grass carp and far as I know dont eat worms. So I've been fighting this thing about ten minutes now waiting for my girlfriend who just got home to join me to fish when she finally comes around the corner taking her time so I holler at her to get down her and help! She just looks in awe like what is that!? I'm like I guess its a catfish only thing that makes sense fighting like that and that size so I finally wear it down after 15 plus mins and get it to bank and try to have her get another hook in it only thing available was 6lb test with a plastic worm on it so she rips of the worm and for the life of her couldnt get that hook to stick not that i could have either. So she sits the pole down and I hand her mine cuz now the fish is just laying by the bank which there is like an 8 inch drop straight down before it starts to slope so couldnt really pull it on bank and it decides to make one last run and I take the pole back and after a couple mins i get it back and hand her the pole back and I'm reaching down to get ahold of it and she goes uh oh real softly. So i asked(more like a yell lol) did the line break and shes like yes, so i hop in the water, cuz at this point it doesnt realize its free and try to wrestle it in and off it goes right through my hands. I stand straight up and look at the sky like why did this happen!? It appeared to be a channel cat at least 3 feet long and a good 20 pounds, so we both think. Never been so depressed about fishing took about 15-20 minutes before I could even tie anything else back on. Thought I would share this and maybe get some encouraging words...

[gonefishin]

You had the fun of the fight and you know the fish is still in there so from now on every time that bobber bounces you are gonna wonder.....

[Seth]

Well he is still in there so you will just have to come back later with some stouter tackle and catch him again. Atleast you came away with a good story and got to atleast see him and touch him for a split second. Good story!

[bclift65706]

that has happend to me more than onece so now I crappie fish with 30lb mono. Not really!!!! well mabey!! I crappie fish with 4lb and have bigger bait on 30lb proped up beside me hoping the bigger fish will eat the bigger bait and I carry a net that helps land the bigger fish on the smaller line.

[joefish]

I let one go last night too. I posted the pic in the general angling section. Should have posted it here I guess. Ive been fishing cats since I was a little boy and the biggest I ever caught was 20 lbs until last night. The gods must have rewarded me for 40 years of effort.