One Fat Cat

[Seth]

If you guys are interested in seeing how big the sport of catfishing is getting, just google United States Catfish Association. It's a forum devoted to catfisherman and has tons of information for anybody looking to try and land a hawg. People all over the nation are on there, but Missouri is one of the busiest sections. There's no better place to learn about catfishing and see why people are starting to treat catfish with the same respect as a bass.

Phil if this post is against forum policy, zap it and let me know. Don't want to step on any toes.

[Kayser]

Not to mention that the larger (trophy) sized catfish are more important than smaller fish as far as brood stock goes.

Rob

[eric1978]

I was being sarcastic towards the post about "a 10 pounder can be a world record just like the 90 pounder". My point was that big fish are a lot rarer than small fish. By killing one, you then have to wait a long time for it to be replaced. Catfish are looked at as "kill and eat them all" by most people. When you figure it takes probably 30 years to grow a fish that size, that's a lot of time shot down the drain to replace that fish versus the time it takes to replace a small fish.

But c'mon man. You gotta admit that catfish are generally looked at by most anglers more as tasty table fare than sportfish. I throw the big ones back because I don't like how they taste. But you gotta admit, while catfishing can be a hell of a lot of fun, it's not exactly heart-stopping excitement...sitting there pounding beers and watching a tight line.

[Seth]

But c'mon man. You gotta admit that catfish are generally looked at by most anglers more as tasty table fare than sportfish. I throw the big ones back because I don't like how they taste. But you gotta admit, while catfishing can be a hell of a lot of fun, it's not exactly heart-stopping excitement...sitting there pounding beers and watching a tight line.

You're right for the most part. Many people fish for catfish the way you mentioned and just have a good time and relax. Most serious catfisherman I know rarely fish a spot longer than 20 minutes if they anchor and most I know prefer to drift fish which can be fast and furious. I don't know about everybody else, but a rod buckling smash followed by a singing drag is pretty exciting to me. It just depends if you are out there to relax and have a good time or put fish in the boat. Everybody has their own methods. For me I go fishing to catch fish, not drink and just fish because I'm on the water so I'd be one to not sit very long in one spot.

[Seth]

Not to mention that the larger (trophy) sized catfish are more important than smaller fish as far as brood stock goes.

Rob

I forgot to mention this earlier, but that's a VERY GOOD reason to release the bigger fisih. A blue cat is not able to spawn until it's around 24". Blues and flatheads will lay roughly 1200 eggs per pound of body weight. A 5 pound catfish would lay 6000 eggs where as a 50 pound blue would lay 60000 eggs.