Roosevelt Lake - The biggest catfish I have ever caught!

[AZflats]

What a great year for me!
* I fished Roosie Friday through Sunday...
~ Friday night, two fish~
11lbs~ Live Gill.
20lbs~ Live gill.

Saturday night, Two fish~
27.11 lbs~ Gill
66lbs~ Cut carp~

~ There are a bunch of photos I am going to post, please be patient.

[AZflats]

More photos~
Here is the Big boy!!!!

53" length, 32" girth

What a monster... I was convinced I had a new record..

[AZflats]

I Bottomed out Roosie's new scale...

[SilencedMajority]

CONGRATULATIONS! I'm so happy that you had a great summer fishing, what a way to top off a season. That is a huge fish, you've earned it.

[bro_catfish]

What a monster ..Ill bet the fight was one never to be forgotten!
did you net it or do the ole hand on the bottom Jaw grab?
.Once again thats awesome

[AZflats]

Net was too small~ Used the Berkly lip grip.

[dwreel]

Thats way cool,Andy. Glad for ya.

[Itch2Scratch]

Andy, how about telling us the story on this great catch..we would love to hear about it.:wink:

[Nightprowler]

DUDE!! Thats a dandy,come on give us the story.

[joeczar]

Excellent catch and the picturees of the Eagle are awesome

[tomcat85]

man, that is so awesome! one heck of a way to end the summer eh? i cant wait to hear the story of you bringin that biggun in!

[fat_fish55]

wow
that fish is absolutely massive!!
keep it up and share the luck please :)

[AZflats]

DUDE!! Thats a dandy,come on give us the story.

Okay, Okay~~
Truly a memorable fight.. He ate a carp head hooked up with a 10/0 Khale.
The only reason I was able to land him was because he turned around after his first run, and went the other way, (just before he spooled me). After a few runs, it went under the boat and lay on the bottom. It was like pulling a car off the bottom of the lake. What a rush when I saw its huge head break the surface. My buddy was quick with the lip grip and snagged it up good, brought it over the gunnels and I was staring face to face with the biggest cat I have ever seen...
Amazing.. I was shaking for the rest of the night..
~ Before I was able to get that line got re-rigged, My bait runner was spinning. Then I set the hook into another giant, 27lbs.. (I have never seen a 27lb cat look sooooo tiny..:lol:

* At the Marina, it drew quite a crowd.... I have never had my picture taken soo many times before....

I submitted a state record form at the marina, Hope I can get in the books...

WHAT A NIGHT!!

[maddcatter]

That is one heck of a fish!!!!! Congrats buddy.

[LiquidSteel]

Congradulations! Thats good fishin!
Wish we had fish half that size here!:lol:

[AZflats]

Excellent catch and the picturees of the Eagle are awesome

Thanks Bro~ An amazing sight to see them in the wild..

[CBH]

wow!!! That Is A Great Fish !!!! Way To Go Andy!!!!

[bonapetit2]

That is an AMAZING fish!!
Good luck on getting the record....hats off to you!

[Bob R]

That is one awesome fish. Congratulations. Please keep us all posted as to the status of the state record!

[catfisher43]

congrats on the catch.those are some monster fish.thanks for pictures.

[skunkedagain]

now thats a hog!!Hope yuou make the record books.Good luck.

[Skipjack]

What a monster!! Now that's what it's all about! Great job, Andy!!!

[223reload]

wow thats what I call a big ole goodun congrats keep it up

[flathunter]

Thast a very nice fish, congrats!

[AZflats]

That is one awesome fish. Congratulations. Please keep us all posted as to the status of the state record!

The State record is 71 or 73 lbs I know I won't get that.. But to have my name on the list for runers up would be awsome.

* I think I got Big fish of the year!!! Woo Hoo!!!!

Not Sure, I will wait to see how AZ game and fish will respond to my application.

[tnkatman]

Great Catch, That's A Huge Fish.

[ike whitson]

:big_smile: :big_smile: :big_smile: The State record is 71 or 73 lbs I know I won't get that.. But to have my name on the list for runers up would be awsome.

* I think I got Big fish of the year!!! Woo Hoo!!!!

Not Sure, I will wait to see how AZ game and fish will respond to my application.

Andy , All we can say is cooollll:big_smile: :big_smile: You earned it dude! Talk at you soon.

[Picksecky]

Hey Andy.....What a great fish and what a great weekend.
It must have been one heck of a battle. You're probably still "pumped'. Congratulations.

[micah]

Beautiful fish Brother. Can't wait to hear all about it.

[azcatman]

WOW is all I say along with a big congradulation. That is one giant of a fish. You did great. Roosey has been kickin our butts lately. Were you fishing the main lake or up the river? We have tried both areas without much luck lately and I was just wonering. Again great fish and congrats.

[dcaruthers]

Excellent catch and thanks for sharing. Good luck with the state record.

[KansasKatter]

Nice Fish!!

Now I am embarrassed for posting about my 31# flathead! :embarassed:

[FishMan]

congrats...........great fishing

[micah]

We fisherman are sick creatures Andy. And I'm sure I speak for many aBrother. I feel like I caught the damn fish right now. I'm pumped up for you just looking at that huge head. I gotta quit screwing around at Bartlett. Congradulations again man. WHAT A RUSH MAN

[martinman]

Andy,


That is one nice fish. Definately a good way to round out the season

[AZflats]

Thanks for all the Kudos~
It was a blast!!!:big_smile: :big_smile: :big_smile: :big_smile: :big_smile:

[martinman]

Andy,

Had a question for ya...what were the temps over the weekend.

The reason why I am asking is that I went fishing on the Colorado River over the weekend with Riverbud55 and Billy Jo. We had a good time and caught some fish...largest was an 18lber. At any rate, the temps overnite were about 60 degrees. Just wondering if it was the same on Roosevelt.

Congrats again on the big fishy!!! :smile2:

Ryan

[AZflats]

MArtinman,
Friday Night was nice, probably mid to low 70's..
* But Saturday night got cold probably low 60's..
* Both nights I caught the fish early in the night, before 10pm.
:0a26:

[ka_c4_boom]

good job really good cat

[TonyJr]

OH MY!!:dribble::oh::feel_good::worship: THAT'S A HUGE ONE!!!

[1 cattin dude]

That is an impressive flat!!! I know you have to be extatic!!!
Congratulations.
The EAGLE pics were awesome too. I saw my first eagle in the wild earlier this year down on the Arkansas River; it was an awesome sight.

[anakin]

Great catch man. With all the transporting were you able to Cpr? I just told my girl we should get friday off & head up there for one last try before the season ends.

[AZflats]

She got set free!

See my post in General catfishing section.

Hope you and your girl do as well as I did Anakin!
Take care!

[thunderchicken]

Great fish!!! Congratulations.
:cool2:

[martinman]

Andy,

I have to tell you that if you start seeing your pics floating around the internet, I may be partially to blame for that. I emailed some of the pics to several people at work yesterday. I told them that the flattie was caught out of Roosey and that it could get them next time they go swimming at the lake!!! :lol:

Everyone was in shock as to how big it was. I think they don't dare get in the water now.

[AZflats]

Ha ha ha...
Thanks bro!
~ There were a lot of photos taken of that fish, there was a crowd at the Marina that day and everyone wanted a shot..
Take care~

[WHEELMOBILE07]

Good catch there bro. That fish is huge. Hopefully i may can get into something just half that size this evening when i go. Pics of the bald eagle were awesome, My favorite bird in the world.

Wheelmobile07

[dreamcatcher]

Great fish for sure Andy. I guess it did round out a good season of fishing.:smile2: What was the rod and reel you used to land that monster?

[AZflats]

Great fish for sure Andy. I guess it did round out a good season of fishing.:smile2: What was the rod and reel you used to land that monster?

* I used an Ambassedur (sp?) 5500 (blue one) spooled with 80# Sufix performance braid. Hook was a 10/0 Khale tied directly to the main line with a 2 oz bell sinker on the main line..
* THis puts the bait right, (cut carp) on the weight.
* The Rod I used was a 7 foot med/heavy Renegade, (Shakspear?)
~ I bust rods all the time, so I get whats on sale at Wally world, I keep my money in the reels I use. Becouse the most important factor is a well performing drag system.. ( Oh and a thumb with some good caluses.)

[anakin]

I forgot to ask but how'd you get the carp? How big was the piece?. Last time I was at Rosey you could see big ones in the shallows feeding on bread & dog food & other stuff my brother was experimenting with. Where did you get the #10 kahles. I havent been able to really find any big hooks in my area. Was thinking of ordering them via the net.

[micah]

I know your probably tire of all the questions but I was wondering. You mentioned that the best part was when he went under the boat. Did it actually go to the bottom under the boat and just lay there and give up. Or did it actually resist on the last haul up? Did you post any pictures of that beast anywhere else that we can view or just on this thread?

[AZflats]

I forgot to ask but how'd you get the carp? How big was the piece?. Last time I was at Rosey you could see big ones in the shallows feeding on bread & dog food & other stuff my brother was experimenting with. Where did you get the #10 kahles. I havent been able to really find any big hooks in my area. Was thinking of ordering them via the net.

Anakin,
Go to the catfish connection to order your terminal tackle.. They have decent prices and deliver quickley...

I caught the carp with corn... Could not find any small ones, so I could not use any live. I will cut the carp in boneless stakes..
~ I caught the big boy on the head of a very large common carp..
* Yes, the head....:tounge_out:

[AZflats]

I know your probably tire of all the questions but I was wondering. You mentioned that the best part was when he went under the boat. Did it actually go to the bottom under the boat and just lay there and give up. Or did it actually resist on the last haul up? Did you post any pictures of that beast anywhere else that we can view or just on this thread?

I pulled verticaly on him for about 5 minutes... It was like it had jammed it's face down in the mud, I know it was not in a snag. Finaly after he got tired, he came up and my bud put the ol Berkley lip grip on it..

[AZflats]

Did you post any pictures of that beast anywhere else that we can view or just on this thread?

Here are a few more photos that did not make the cut before.. Here you go!

Pic #21~ Buddy of mine holding the size carp we were catching~
Pic # 36-37~ I had run out of gas and had to get towed out.. I made a pool in the front of the boat to transport the fish to the marina.

[AZflats]

Pic # 51, 53~ A shot from the marina. Everyone wanted a photo.
Pic # 55~ Me pointing to my hat~ Giving my props to the B O C~

[bigcatJoe]

That's a real good fish sounds like a best night ever.

[flatheadsteven]

wow thats one big flattie glad to here u turned him loose to get even bigger.congrats on the catches.

[da-cajun-angla]

thats all i can say is damn!! im green with envy:wink:

[anakin]

Where exactly where u fishing? One of the pics with the tree sticking out in the background looks like Schoolhouse area . Ive caught bait there before heading back to the river. I think this weekend, Fishergirl & I are going to focus on the main lake.

[The J-Man!]

That is one awesome fish, and thanks for all the replies to the questions thrown your way. It is great to get all that info on such a spectacular catch! Did you ever get a weight on her? You said she bottomed out a scale, but how far did that scale go up to? Thanks!

[tricksec]

Very nice! Wish I could go and try to catch his big brother but my wife is laid up after surgury. Your remark about the 27# looking small is funny! Will you ever be satisfied just catching those "little ones" anymore?

[AZflats]

Very nice! Wish I could go and try to catch his big brother but my wife is laid up after surgury. Your remark about the 27# looking small is funny! Will you ever be satisfied just catching those "little ones" anymore?

Maybe for bait!! LMAO....

It will be tough to catch one bigger.. But, I don't think I will give up.. Ever!

[ChrisR602]

Nice Cat Get Em Well You Can

[usmc0208]

Sounds like a good trip

[riverbud55]

man dude dont know how i missed seeing that you got that bad boy, thats one fine AZ cat, man you have knocked out some fine flats as of late, Andy a big congrats and hope you get that state record soon

another thing you said you got it with abu 5500c4 (c4"s are a dark navy blue) and you nearly spooled it how much line do you think you had on it and how well did the drag hold out, i have a extra 5500c4 winch(lower gear then standerd reel) and have been thinking of useing for flat fishing for a stand by set up but not sure it would hold up to a big flat, think i would be useing some 50# power pro on it so it will hold more line on the smaller spool i would think you would get somthing more then 200 yrds, one other thing you said you have broken a number of rods in the past have you ever broken a ugly stik by a fish

[AZflats]

Thanks Dale,
* The reel that I was using was actualy a "5600" c4 (blue version) I had about 3/4 spool of 80# sufix performance braid. I was almost to the backing when the fish stoped and started coming back down river... By the time it got back to me it was pretty tired. Most of the fight was pulling verticaly on it for about 5 minutes or so... I think you described a similar fight with your big dog...
* The drag performed flawlessly though, absolutly superb.

~ On this real, I was not using an ugly stik.. It had an older Renegade 7 foot med/heavy..
* I will probably replace it though with an ugly stick. I have realy taken a liking to the Intercostal rods by ugly stick.. * They are industructable. I have three so far.

I have been speaking with the Game an fish lately about big flattys and they are convinced the big ones are in the Lower Colorado river, (your neigborhood). They say the 60#ers are pretty rare to find in the Salt.

* I think before the year is up and before the temps start to go down too much, I will make a trip to your neck of the woods. If you are interested, we should hook up and see if we can do any good...

Anyhow, take care!:smile2:

[riverbud55]

hey andy thanks 4 the info, nice to know that little reel will handle a big flat i also have the 5600c4 winch model i think the clicker could be louder but sure is smooth and will cast a mile, i have a ugly stik tiger lite that i think would make a good lite weight combo, u cant beet the tiger rods, i also have a inter coastel but is a little lite i think for the the flats, ur write on the 48 i got the thing went to the bottom and was like pulling up a frig but i was pulling it out 8' of water u didnt say how deep u got yours but im sure it was deeper, at one time i thought i was snaged but it was the fish that didnt want to give in

dude when ur ready for a river trip just let me know, ill be headed ther this weekend and am planing on fishing sat nite to sunday morn

[bluehunter]

That is a hogg there. Congrads.