86lb. Blue on the Ohio River

[Catfishhunter]

Whistler coached me on how to post a pic,hope I did it right.
I was Fishing the Cannelton pool on New years day, he was in about 22ft. of water and I was using skipjack gut pocket, water temp was 40 deg. There was pretty good current so I thought I would try to find slacker water with structure. Got alot of bites all day but, no takers. I found what look to be good structure and just the right current and thought I would give it a try. I was talking
to Doc on the phone telling him I haven't caught s**t all day long when the
outside rod went down. I grabed it and looked over and the inside rod went
down. Told Doc I would have to call him back. Grab the other rod to see which fish was pulling the most and put the other rod in the rod holder. Reeled in big boy, rolled him into the floor, put the net down and reeled the other fish in. I still didn't know just how big he was, got him in the dip net to way him and the scale went to 90lbs. I liked to have S**T!!! weighed the net and it weighed 4lbs. CPR'd and let him go. Grabed the other fish and he weighed 27lbs.
I just released him, what was the point in a pic.LOL Anyway It made my New
Year, hope this is a omen....

[rodpod]

You started out your new year with a bang. LOL Congrats.

[Mr. Catfish]

thats a big one..

[H2O Mellon]

I was with Doc when he called you right as your rod went down. I didnt realize you were a BOC mbr, I posted about your catch in the Blue Cat forum. I tell you what, I have never heard such an excited person as yourself when you called Doc back. I had goosebumps just hearing how excitied you were. Congrats on one heck of a catch. Doc sure was happy for you.

[Cyclops01]

James,

NICE CATCH!!!

Mike

[Chuckb]

Great job James!! What a way to start the new year off. One of these days I hope to get a chance to fish with you.

[tncatfishing]

Now that is a biggg cat , way to go!!

[flathunter]

way to go on a very nice catfish!

[Desperado]

Good Job on that nice fish!!!! :)

[Baitkiller]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:eek:

<><Baitkiller><>

[rockbass]

Awesome fish! I would have pooped my pants :D :worship:

[Whistler]

Great catch Jim!! Congrats. I know that made you a happy catfisherman. LOL

[dinkbuster1]

:eek: :eek: :eek:

[ShilohRed]

I bet my boat is following your boat at the fish and camp.LOL
That is one nice fish.
Now to top that in Feb on the cumberland..
PEte

[Catfishhunter]

H2O, I've been a member since the old board. I just don't get to get on the board as much as I used to. For now I have access at work which alows me to get on more. I'll tell you what! You can't beat ol' Doc! He's a great catman and a Great friend. "Good as Gold"...Thanks

[LilRyjoe04]

That's a fatty James!! Nice catch!! Keep it up man, that had to be close to a state record or within 20 pounds or so! I bet that was one heck of a fight! When are we going fishing?lol ;)

[Catfishhunter]

Chuck and Pete, Yall both can go with me at the fish and camp as long as yall supply the beer and bait my hooks and take my pics. It is hard to hit the timer on the camera and get to the back of the boat and pick up a Bigun before the camera takes your pic."LOL,LOL" :D

[typer181]

That's a freaking hog!!!!! Way to go man!

[TDawgNOk]

That is an AWESOME fish, I LOVE to get get one like that

[loanwizard]

Great fish!!!! Think you'll catch a bigger one this year LOL?!?!?

[ShilohRed]

That is so nice of you. Let me see 5 cases of beer and throw empty hooks out LOL.
I think Marilyn and I will just have fish on our own. And let her catch a big one..
Was wondring how in the world you were getting the pictures. Now I know.
Pete

Chuck and Pete, Yall both can go with me at the fish and camp as long as yall supply the beer and bait my hooks and take my pics. It is hard to hit the timer on the camera and get to the back of the boat and pick up a Bigun before the camera takes your pic."LOL,LOL" :D

[Flatasaurus_Rex]

Brent was right you started off with a bang this year...NICE fish....i'd love to nail one of them!! How long did it take for you to land him?

[catfishcentral]

WOW!! Thats is indeed a great way to start the year!!! Congrats on such a fine catch.

[FishMan]

What a fish

Great Job

Danny

[vlparrish]

James, Congrats on the catch. Vern

[three_rivers]

James, u done good! Beatiful phat bluecat too..... Iffn's i member correctly didn't you just catch a big ol flattie :confused:

[BAM]

Dang Jim, I think you need a bigger boat. Congrats

[davesoutfishing]

nice fish congrates

[vini]

All i can say is "GOOD GOD" he sure makes them big up there LOL WHOA!! what a beautiful catch glad you relased her/him?

[vini]

And me holding up my little 20 lb stringer of fish :o lol

[BIG-G]

Way to go James! Them eyes on it are scary. LOL!

[Rainman4u2]

That thing weighs as much as the girlfriends kid!!! Nice fish man!!!

Ray

[Big Country01]

thats a helluva blue....nice going.....

[brinley45cal]

GEEZ that things a monster.I hope one day i get the oppertunity to catch one that big,ive never caught one that big before.For me that would be a catch of a lifetime.What pound test line were you using?

[teaysvalleyguy]

Very nice fish, congrats on the catch.

[spoonfish]

Way to go James! Them eyes on it are scary. LOL!

Them big ones need some cheap sun glasses... What a nice fish WTG!!!

[Catfishhunter]

Thanks everybody for the support. I will have to say that up till monday the biggest I caught was 66lbs, I have hired guides trying to catch a bigun and the first bigun I caught was with the people that I meet off this board, known as the "V'Burg Gang". back in 2001. I'm not trying to brag but, I owe a lot to this website. There is a great bunch of people and a wealth of info on this site. Don't get me wrong, if you can find a reputable guide, you can elimanate a lot trial and error on the water. I have hired 3 guides and have learned something from all of them. Most of all LUCK and time on the water!!! You can't beat experience. I fish a lot of tournys and get my A** beat alot and wounder what the H*ll I'm I doing wrong. I look at the guys winning alot and one of the things that they all have in common is time on the water. Pay attention to detail, this sport is alot more diffucult than bass fishing ever thought to be. This sport is getting bigger every year and we need to educate our fisheries dept. that catfish is not a trash fish but, a valuable resource to us and the community and needs to be preserved. I guess I need to step down off my soap box but, I love this sport and I want my kids to be able to catch one bigger than mine and if we don't protect these big fish they won't be around for future generations. I just heard about Whistlers grand baby and we need to keep him and his family in our prayers...

[T-Bone]

Catchin' a Blue that big, You have a right to brag ! Very nice catch. And I promise, If I ever get a chance to catch somethin' that big, I Will CPR.

I'm pumped up about that Cat. Makes me want'a go right NOW !

[ShilohRed]

See you had the best guide besides me. :D . LOL Your self. Now when do you start booking trips? :cool:
pete


Thanks everybody for the support. I will have to say that up till monday the biggest I caught was 66lbs, I have hired guides trying to catch a bigun .

[Lil Grinder 20]

great catch!!! heck uv a fight prolly

[Cattoo]

man! you caught my fish!!! hahaha! that's awesome dude!! so how far down from that creek mouth were ya? from the pic it doesnt look too far from it. wow! and i thought i was having a good year. i'm glad you put that baby back so i can put a hook in it this spring after its gained a few pounds! lol. nah, but seriously, congratulations on an awesome catch! maybe we can hook up and go sometime. i'm over there almost every weekend from april to december. peace.

[photocat]

GREAT CATCH... more then 14x my pb for blues... the problem is most the rest of the fish this year will be considered small... though its always a good start to the year and good to hear you practiced CPR :):):)

[bearcat]

What a way to start the year. Sure is a bummer though. Will be hard to top that fish this year. HeHeHeHeHe :D

[nathan king]

man that aint even right your the man good job. my best is 64lb flatty you spanked mine lol

[rwilley3]

Congrats from down the Mempho way. Hope he swims downstream, feeding all the way and lets me have a shot at him this later this year. That is sure enough a good one.

[the_nis]

Man thats an awesome fish!!! Nice way to start out the year!!!

[muskyman]

I have to say man, that is one nice fish again. I showed a bunch of my buddies and to think you got it all by yourself, nice job man. I got a 64lber last year by myself and I know exactly what you went through.

[Catfishhunter]

Thanks everybody, I can tell right now I'm going to have to start croping my pics. There seems to be to many nosey people tring to find my honey holes. LOL!!! Nobody even notice my sandwhich laying on the side of the boat uneatin.LOL!!! It's been a long time (to tell you the truth, this is the first time) since I have done this good in this short amount of time. I guess a blind hog can find a acorn every once in awhile...

[Dano]

WoW, that is a big cat. Bet it took a while to reel him in.
Nice catch and good way to start the year.

[stickthrower]

THAT'S THE STUFF DREAMS ARE MADE OF! CONGRATULATIONS!!! :grin-big:

[Itch2Scratch]

Like Baitkiller...all I could say was WOW!!!!!!!..congrats :D

[TNVOLCAT]

James, Congrats,that Is One Hawg You Got There! Amazing How You're Able To Do All That By Yourself. Catch An 86, A 27, Eat A Sandwich, And Cpr Them Fish All At Once! Awesome! Its Got Me Pumped Up, I'm Going On A Trip With Harold On The 15th. You Have Definately Got Me Inspired! Good Start To The New Year!

[Catfishhunter]

Thanks everybody, TNVOLCAT, tell Harold I said Hi...

[shadow]

GEee, It must be awful to think that might be the largest fish you will catch all year :crying: . and the year just got started.

GREAT CATCH!!!

[coorsdrifter]

Nice fish.I was wondering how you have your camera mounted in your boat?I fish by my self most of the time and any pic's I take are of the fish laying in the bottom of the boat.Anyone know how I can make a bracket of somesort to hold my camera,I have just your plain jane digital camera.Thanx

[wpsatisfide]

Grats on a helluva bigun.

[Catfishhunter]

Coorsdrifter, I use a small tripod that I keep in my boat.You have to use a camera that has a timer.

[Netmanjack]

:frk-big: How did you ever operate your camera? I would be shaking so bad that I would be afraid of vibrating the boat apart and have nothing left but a story to tell! lol
Was one of your New Years resolutions, to catch bigger fish? If it was I am going to try the same thing! lol Great catch!

[Mr_Catfish]

That is one awesome fish.I don't even catch then that big in my dreams.NICE JOB! :D

[blkhawkdwn]

:worship: I thank everyone has summed it all up CATFISHHUNTER ..that is for sure a great way to bring in the New Year. and a tough catch to follow...... hope to meet u in Feb at the Cumberland City Fish & camp :0a23:


Ula

[ShilohRed]

Coorsdrifter, I use a small tripod that I keep in my boat.You have to use a camera that has a timer.


How long is the timer on your CAmara? I think I will throw the little tripod in the boat from now on..
I think it would make it better on you to just take us fishing and we could help you out. :D
Pete

[DaveR]

Congrats bro that is one heck of a monster and a great way to start the new year.

Big Dave

[Catfishhunter]

Netmanjack, Iwas shacken like a dog sh*tin peach seeds and thought about the camera fallin in but at the time I didn't care. Just so happen there wasn't any waves to knock it off...

[Catfishhunter]

Mr. Catfish, I've caught this fish a thousand times in my dreams. I just never got him in. My wife thinks I'm CRAZY because I dream about catching catfish...

[Catfishhunter]

blkhawkdwn, I have heard that from several people and yes, that is true but, It also gives you a little peace of mind and losing a fish won't be as bad knowing that more than likley he wasn't as big as that one (MAYBE)?I Hope!
Looking foward to meeting you to...

[Catfishhunter]

PEte, tomorrow I'll let you know just how short that timer is.LOL...

[Catfishhunter]

PEte, here is my first attempt at tring to pick him up. After that I practiced a few times.

[Chuckb]

That is a great picture Jim!! Lets everyone know just how heavy that badboy was lol. :D

[Lil Grinder 20]

great catch!!!!!!!!! ;)

[canepole]

WoW What a hog, Way to go James, How long was the fight or did he come on in, I was looking at the Ohio river this morning and it looked good and muddy and one of these day's I hope to get to fish up there.What a way to start out the new year............. :D

[Catfish Fever]

Jim, congratulations on a great catch, and release too! :thumbsup: Wonderful way to bring in the new year, just fishing would've been okay with me. As you said, maybe it'll be a good omen for you.

[beespringer]

congrats on the monster !!!

[carp46755]

Great catch and realease.

[shania]

"All that I have to say is - :eek:"!

:thumbsup:
"Nice Catch"

Bert:cool:

[Flamekeeper]

Now thats a Big Blue , Pretty Fish .Thats the size of fish were hunting for,yea man way to go.

[dinkbuster1]

too bad it couldnt have been radio tracked. could have gotten some insight on big blue behavior.

[handlonhardpack]

that one nice blue catfishhunter do you fish any tournaments we have a club at madison in hope to see yo thier wayne

[Catfishhunter]

Wayne are you talking about Jeremy L. tournaments? No I haven't fished that far up river. I do fish a lot of tournys mainly Duracats,Cabelas, and Ken Freemans(BassPro). Maybe we'll run in to each other on the river...

[shorte]

Great job! I would have s@#t all over myself. What a fish!!! It weighs as much as I do. Can you send some of that luck to N.C., to me not to Keith?????????

[kycatman01]

great fish! love to catch one 1/2 that size. great job!

[NANNER]

From all of us Missouri boys, Great Catch!!!! Our hats are off to you for releasing that fish. Its the only way to go. Great Job!!!!!!!!!!!:cool:

[BigKatWilly]

Way to start 2006 Brother!! Nice Fish!

[SIVART22573]

very nice fish, I need to breakout my coveralls & uncover my boat.

[Catfishhunter]

Thanks evrybody. I'm going to the fish-n-camp this weekend to try and break the state record!LOL...

[carp46755]

Good luck Catfish Hunter. Hope you break the state record.

[SIVART22573]

Catfishunter did the fish your holding in your profile picture come out of the Ohio as well, it looks like a big flattie, I actually have the picture of the 86 pound Blue in my computer and everytime I look at it I get sick of being at work and not fishing, I live here in Pewee Valley & started fishing the River last year "I'M HOOKED" we caught some nice fish last year "well what I thought were nice fish until I saw the ones you caught" I mainly fish East of Louisville, from Cox' park to Westport, have you fished this area??

[Catfishhunter]

Sivart, Yes I caught the flathead down past Louisville it weighed 62lbs.. I have fished the upper end but, I don't like all the A**holes on the upper with there big boats. If I fish Cox's park it is usually at night.

[Whistler]

Ya know Jim, you really do need to wash that shirt with the 86lb slime on it. LOL Course that might change your luck I suppose. LOL Never had anyone ask me if I wanted to touch some 86lb slime before. LOL

[Catfishhunter]

Bryan, I might as well wash it. I didn't break 10lbs. total at ccf&c. I going to give it one more shot and then I'l wash it.LOL...

[SIVART22573]

Catfishhunter, I know what you mean about the a**holes and their big boats, one cut across right in front of me last year and water rushed the deck of my pontoon, looked like a bunch of kids in daddy's boat, nevertheless, I didn't stand a chance trying to catch them in my lightning fast 25 mile an hour pontoon. I am going to try fishing below the dam this year, where is the best place to put in?

[ersel]

Wow Very Nice fish

[TeamCatHazzard]

Nice fish man, congrats, love to see pics of the big ones too and like it even better to hear about the CPR!

[Catfishhunter]

SIVART22573, There are 2 boat ramps below the dam. One is right below the Falls of the Ohio and the other is in New Albany, Indiana. I don't know where your coming from but, those are the closest to the dam...

[lookinfurabiggun]

Very nice fish, wish I could get one that big!

[jwfish]

What a fish I am hopeing to hit the cincy area this weekend I would be happy with one fourth of that fish.