By: Ksframer2

Kansas is a great place, kinda cold at the moment waiting for the ice to break on Mill Creek.  Most properties around here are privately owned.   I have just moved here recently to a little town called Maple Hill.  Spent most of my life fishing on the Walkarusa River now I found a spot in the woods that is feed by streams and shallow waters that has deep holes within them trapping big cats there.

Nothing like bending a Berkley 7 ft. catfish pole with a Penn reel and breaking 30 pound spider wire more than 4 times a week.  Better things happened when I changed over to Fire Line.

I have pictures don't show to many, don't want to give up my spot down in the woods, but recently read the Catfish In-Sider magazine but didn't realize so many people were in to catfish like me.   My biggest fish last year got away after a 45 minute fight but 2 hours later brought in a 40 pound Yellow Cat at 10 minutes till 12.  Ii decided it was time to go home last 4 night crawlers on my hook decided to throw in 1 more time.   

My lantern was sputtering out long way out of the woods with just a Mag light, too many rocks, so finally I was sitting there with just the flash light on my pole.  No bites, I stood up twisted my pole to the left and was getting ready to reel in when my pole bent over to the handle.  

Full of excitement I fought him into the shallow waters walked out in the water waist deep while he was bumping into my ankles.  Following the line down with my right hand I reached in the water up to my shoulder trying to put my palm on the top of his head 

To my surprise I realized he was BIGGER than 30 pounds!   Sticking my pole under my left arm pit I put a masons wool glove on my right hand.  I heard a story on a job site from and old plumber who told me the next time I catch a big fish to make a fist and tap the catfish on the lower lip.  As I did the catfish snapped on my fist like a turtle.  

Jerking a splashing I started walking back up to the bank  Standing there in the dark with a 2 foot Mag light hanging out of my mouth the fish let go as soon as I reached the rocks.  Their he was!  Came home that night wanting to weigh him.  Tired from the fight,  I stuck him in the bath tub.  Next day pictures taken at a bait shop.

As I returned to my fishing spot 2 days later I ran into a man who said he caught my fish. Qith a smiling face I asked him what did he mean for he is the only one that I see in my spot in the summer.   The man looked at me and said did I see the picture of the fish under mine at the bait store?  The day after he pulled in a 58 pounder, still had hook and a foot piece of the fluorescent yellow 50 pound Fire Line that I had used.  He said to me your the only one I've ever seen with that on a reel. 

So here's the one that didn't get away.