6/26 James River Catfishing

[Nightfisher-]

Caught this one last night about 30 minutes into my first spot. 61lbs and my second biggest blue cat to date. It was a blast fighting it in and landing it by myself. I was walking on sunshine after the release!

 

[rndn]

Re: 6/26 James River Catfishing

Great fish, you really look happy! Thanks for sharing the picture and the story!!!

 

[R Socey]

Re: 6/26 James River Catfishing

Thats a toad!

 

[Nightfisher-]

Re: 6/26 James River Catfishing

Thats a toad!

Thanks. What's that I spy in your profile pic?

 

[tmooreZ06]

Re: 6/26 James River Catfishing

Nice blue cat! I'm new to freshwater fishing as I recently moved from a costal city (Corpus Christi, TX) to the Houston area. Blue cats are abundant in Lake Houston where I live about 3 miles from. I was walking on clouds when I caught my first "decent" sized blue cat, but it wasn't even a third of the size of that behemoth.

 

[Nightfisher-]

Re: 6/26 James River Catfishing

The former world record 121.5 lb world record came from there in lake Texoma. We hold the current record here though with a 143lb beast from Buggs/Kerr lake. The James River where I fish has had several over 100lbs come out of it. Nothing like the excitement of watching a rod go down and wondering "Is this gonna be a new personal best?"

 

[tmooreZ06]

Re: 6/26 James River Catfishing

Sounds like you live in an area with a good share of huge blue cats. I saw that the record blue cat in Lake Houston was
60-something pounds. Shoot, I'd be happy with that! Researching blue cats says they get 160+, that's a stout fish. I also read that in the 1800's a blue cat in excess of 300lbs had been caught.

Anyway, I've been learning about fishing feshwater as I go along. After I found out blue cats are in Lake Houston, and how big they get, I bought a medium/heavy action rod and a decent sized Shimano baitcaster to supplement my light spinner rig.

 

[Nightfisher-]

Re: 6/26 James River Catfishing

To say the least the James is one of the top Blue Cat fishing waters in the USA. I fish once or twice a month and average one or two 30lb+ fish every outing and often catch 40+ lb fish. The pro guides around here and those that are really dedicated to catfishing can boat several 50lb + trip each outing. I consider myself a casual fisherman because I don't spend a lot of effort searching for the big blues. I set up on one of many good spots I know of and and sit on a spot until I catch a good fish. The only thing you really have to know around here to catch the big cats is what bait to use, and how to rig. There are so many big cats here that it's likely to catch one most anywhere as long as you have the right bait and are rigged up to catch them. Of course knowledge of the water and fish patterns factors in, but when you fish such an amazing fishery as this even an amateur fisherman it apt to catch a trophy. As long as catch and release is practiced alongside careful fish handling this fishery can only get better.

 

[tmooreZ06]

Re: 6/26 James River Catfishing

I've found that the best bait for bigger cats is fresh-cut shad. What do you use as bait to catch those sows?

 

[Nightfisher-]

Re: 6/26 James River Catfishing

We use big cuts of gizzard shad for the most part, but in the summer months after spawn live eel, live shad, and live white perch are all awesome. The one in the pic was caught on a live eel. I only had 4 live eels as bait that night and had planned on netting some shad, but decided to call it quits early since i was so happy to have caught that one right out of the gate.