And who could blame them? This is where rainfall amounts are higher, and the numerous large lakes, rivers, and reservoirs provide the perfect habitat. The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is located at 5550 FM 2495, four miles east of Athens. While the average size of crappie is somewhere between 8 and 12 inches and 1/4 and 1lb, they can reach a maximum length of about 20 inches and a maximum weight of a little over 5lb. He's been contacted bombarded by a media blitz ever since as news outlets from as far away as Maine pick up on the . Whaley from Santee-Cooper Reservoir, South Carolina in July of 1964. Lake Tawakoni has earned its moniker well. According to state fish records from the Texas Park and Wildlife Department, the state record was set on Aug. 8, 1963, by Ricky Preddy. Lake Texoma Texas, 121.5 Pounds, Cody Mullenix The blue catfish caught by Mullenix weighed in at 121.5 lbs, which was not only a Texas state record but also a world record. The current IGFA all-tackle world record 58-pound channel catfish was taken by W.H. Consider booking a charter or guided trip during the cold summer months when most Blue Catfish over 40 pounds are caught. Big blues get in these holes, which fill up with baitfish such as menhaden and blue crabs. Texas has no shortage of fishing locations for the enthusiastic Catfish angler. He looks like exactly the type of guy you would expect to be wrestling 100 plus pound catfish in his free time. Theres just something about big catfish. How do you get rid of Cuban frogs in Florida? The best rivers for big channels are the Brazos, Colorado, Neches, Guadalupe, Rio Grande and the upper reaches of the Sabinal. A lifestyle so perfectly captured by the country greats of yesterday, but still alive and well today in artists who truly get it. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Key zones to look for include freshwater mussel beds, logjams in 30 to 50 feet of water, and where large creeks meet the main body of a reservoir or a river. GBRA is the owner and operator of Lake Dunlap, Lake McQueeney, Lake Placid, Lake Nolte, Lake Gonzales, and Lake Wood located in Comal, Guadalupe, and Gonzales Counties, Texas. The lake record Blue Catfish was caught by Gregory Pavur in March 2020, weighing in at 42.14 pounds. Just $1 per month , From behemoth blues to fat flatheads, here's a look at 10 of the most impressive world record catfish ever caught, By Juvenile bluegill, shiners, and even small bullhead catfish are excellent live bait choices for Texas Flatheads. Noodler Grabs 106-Pound Flathead Catfish in East Texas Levi Bennet wrestled this monster flathead from an East Texas lake; it's one of the biggest ever caught by any fisherman By Steven. In addition to its massive weight, the behemoth measured 61 inches long with a girth of 43 3/4 inches. Remember, your bait selection and fishing location are the best way to target a specific type of Catfish. That fish, which measured 53 inches, was caught at Lake Palestine in 1998. Lake Texoma Texas, 121.5 Pounds, Cody Mullenix The blue catfish caught by Mullenix weighed in at 121.5 lbs, which was not only a Texas state record but also a world record. Largest on record: 8 feet, 10 inches | 646 pounds. What separates this enormous achievement from other world records is about 900 pounds of fish. Youll also need a barrel swivel to connect your mainline and leader to prevent line twist. Most specially regulated trout waters are closed to taking fishbait and baitfish at all times. The pictures of the fish certainly back up the big cats record breaking credentials though. The scale went to 94, then 95, and when it hit 97 I just about dropped it, I was so stinking excited. As the 29.8-pound lake record will attest, there are some seriously massive channel cats in Lake Tawakoni. Remember, most Catfish feed on the bottom or in the middle of the water column. Its a lifestyle. And trust me, with a state record Blue Catfish weighing in at 112.5 pounds, Texas knows how to grow BIG Cats! State record blue cats for both Oklahoma and Texas have been pulled from Lake Texoma. The Guadalupe, in particular, is seeing flow reduced in several spots west of Canyon Lake. She likes to cruise close to the glass to check out her fans, and will actually swim up to the glass and look you in the eye. She thrashed a couple of times, but once I got my hands on her it was about over.. If there is no action within 20 or 30 minutes, they move on and try somewhere else. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Colin Kearns is the Editor-in-Chief of Field & Stream. Caught using Demon Dragons: www.demondragons.com Verified by the Texas Trophy Catfish. Blue catfishFamily:IctaluridaeGenus:IctalurusSpecies:I. furcatusBinomial name13 more rows. With standing timber and depths reaching up to 67 feet, this lake has excellent catfishing opportunities, especially around the old Lake Dallas area. These enormous fish are the largest purely freshwater fish in the world (Sturgeon are larger, but they inhabit both fresh and saltwater). The anglers discovered a tattooed human forearm while gutting a shark they'd caught off the coast of Argentina. At a whopping 116 pounds, it stands as a testament to the world-class blue cats swimming in Texas' waters. Length: 6.53 feet. World Record flathead catfish: 123 pounds. The world's largest catfish Weighing up to 660 lb (300 kg) and measuring up to 10.5 ft (3.2 m), Pangasianodon gigas is not only the world's largest catfish; it is also listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest freshwater fish. The biggest blue catfish caught in Texas weighed 121.5 pounds and measured 58 inches, and was caught in Lake Texoma in Jan. 16, 2004. Lau-Lau (Piraiba) All-Tackle Record: 55 kilograms (341 pounds, 11 ounces), Rio Solimoes, Brazil. I felt it and got my hand on it, and it was an absolute giant, he says. After being caught, Thai villagers tried to keep it alive but despite great efforts, it sadly passed away. Experts say the fish, which belongs to the species known as the. Lake McQueeney has been stocked with many species of fish including catfish, sunfish, white crappie, spotted bass, and largemouth bass. The biggest catfish in America is the blue catfish. Rant with us. Flaten's secret for keeping a big fish on a limbline is to use a heavy circle hook. The record catfish weighed in at 130 lb. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The blog quickly gained a following, thanks to Brent's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of the sport. Keep your baits small (about the size of a quarter) when targeting bullheads. "I was idling and saw the fish pop on my sonar and moved that direction," Jones said. Just how big is big enough when it comes to keeping crappie? Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Brent grew up spending his summers out on the water, exploring the many rivers, streams, and lakes of the region. Important sport fish include largemouth bass, white crappie, and channel catfish. And that would be a hard point to counter, judging from the size of the catfish that anglers so often pull from Texas reservoirs and rivers. Through late summer, catfish often feed in the shallow water during the early morning and at night when the water temperature is several degrees cooler. Veteran angler Michael Flaten set five limblines in the Sabine River one weekend and caught five catfish totaling 150 pounds in weight. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! This unique species of catfish is a South American native. Crappie with a length of 13-15 inches and a weight of 1.5 to 2lb are generally considered trophy fish. At a whopping 116 pounds, it stands as a testament to the world-class blue cats swimming in Texas' waters. Consult with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for exclusions. The scale went to 94, then 95, and when it hit 97 I just about dropped it, I was so stinking excited, Bennett recalls. While most of the sub-species of Catfish found in Texas are Bullheads , the Lone Star State is also home to the "Big 3" - Blue, Channel, and Flathead Catfish . What is the biggest crappie caught in Texas? The largest caught in South Carolina weighed a little over 113 pounds! The biggest flathead ever caught in Texas was nearly 100 pounds weighing in at 98.50 pounds. Daily Bag Limit: 25 (in any combination only 10 can be 20 inches or greater in length), Minimum Length: No size limit (however, no more than 10 fish that measure 20 inches or longer), Daily Bag Limit: N/A not considered a regulated game fish. The biggest blue catfish caught in Texas weighed 121.5 pounds and measured 58 inches, and was caught in Lake Texoma in Jan. 16, 2004. The decided not to put the fish under more duress by throwing it in the boat and looking for an official scale, and instead got it back into the water quickly. The biggest catfish ever caught in Oklahoma was caught using a Jugline. Theyre fun to catchand even more fun to fight. The best depth for catching catfish is between 15 and 20 feet deep in lakes. This depends on which Catfish youre targeting. The most recent record breaker is a white catfish that was caught by Ben Tomkunas in Connecticut. I was in amazement. Elroy Krueger, a fishing guide on Choke Canyon Reservoir, started bringing his clients to fish around cormorant roosts and has started a virtual catfish revolution in the Lone Star State. Dave Burruss, the owner of Clear Lake Outdoors in Lakeport, California, was fishing on Feb. 17, 2021. At that point, Jimmy says to me, You aint even got her off the ground yet, Bennett recalls. It also measured more than 5-feet long. Fishing on the Mississippi River near Alton, Illinois Tim Pruitt landed the massive 124-pound cat after a battle lasting nearly 40 minutes a 58 inch long, 44-inch girth blue surfaced. Weighing in at 37 pounds, 14 ounces, the cat measured 46.46 inches with a chunky 39-inch girth. He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even recipes for cooking up your catch. This California slab is the most recently caught record crappie on our list. How deep should you fish for catfish? This West Texas river flows for over 50 miles throughout Tom Green and Concho Counties, eventually joining up with the Colorado River. Go to Appearance > Customize > Subscribe Pop-up to set this up. How do you catch big brown trout at night? FLATHEADS Flatheads win the ugly award among Texas catfish. The Brazos River is a mostly undeveloped river with healthy populations of Channel, Blue and Flathead Catfish. Look to marshy drainages for the most consistent catfish action on outgoing or falling tides. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Fish in the dive tank may be viewed any time the center is open. The largest American paddlefish caught on record was 88 inches long, weighed 198 pounds, and was caught in West Okoboji Lake, Iowa, in 1916 by a spearfisherman. The blue catfish caught by Mullenix weighed in at 121.5 lbs , which was not only a Texas state record but also a . By morning, the chum has usually drawn in enough cats to justify fishing. Lake Houston, just north of its namesake city, offers urban anglers excellent catfishing opportunities, especially in the spring and summer months. It is one of the biggest flatheads ever caught by any fisherman. Top 9 Spring Break Fishing Destinations for 2 2023 FishingBooker.com. Conn was fishing on Lake OH Ivie on Monday Feb. 13, 2023 when the big fish bit. Location: Elk City Reservoir, Kansas, USA. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Another requirement for fishing this brush is braided line. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. They can be loaded with fish. (Rod & Line) Based on previously mentioned Blue catfish you would be right to guess that this one was also caught on Lake Texoma! Just being there for the experience and getting to see a fish like that is all that matters., The anglers discovered a tattooed human forearm while gutting a shark they'd caught off the coast of Argentina. As a matter of fact, the flatheads (also known as "Opelousas" or "yellow" catfish) are probably the best-eating cats of all. The state-record blue catfish was caught in Lake Texoma, tipping the scales at 121.5 pounds. By going fishing, of course. Look for big blues around the points at the mouth of the bay and river on incoming tides. The Native Range of Flathead Catfish In America. Please check your email for a confirmation. That places the flood level above the 2004 level, approaching the 2002 level. The lau-lau, or piraiba, is the largest catfish species on the IGFA record books, but there have been even larger specimens reported in the 200-kilogram (440-pound) range. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The world record holder for the biggest Lau-Lau ever caught went to dear old Jorge Masullo de Aguiar. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Top-5 Largest Catfish Ever Caught In the US #1 - 143 pounds Where: Virginia - Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir) Once they caught the fish fully off the ground, the scale read 106-pounds. Another method of chumming that is catching on in Texas does not really involve chumming it all. Just wore me out.. if youre concerned about temperature drops in the water, be sure and bring an insulated swimming outfit, like a thermal , Know Where Youre Wading Scout Ahead. Caught on May 15, 2018 in Richeison Pond, in Loudon County. 4 when Carpenter hooked and landed what may be the biggest white crappie ever reeled in at Lake Fork and the heaviest crappie of any kind caught in Texas since 2003. What lake in Texas has the biggest catfish? The state-record channel cat is a 36.5-pounder that was caught in the Pedernales River. "The biggest fish weighed 51 pounds and the smallest 37. The general practice is to tie a portion of their line near the end to the top of a strong limb or on a sturdy bamboo pole and then to run the tag end of that line down to the middle and tie it off there too. As soon as it broke the surface of the water I knew it was the fish of a lifetime, says Kodi, whose personal best is a 74-pound. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. The Mekong giant catfish is the official freshwater heavyweight champion of the world. The largest catfish ever caught, according to The Guiness Book of World Records, was a Mekong giant catfish that weighed 646 pounds. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Anglers catch gar weighing as much as 150 pounds on limblines in South and East Texas, so take all necessary precautions. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. In Texas, its easy to get confused between Blue and Channel Catfish, so its important to know how to tell the difference between them. He followed it out and surfaced. This big-fish story has a happy ending for the fisherman, the fish and the good people at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, Texas, where Splash found her new home. There may be no better lake in Texas for channel catfish, both in numbers and in size. 7 all-time in Texas. But plain and simple that fish whooped my ass. Experts say the fish, a Mekong giant catfish, was around 170 years old and . On January 22 Splash celebrated her first year of residence at TFFC with a birthday bash. His catch weighed in at 131 pounds and was also caught in the Gulf of Mexico. Texas Lakes Are Drying Up Amid the Heat and Drought The New York Times. Theres more of a pep in our step, more energy to start new adventures and, who knows, maybe even change the world. Noodler Levi Bennett nabs this emormous 106-pound flathead from an East Texas lake. image: Lynn Chan | Flickr | CC BY 2.0. Splash has adjusted nicely to stardom and her new surroundings. The rivers temperature can vary from temperate in the shallows to near-freezing in open water. How much does it cost to put caps on cats nails? The coves and creeks around many marinas have sandy or hard bottoms. What is the . The beast of a fish was wrangled by Levi Bennett. Search World Records by Country: Use the search form above to find fishing world records for freshwater fish, saltwater fish, and more. "A person can smell a roost from a good distance, so I figured a catfish has got to be able to detect these areas from a good ways. The 26,000-gallon aquarium there provides the perfect venue for Splash shows, and she has been drawing crowds. Consider hiring a professional Texas catfishing guide to help you catch the fish of your dreams! I said, Hes gone. I was mad., No, hes right here, Kodi told her husband. He said they are prime locations for finding big blues. The lake offers no shortage of channel and flathead catfish either. Concho River This West Texas river flows for over 50 miles throughout Tom Green and Concho Counties, eventually joining up with the Colorado River. But fishs stomachs are , Use large-sized baits such as dead bluegill, live chubs, water dogs, crayfish and frogs when seeking larger catfish. This is a Texas tradition that can attract large numbers of Channel Cats to a specific area. Paulie caught the monster on a live minnow at the . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Gerald Burleigh of Orangefield likes to fish these areas on Toledo Bend and on Lake Livingston. Located about 40 miles east of Laredo Texas, this 83,654 acre reservoir provides some of the best Channel Catfish fishing in South Texas. 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