Clearlake bass fishing. A catfish sucked in my jig.  It dragged me out into the lake about 100 yards.   So scary. I thought my new rod was going to snap. 
 

12lbs. Big for me.

 

I hooked two more, but they broke me off. 
 

 

17 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Clearlake bass fishing. A catfish sucked in my jig.  It dragged me out into the lake about 100 yards.   So scary. I thought my new rod was going to snap. 
 

12lbs. Big for me.

 

I hooked two more, but they broke me off. 
 

 

Bass Lake 

Were you fishing a famous Bass Lake with live bait, by chance?

Just now, Tackleholic said:

Were you fishing a famous Bass Lake with live bait, by chance?

Sorry, you said you were using a jig.

Very nice! Big cats are fun to catch and taste good. Enjoy! 

Nice!  Growing up, channel cats in the river back home were the first fish I learned how to catch,  although ours were more in the 2-4lb range.

A 12 lb catfish is scary???? Don’t go to the ocean . Nice catch 

Never caught one in my life.

9 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

A 12 lb catfish is scary???? Don’t go to the ocean . Nice catch 

On bass gear I paid a kidney for?  Yea. 
 

Dobyns fury?  Bring it 

Caught on 6 pound test mono and a Ned rig. It was a fight!

 

 

                                                              

Catching a catfish while bass fishing with artificials is not common, but it does happen.  I have caught a number of large catfish while flipping heavy cover.  My largest so far was 12 pounds. I was pretty sure I had hooked the world record bass. It felt like I was in a Harry and Charlie cartoon.

I caught a 29 pound flathead in bass tournament on Oconee throwing a Texas rigged pumpkin Zoom lizard dipped in jj’s Magic. I’ve since quit putting that garlic on there because of all the dang catfish harassment.

oh..good idea!!  i have pink JJ's!!

 

i am going try again, this time with a less beloved rod.  it was fun getting dragged around.  

I don’t really set out to fish for catfish. I’m usually good for a couple a year though caught on my bass baits. They will slam a crankbait like a freight train. Not necessarily a firetiger pattern either in a stained water condition. Majority in clearer water on natural colors. I caught one yesterday 29.5” 12 pound channel. Fishing a finesse rigged PowerWorm on 6 lb. test. What a fight. 
 

Can see you getting pulled around some. 

I don't remember ever catching a catfish (bass fishing) when I had my old boat.  (sold in 1992)  Now I catch cat's all the time.   I've caught a dozen or more this year over 10 pounds.   My biggest this year is a 32 pound Flathead.   Mrs B caught a 27 pound Blue last year.   Last April I caught a 53 pound Flathead.    Cats, at least the ones I hook, are strong fighters, but not necessarily smart ones.   The 53 pounder I caught last year went away from a brushpile into deep, clean water.   It took a while to land it but it was just a matter of getting it tired before I got tired.   I caught a 9.82 pound Blue last week.   It bolted out from under the dock where I hooked it toward open water.   I just keep pressure on them and follow them around, and drag them around with my trolling motor.   

 

@Woody B, you are the cat master !!!

I've caught more catfish while bass fishing than I have when actually catfishing.

On 8/18/2023 at 6:35 PM, Bankbeater said:

I've caught more catfish while bass fishing than I have when actually catfishing.

 

Same, although my bass fishing trips far out number any trips for catfish.  Got one on a chatterbait this past weekend.

I catch more catfish while bass fishing than I care to admit. Despite all the hours I've spent actually targeting them, my PB flathead was caught while fishing for bass with a finesse jig next to a dock, less than 2lbs from 70lbs.