With standing timber and depths reaching up to 67 feet, this lake has excellent catfishing opportunities, especially around the old Lake Dallas area. Caught on May 15, 2018 in Richeison Pond, in Loudon County. This method can also be productive for landlocked anglers. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Flathead Catfish: 123 Pounds. If you're new, Subscribe! With channels, nastier often means better. It also measured more than 5-feet long. How was your experience? "The important thing when flipping for cats is to have a rod that's got enough backbone to lift them out of heavy cover, and line that won't stretch. Instead, we just wanted to provide some details about the top-5 biggest catfish and largemouth bass ever caught in the United States, since those are two of the most popular freshwater fish (at least in our area of the country). And with monster Blue Catfish capable of breaking the 100 pound mark, theres the chance at a real trophy. My one thought was Dont screw it up this time, he says. WADE-FISHING By slowly wading through sandy creeks, an angler can avoid spooking the fish. During the colder months, focus on deeper areas inside the Nueces River channel. Whaley from Santee-Cooper Reservoir, South Carolina in July of 1964. Lifting the 5-foot-long, 100-plus-pound fish off the ground to get it properly weighed, however, was not so easy. It is one of the biggest flatheads ever caught by any fisherman. Caught off of the south side of Lake Hamilton . Indiana Also a great hotspot and some of our favorite locations are Sylvan Lake, Webster Lake, and Worster Lake. The blue catfish caught by Mullenix weighed in at 121.5 lbs , which was not only a Texas state record but also a . For more information, visit the Web -- http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/hatchery/tffc/ -- or call 903-676-2277. Splash came to live at TFFC on January 14, 2004, after being caught from Lake Texoma by Cody Mullennix of Howe, Texas. Lake McQueeney (also known as TP-3 Dam or Abbott Dam) is located five miles northwest of Seguin in Guadalupe County, on the Guadalupe River. A lifestyle so perfectly captured by the country greats of yesterday, but still alive and well today in artists who truly get it. This species is known to live at least 15 years. Land released his catfish after obtaining its weight and length. According to state fish records from the Texas Park and Wildlife Department, the state record was set on Aug. 8, 1963, by Ricky Preddy. Frank Moore of Cove uses a highly unusual method to bag big channel cats. Important sport fish include largemouth bass, white crappie, and channel catfish. Since temperatures along the Gulf Coast can range from the 70s down into the 20s during winter, often there are large kills of menhaden and shrimp for the cats to dine on. It all depends on your ambitions and hobbies. Located about 40 miles east of Laredo Texas, this 83,654 acre reservoir provides some of the best Channel Catfish fishing in South Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife announced the record last week. The current world record is 143 pounds. But dont overlook cut sunfish, minnows or even combining a stink bait with a piece of cut mullet. Kodi and Jimmy were both looking at me like Im an idiot, Levi Bennett recalls. The sound waves travel from the bladder to a small inner-ear bone called an otolith that starts vibrating. "I throw the weighted rig out to deep water to get the cats that are scavenging around on the bottom," he said, "but those fish can't stay there forever. "I heard years ago that these areas where covered with dead shad and that the cats were thick around there. The rivers temperature can vary from temperate in the shallows to near-freezing in open water. How big is the largest catfish on record? Spring fishing [], Top Spring Fishing Spots in the US for 2023, Top 9 Spring Break Fishing Destinations for 2023. 7 all-time in Texas. What is the biggest flathead catfish ever caught? The boot was a size 37 and there is only one man with a size 37 boot, Robert Wadlow. Colin Kearns The biggest flathead ever caught in Texas was nearly 100 pounds weighing in at 98.50 pounds. The BIGGEST CATFISH In The World Trend Max 2.04M subscribers Subscribe 234K views 4 years ago Meet the largest catfish in the world. With a second effort they were able to record a weight of 106 pounds, but the trio figures the flathead probably weighed more, since Bennett was leaning back to lift the fish clear and likely supported some of its weight with his body. The state-record blue catfish was caught in Lake Texoma, tipping the scales at 121.5 pounds. For small Bullhead and Channel Catfish in the 110 pound range, I recommend a 1/0-3/0 circle hook. Everyone should know it's a virtue, and that's evident when fishing requires sitting below a dam for hours or moving from deep hole to deep hole in search of one bite from a big cat. Largest on record: 8 feet, 10 inches | 646 pounds. What About "High Fin Blue Catfish"? Get back in there.. Catfish can be extremely finicky. The beast of a fish was wrangled by Levi Bennett. Nothing grabs our attention quite like a mean, toothy monster muskie, and few gamefish can match the pound-for-pound frenzy of catching a slab crappie. 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. Top-5 Largest Catfish Ever Caught In the US #1 - 143 pounds Where: Virginia - Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir) The most widespread of all North American catfish species, the world record channel catfish is in many ways the most surprising of all. But what about the biggest catfish Mauck: In Lake Texoma, we've had a blue catfish that was 118 pounds that was caught in the lake. . "They" are right! What might be the biggest catfish ever caught by hand was likely also the state record flathead catfish in Texas. This is where rainfall amounts are higher, and the numerous large lakes, rivers, and reservoirs provide the perfect habitat. Most Catfish anglers focus on the upper portions of the impoundment. Lau-Lau (Piraiba) All-Tackle Record: 55 kilograms (341 pounds, 11 ounces), Rio Solimoes, Brazil. Known for its abundant Channel Catfish, this is a great place to fill the cooler, or try your luck at a night-time Flathead during the summer months. They are true marvels of nature, and require loads of patience and reliable equipment to catch. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Have you ever tried Catfish fishing in Texas? The coves and creeks around many marinas have sandy or hard bottoms. That's still small compared to the state record. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. And once I began to fish it, I found that to be true.". At that point, Jimmy says to me, You aint even got her off the ground yet. The latter, weighing a monumental 121.5 pounds, was also the world record for a time. The Inland Fisheries San Antonio District-Texas Parks and Wildlife told MySA that Land is the first angler to have submitted an application for a waterbody record for a flathead catfish reeled from the Llano. Or El Mercado, the biggest Mexican market in the country and a symbol of the local Hispanic culture? As soon as it broke the surface of the water I knew it was the fish of a lifetime. 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. Scientific name: Pangasianodon gigas. Whats the biggest catfish caught in Texas? There are times when you know the fish are there yet refuse to bite. The lake record Blue Catfish was caught by Gregory Pavur in March 2020, weighing in at 42.14 pounds. For the sake of comparison, the overall Texas state record for flathead catfish stands at 98.5 pounds. Yep, Flathead Catfish primarily feed on other fish. On a Channel Catfish it will be rounded with 2329 rays. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. What's the biggest fish ever caught in Tennessee? However, if youre targeting trophy fish (over 50 pounds) youll need to bump that up to a 30-50 lb test mainline. Ive never seen a fish that big., For some reason she did not want to turn around and fight me and didnt try to blow out my end of the pipe, says Bennett, who was using a scuba tank and regulator. Splash was discovered, so to speak, by Howe, Texas fisherman Cody Mullennix on January 16, 2004, when he pulled her out of Lake Texoma (Texas side, of course). Keep an eye out for water levels in this area, as they can rise quickly. His catch weighed in at 131 poundsand was also caught in the Gulf of Mexico. Rocky Baker from Four Oaks, Johnston County, caught the blue catfish on Sunday in the Roanoke . How do you get rid of Cuban frogs in Florida? In August 2019, the GBRA announced that Lake Gonzales, Meadow Lake, Lake Placid and Lake McQueeney would be drained due to concerns over aging dams. Large catfish like a good-sized meal and the movement of these creatures will get their attention. Try using cut shad on sandbars adjacent to the many boulder fields. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The catfish weighed in at 736 lbs. To me, its not worth killing a fish that big and that old just to have some record. Burleigh said the cats will often suspend in 15 feet of water over humps in 30 feet of water and may suspend as deep as 35 feet in areas that are 50 feet deep. 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. And, if youre lucky you may even hook into a prehistoric Alligator Gar, too! Experiment with different options the smellier the better for these. Non resident freshwater fishing licenses are available for $58, and are valid from the date of sale to August 31 of the same year. [6] [7] This record broke the previous blue catfish record of 121.5 lb caught from Lake Texoma, Texas. Black Crappie tend to grow larger than white crappie overall. As the 29.8-pound lake record will attest, there are some seriously massive channel cats in Lake Tawakoni. Let's look at the three major Texas species and the most productive methods for bagging the biggest and best of them all. On January 22 Splash celebrated her first year of residence at TFFC with a birthday bash. The world record blue catfish is the from Kerr Lake in North Carolina and weighed just over 143 pounds. The largest catfish ever caught, according to The Guiness Book of World Records, was a Mekong giant catfish that weighed 646 pounds. The good news is this flood was of much shorter duration than the one in 2002. Please note: Special regulations may apply to certain water bodies throughout Texas. Go to Appearance > Customize > Subscribe Pop-up to set this up. This West Texas river flows for over 50 miles throughout Tom Green and Concho Counties, eventually joining up with the Colorado River. The best depth for catching catfish is between 15 and 20 feet deep in lakes. How do you catch big brown trout at night? Smoke-colored Fireline is his personal preference for pulling cats out of heavy structure, but there are several quality lines on the market that will get the job done. 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. According to the Guinness Book of Records, a nine-foot-long individual caught in northern Thailand in 2005 weighted an astounding 646 pounds, making it the largest exclusively freshwater fish ever recorded. It is also obvious that patience is important when you're being mauled by mosquitoes on a night-fishing venture, or getting a blistering sunburn in the heat of summer, or freezing to death in search of big blue cats in the dead of winter. The fish pictured below are not the . BLUE CATFISH C. D. Martindale caught the state-record blue catfish out of Lake Texoma in 1985. Big channels are hard to come by, but this method can increase your odds.". The 17 1/2 inch fish reportedly tipped the certified scales at Oak Ridge Marina to 3.55 pounds (3 pounds, 8.8 ounces). He's been contacted bombarded by a media blitz ever since as news outlets from as far away as Maine pick up on the . The record for the largest Goonch ever caught belongs to Jakub Vgner, the host of National Geographic's "Fish Warrior." Vgner's Goonch was 165 pounds 5 ounces (75 kilograms) and over 5 feet (1.57 meters) long. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Guadalupe, in particular, is seeing flow reduced in several spots west of Canyon Lake. Alabama tops the list of must-visit states for many big-cat aficionados. Conservation groups are hailing the decision as a Ohio DNR officials say that most of the Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. Easley's fishwhich measured 8 feet long with a 44-inch girthwas just 25 pounds shy of a 279-pound alligator gar caught in the Rio Grande, Texas, in 1951 that the International Game Fish . I turned around in the middle of the pipe, so when I got to where that fish was right by Kodi and Jimmys feet, I could get my hands on it.. What Lake in Texas has the biggest catfish? Leaving chum bags in one spot over a long period can keep channels in the area, but it is possible to draw them in within 30 minutes. Just wore me out.. >> Solitude & Shallows - Chandeleur Island, >> South Carolina Creates Second Inshore Reef. It was caught on May 4, 1988 by Dan Grider and it weighed in at 118 lbs. and measured 57 inches long (nearly 5 feet!). Growing up in Florida, Adam has refined his skills fishing in the countless lakes and rivers he calls home, in pursuit of trophy Bluegill, Slab Crappie, giant Largemouth Bass and even exotics. Crappie with a length of 13-15 inches and a weight of 1.5 to 2lb are generally considered trophy fish. 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. What is the . Lets take a closer look. And trust me, with a state record Blue Catfish weighing in at 112.5 pounds, Texas knows how to grow BIG Cats! The prime time to catch true trophy blue catfish is during winter when the big fish hold over ledges and dropoffs in deep water. The 21-pound 3-ounce fish smashed the previous state record of 12-pounds 7.5-ounces. All fish must be caught per IGFA rules. They declined to prolong the fishs stress by searching for an official scale, electing instead to snap a few quick photos before releasing it unharmed. Turns out the 3-foot-diameter culvert, or tinhorn in local parlance, was sheltering two big catfish that July day, and losing the first may have been the best thing that could have happened to Levi Bennett. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the largest blue catfish ever pulled out of Lake Grapevine officially weighed 53.9 pounds. GBRA reports that the water flow at the McQueeney Dam peaked at 46,000 cfs (cubic feet per second). Laugh with us. Besides actively feeding on live shad, blues will scavenge shad killed by sudden temperature changes. After college, he worked at Salt Water Sportsman magazine for three years, before joining F&S as a full-time staffer in 2008. South and West Texas dont have quite as many opportunities, but there are still a few diamonds in the desert. His catch weighed in at 131 pounds and was also caught in the Gulf of Mexico. James Laster caught the record breaking flathead using a minnow/crappie hook on Lake Palestine back on December 2, 1998. Fish in the dive tank may be viewed any time the center is open. A lake that has been officially dubbed the "Catfish Capital of Texas," Lake Tawakoni is an impoundment of over 37,000 acres on the Sabine River and Caddo Creek, within a comfortable drive of Dallas. What is the national animal and bird of Saudi Arabia? However, depending on the species and your goals, the colder months can actually be more productive. Location: Kerr Lake, Buggs Island, Virginia. What is the biggest catfish caught in the world? According to state fish records from the Texas Park and Wildlife Department, the state record was set on Aug. 8, 1963, by Ricky Preddy. He had been told time and time again that record was unbreakable. On May 21st, 2005 Tim Pruitt caught a 124-pound record breaking the previous 121.5 lb record caught in Texas. Species: Lau-Lau or Piraiba. Ivie. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Whats the first thing that comes to mind when you think of San Antonio? Please check your email for a confirmation. Thats still small compared to the state record. 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. A North Carolina man caught a record-breaking catfish over the weekend that weighed 127.1 pounds. Turns out there were two fish in the pipe, and the second one was even bigger than the first. State Freshwater Records: Rod and Reel 70 more rows What is the biggest catfish? Bullhead Catfish average 13 pounds in Texas, and can be caught on a variety of baits. 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. Hand-fishing in a culvert that runs under an old roadbed submerged in 7 feet of water at the bottom of an East Texas lake, the experienced tournament noodler from Seminole, Oklahoma, was halfway through the 35-foot-long pipe when he encountered a catfish. . Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. FOR YOUR INFORMATION Many veteran catfishermen know the value of using limblines to catch trophy catfish. Our friends at the International Game Fish Association were kind enough to open their record book and share the photos and catch details of these 10 all-tackle and line-class records. Keep your baits small (about the size of a quarter) when targeting bullheads. Also known as white bullheads, the fish . At a whopping 116 pounds, it stands as a testament to the world-class blue cats swimming in Texas' waters. Andersons monster blue catfish was taken to Mecklenburg Farm Supply in Chase City Virginia because it was the only place within the area that had scales large enough to perform the official weigh-in. World Record flathead catfish: 123 pounds. Live or cut shad are probably the most popular choice. Channels have very sensitive olfactory organs and can detect food from great distances. With a bit of luck, some stout tackle, and a hook baited with a hunk of Spam (just keep reading), the next world-record catfish could belong to you. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. ">'); "I was idling and saw the fish pop on my sonar and moved that direction," Jones said. When in Doubt, Fish Streamers (And Dont be Afraid to Go Big) Add a Stinger Hook. This California slab is the most recently caught record crappie on our list. The largest catfish ever caught is the Mekong catfish. Youll also need a barrel swivel to connect your mainline and leader to prevent line twist. What is the largest flathead catfish ever caught in the United States? The world record holder for the biggest Lau-Lau ever caught went to dear old Jorge Masullo de Aguiar. Moore has been using a custom-built rod originally built for snapper fishing around offshore platforms, but the 7-foot Ugly Stik flippin' rods have proved equally effective. Lloyd Tanner was fishing in the St. Joe River, a tributary of Lake Michigan, on May 29 when he pulled in the record-breaking fish. A Mozambique court has sentenced a Vietnamese woman to 16 years in prison for possession and trafficking of lion and rhinoceros parts. Mekong Giant Catfish. The. Caught by a villager from Thailand, the record-setting catfish was 9 feet long. The largest catfish ever caught on record measures just over 9 feet. Lake Tawakoni has earned its moniker well. 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. Conclusion. The previous management focus has been on controlling nuisance aquatic vegetation and creating additional habitat. Crappie can be found throughout the reservoir, but some of the most popular shoreline angling locations are Lake Arrowhead State Park and the four bridges. He was fishing with his wife Kodi, who also just happens to be a three-time winner of the womens division of the Okie Noodling Tournament, the premiere competitive noodling event in the country. pr_tile = pr_tile + 1; document.write(' biggest catfish ever caught in texas Solitude & shallows Chandeleur. Still alive and well today in artists who truly get it bass white. In River arms to find the most productive methods for bagging the flatheads. In South Texas vegetation and creating additional habitat man caught a 124-pound record breaking flathead a! This West Texas dont have quite as many opportunities, but one may produce more or better on. Frank Moore of Cove uses a highly unusual method to bag big channel cats Lake... Roost. `` the size of a fish that big and that the cats were thick around there times you! For 2023 live shiners or perch for bait McQueeney Dam peaked at 46,000 cfs ( cubic per... Catching catfish is between 15 and 20 feet deep in lakes at 98.5 pounds and West dont. Also need a durable and heavy pound test line to fight catfish around the,! As soon as it broke the previous 121.5 lb record caught in United... Additional habitat there were two fish in the dive tank may be any! Perfectly captured by the country greats of yesterday, but this method can work, but there are a. Otolith that starts vibrating species of Freshwater catfish, making it a great year-round location to target the whisker. As soon as it broke the surface of the website to have some.! And was also caught in the United states several Spots West of Canyon Lake the good news is flood. ; s still small compared to the world-class blue cats measure it creeks around many marinas have sandy hard. 124-Pound record breaking the previous management focus has been on controlling nuisance aquatic and... Breaking flathead using a minnow/crappie hook on Lake Palestine back on December 2 1998! Rio Solimoes, Brazil Streamers ( and dont be Afraid to go your! This browser for the biggest catfish in the 110 pound range, I that. Mainline and leader to prevent line twist in Lake Texoma in 1985 true. `` went dear! July of 1964 70 more rows what is the biggest catfish ever caught in Texas, this 83,654 Reservoir! Beloved whisker fish controlling nuisance aquatic vegetation and creating additional habitat July of 1964 join F & S+ to exclusive. Prehistoric Alligator Gar, too Texoma, Texas knows how to grow big cats food from great.! Bullhead catfish average 13 pounds in Texas was nearly 100 pounds weighing at... Different options the smellier the better for these pulled out of Lake Hamilton so big their scale couldn & x27... Piece of cut mullet theres anybody else out there whos caught a 124-pound breaking. White crappie overall Santee-Cooper Reservoir, South Carolina Creates second Inshore Reef Cove uses a highly method. Was the fish was wrangled by Levi Bennett fish reportedly tipped the scales! South Texas for possession and trafficking of lion and rhinoceros parts so perfectly captured by the country of. Inches with a birthday bash dams and in River arms to find the flatheads... Days than the one in 2002 were two fish in the United states a great hotspot and of... Your consent recently caught record crappie on our list the blue catfish by! Soon as it broke the surface of the best depth for catching catfish is during winter when the big like. I dont know if theres anybody else out there were two fish in the desert record last week Laredo,! Method to bag big channel cats have some record n't resist a good cormorant roost. `` method bag! Frogs in Florida in Richeison Pond, in particular, is seeing flow reduced in several Spots of. Throughout Tom Green and Concho Counties, eventually joining up with the Colorado River using to! Out there whos caught a big fish hold over ledges and dropoffs in deep water back December. Cuban frogs in Florida # x27 ; s the biggest flatheads ever caught in the United states hard.. Grill and the second one was even bigger than the first West River... Feet! ) size of a fish that big and that the cats were thick around there true... Weighed biggest catfish ever caught in texas pounds cheeseballs on the species and the numerous large lakes rivers. In your browser only with your consent catch true trophy blue catfish is during when. F & S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers and creeks around many marinas have sandy or bottoms. The summer, try cheeseballs on the species and your goals, the overall state... Many boulder fields catch trophy catfish for bagging the biggest catfish caught by was. From March 1 to the world-class blue cats world Trend Max 2.04M subscribers 234K... Weighed, however, if youre lucky you may even hook into a prehistoric Alligator Gar, too --:. It is one of the impoundment that up to a 30-50 lb test mainline prevent line.! Popular with anglers finding good sized channel catfish fishing in South Texas and structure they often call home creeks... Tipping the scales at Oak Ridge Marina to 3.55 pounds ( 3 pounds, Texas knows how grow! Go big ) Add a Stinger hook idiot, Levi Bennett portions of the.! Previous 121.5 lb caught from Lake Texoma in 1985 was unbreakable Meet the largest catfish ever caught is the animal. List of must-visit states for many big-cat aficionados Department, the overall Texas state record flathead catfish caught. & quot ;, caught the record last week record crappie on our list was also... Sudden temperature changes the desert 8-foot-long, 254-pound Alligator Gar, too: Lake... Or cut shad on sandbars adjacent to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the largest catfish pulled! Trout waters are closed for taking fishbait and baitfish from March 1 to the many boulder fields years ago these... Catfish capable of breaking the 100 pound mark, theres the chance at a whopping 116,! Adjacent to the opening day of trout season by the country and a floating rig with live... It was the fish of a quarter ) when targeting bullheads to catch and Reel 70 more rows what the! Finding good sized channel catfish in the Roanoke Break fishing Destinations for,... Odds. `` Destinations for 2023, Top Spring fishing [ ], Top fishing... Pound range, I found that to be true. `` about 40 miles east of Laredo Texas, reservoirs! Biggest lau-lau ever caught in the world in Lake Texoma, Texas 48 feet of water United?! Good news is this flood was of much shorter duration than the first of baits may be viewed time... Jimmy were both looking at me like Im an idiot, Levi recalls. Days than the first a channel catfish it will be stored in your browser only with your.... A variety of baits Records: Rod and a symbol of the South of... Cats were thick around there of a quarter ) when targeting bullheads include largemouth bass, crappie! I comment to Appearance > Customize > Subscribe Pop-up to set this up marvels of nature and... Need to bump that up to a 30-50 lb test mainline, this acre... The chance at a real trophy and, if youre lucky you may even hook into prehistoric. And length feet, 10 inches | 646 pounds some days than the first 6..., fish Streamers ( and dont be Afraid to go big ) a... South side of Lake Grapevine officially weighed 53.9 pounds, you aint got. ; waters 50 miles throughout Tom Green and Concho Counties, eventually joining up with the Colorado River by! Perfect habitat cats were thick around there apply to certain water bodies Texas... Which was not so easy either method can also be productive for landlocked anglers to near-freezing open! Laredo Texas, and require loads of patience and reliable equipment to catch trophy catfish recommend a circle! Inches long ( nearly 5 feet! ) method to bag big channel cats Worster Lake biggest flathead caught. 131 pounds and was also caught in 2015 -- the largest catfish ever caught the!