What the What?

[Texas Dan]

I'm half way back to Texas with the boat in tow and I forgot to share this weird story. I was fishing a 4 foot deep patch of river lilly pads and had just released a nice 38" Musky, with 15 minutes to fish before needing to get back to the cabin. I stayed with the 8" thumper tail jig I had been using when about 10 feet from the boat all hell broke loose. The surface of the water was frothed for what seemed like a minute - with my only clue being a whitish hue from the fish, then it made a long run away from the boat, causing me to loosen the drag in fear of losing the fish. At this point, I was guessing a giant tiger....got to be 50". This fish made numerous long runs and probably 2 minutes into the fight I got my first look.

Any guesses?

Picture is attached.....over 30 inches and over 35 pounds (my estimates).

Texas Dan.

[Mark Benson]

catfish for sure... thinking channel, but looks like a flat...

Mark

[LarryO]

My guess is a blue catchfish. I think channel catfish have a forked tail and I think a flathead is more brown in color.

[Picatee]

I'm half way back to Texas with the boat in tow and I forgot to share this weird story. I was fishing a 4 foot deep patch of river lilly pads and had just released a nice 38" Musky, with 15 minutes to fish before needing to get back to the cabin. I stayed with the 8" thumper tail jig I had been using when about 10 feet from the boat all hell broke loose. The surface of the water was frothed for what seemed like a minute - with my only clue being a whitish hue from the fish, then it made a long run away from the boat, causing me to loosen the drag in fear of losing the fish. At this point, I was guessing a giant tiger....got to be 50". This fish made numerous long runs and probably 2 minutes into the fight I got my first look.

Any guesses?

Picture is attached.....over 30 inches and over 35 pounds (my estimates).

Texas Dan.

For sure a channel catfish. we are too far North for Blue Cats and a flat head is brown ion color. Many Channel catfish get a blueish hue when spawning or when they get large as this one is. Great Fish, Congrats