When you think about catfishing in Texas, and those that have been at it for a long time, who do you think of? I'm talking about the ones that have been doing it day in day out for 20+ years. Who do you put as the best of the best at catfishing in Texas? I just thought it may be good to pay tribute to the ones that taught us, and perhaps taught our dads as well.

Channel cats Weldon Kirk and Johnny Enloe
Blue cat Jackie Kennedy
Yellow cats the late Mr. Houston
The love of fishing my daddy
This is just a few of the great fisherman I have had the pleasure of sharing a boat with.

This question is up to opion because there are a lot of very knolageble cat fishermen who don't Guid and sent known like the guy I learned from. He as passed away now. When he went out you were garinted fish not just a few either. On this site I would say Ronnie and salas are 3of the best. Toney give the best clear detailed post and has the experience. If my wife would not kill me I would take a weekend and book a trip with him.

I'd have to say Tom Gravely.

Tom definitely knows his stuff.

It's kind of a loaded question though. Strategies for the 3 main catfish species vary. Some people can slay channel cats all day everyday but don't even know where to start with blues. I'm fairly decent at blues but have never even caught a single flatty.

And I bet some of the best catfishermen in texas, can't even spell "computer" nontheless know how to post on this forum

I would have to say Chad Ferguson at www.catfishedge.com he seems to know his stuff, out of the DFW area. Just check out catfish edge on You Tube to catch my drift.

Best cat catcher I ever knew was W.C. Briley a guide out of San Angelo. Made his own bait too. My Dad, brother and myself were in the boat with Ol Briley when he caught his ten thousandth catfish on Lake Ray Roberts. Briley had a little chrome mechanical counter on the console and he clicked it on every fish brought into the boat. Never went out with Briley that we didn't put a limit for everyone in the boat.
Of course he was the only guide I ever fished cats with so I might be a little biased.

I would remove anyone who started catfishing seriously in the past 10 years!! Legends are hard to define. I imagine most people are going to go with internet guys because they see their name a lot or local guys and nothing wrong that. These are a list of old names that have been trophy catfishing for many years some of which have past away.

These guys have or were some of the pioneers of Winter time Trophy Catfishing been doing it since the 70's and early 80's.
Forrest White
Calvin Sisemore
Hugh Jewel
Kennith Holmes (the father of our own Kennith "Booger" Holmes)
Darrell Cummins
Steve Gabriel
David Holt (Father of Little David Holt here on the forum)


Guys that should be in the conversation for sure that I know have been doing it for awhile now and building that Legend type status.
David Hanson
Chad Ferguson (Probably does more than anyone right now promoting the sport and that means a lot to me)
Jackie kennedy
Cody Mullennix (State Record Holder)
Mickey Petree
Steve Nelson
The last three on that list I feel kind of put Tawakoni on the map for many people and showed a lot of people how to target trophy catfish and some of the guides doing it now booked trips with them to learn how they did it. I know a lot of people knew about Twok before them but their body of work a long with the internet information age I feel help fuel the sport in this state.


I am sure there are guys all over that have been doing it for long time like Kennith "Booger" Holmes, Tommy Blancett and myself. Like I said legends are hard to define. I listed some old timers and some younger guys I felt made a big contribution to the sport we love!

Steve Barnes, Jerry Hancock

Anyone ever heard of Doug "Tex" Elliot?

+1

He makes a great rod should have been on my list!

Yep, never heard of most of those mentioned here, but I do know the people who taught me, and they taught me well, and the memories will last forever.

Thank you Tim Cline for steering this thread in the direction I entended it to go.