How old would a fish that size be? Great catch. Thanks for doing everything you could to save it. I'm sure she has spawned many times before!

Most experts say blues live around 30 years. I've read a study of a blue over 100 lbs being in its 20's, 24 years old I think is what the test on that 100 lb'er said. I believe It's more genetics most the time than age. That same sudy said most blues will die of old age before they break 70 or 80 lbs. I'll do some digging and see if I can find the article.

Ok I'll try to answer all the questions here. I saw a mention of Lake O The Pines not having hardly any catfish in it...brother you're dead wrong...it is by FAR the best little gem of east texas in my opinion. Its just different fishing. But you don't pull out a 74.5, 53, 56 and 31 lbs fish out of the same spot in less than 30 hours unless it is stacked with big catfish. Is it Tawakoni...no...is it Eagle Mountain...no Its Lake O The Pines and I will encourage you all to go and enjoy the many species of fish it has to offer. That being said.

Unfortunately...no the fish did not survive to be released...and it broke my heart. This was a beautiful animal despite what my coworkers say...and she was FULL of eggs. For those of you who aren't aware. Some biologists estimate that mature catfish can lay up to 1000 eggs per pound of body weight. so that means 74,500 eggs that will not grow up to be feeder catfish the next year. I did all I could to keep this fish alive to be released...I baby sat this thing at the dock trying to revive it...but it just wouldn't come around...and rather than have the meat spoil...I put her on ice. As I already had plenty of meat...we found someone who didn't have any...and donated the fish.

I caught her on an open water trotline of my grandfather's design. Somewhere here on the board has a similar design called the "planter." I loved her term for it...I used chicken gizzard as bait.

Again...Lake O The Pines is home to some monsters a park ranger claimed commercial divers working on the dam have photographed fish that could be world records. There are alot of snags and its thick with timber...if you visit this lake DO NOT run wide open...but I have fun and catch alot of fish everytime I go there. I've fished out of Johnson Creek and Alley Creek. If you catch a record...take it to Ron Plumlee at Top's Market on FM 729...they have certified scales there. That to me is why this fish died. I took me 12 hours to locate a place with certified scales.

How old would a fish that size be? Great catch. Thanks for doing everything you could to save it. I'm sure she has spawned many times before!

Lake O The Pines has a very abundant food supply...otherwise it wouldn't support the number of bass and crappie that it does. It also has an immense amount of cover. That I'm still trying to wrap my head around fishing Rod N Reel for trophy fish like this. When fishing for 1-4 lbs channel cats...i lose alot of gear if i don't get them off the bottom fast enough. I seriously can't think of a way to change my method to target big blues and dodge the stumps that litter this lake.

I would love to hear some suggestions from some of you pro's though...I'd love to set a R&R record on this lake.

Guitarcfd