Why I catfish...

My cousin passed away yesterday at 44 with cancer. I can�t help but reflect on my own life as I just turned 43 and wonder why we choose the paths me choose. I spend a lot of my spare time and money fishing. I love to catfish for many different reasons. The number one reason is the feeling I get when I hang a good fish is the same feeling i used to get when I was a kid. This $h@z never gets old and I will chase that feeling till they plant me in the dirt. The endless search will make a man spend a lifetime and a small fortune to get that feeling. boat, electronics, and gear has gotten down righ rediculous in price the last 10 yrs but it�s all relative to the value you put on feeling that feeling again. Wintertime gives me the opportunity to hunt monsters and do battle with Mother Nature and most days I fish solo. It can be dangerous at times but the adrenaline rush I get is like being in a fight without actually getting punched in the face. When spring rolls around all my non-fishing friends and family want to catch fish and spring and summer provides easy fishing. It�s a great feeling putting friends and family on fish. My son is now 2 1/2 and at an age where I can start bringing him along. The possibilities are endless and I�m looking forward to making many many fish memories with him. I want to thank TFF for providing a place for like minded fisherman to meet. Catfisherman are a different breed and without the forum I would never have met some of you guys I now consider brothers. Looking forward to our fishing adventures and hopefully meeting some more hardcore Catfisherman in the future. If there is one piece of advice I can give it�s to live in the moment and put forth the effort to make those lasting memories with the ones we love

My future fishing partner

sorry for your loss.

making lifetime memories

Good reflecting Brutha! Cute pic. I'll worry when he can back the trailer. I'll rejoice when he can throw the heavy taped net!

Sorry to hear about you cousin.

The memories your son, you and your family make fishing together will be priceless. I can always hear my grandad say �ahh boy� every time I hook a good fish, and he has been gone since 1995. Fishing is great with family, my favorite way to spend time with them as well.

Awesome post! The Good Lord needed another fishing buddy!

Sad about your cousin El Gato-
I enjoyed the reflection post

Sorry for your loss! That was a wonderful post!

Sorry for you loss brother!

My mom passed away in December just one month shy of her 82nd birthday.

My dad and I hadn't fished a lot in several years because of her health, my kids growing up and doing stuff, and other reasons I'm sure.

He is suffering from Alzheimer's/Dementia so it is a chore to go now but we have been going as much as we can.

I hope your future fishing partner loves to fish as much as I do and that both of you get to spend many, many hours, days, weeks, months, and years enjoying it together!

I hear ya! My daughter (Kristina) was on the banks of the Trinity River with my first Father-in-law (Jimmy) while he R-n-Rd. I would be upriver running lines. Kristina was about 2 1/2 years old sittin' on the bank with her Lifejacket on. Jimmy was with me the morning "Big'Un" hit (was on a throwline). I made the mistake of not feeling anything, so whizzing down the main line. That is, until it woke up. Almost took me out of the boat. When you are whisked from the middle of a 12 footer back seat, to where your arm is in the water & still going, you have to make a choice. I am heading down to its domain. If I let go now, I will have another encounter. If I don't, I could get pulled down & in trouble. That split second choice kept me in the boat. But armed with the Catfish Calendar, and almost 2 years later, I finally met & pulled in "Big'Un", while Kristina was with me in July 1985. She was not quite 5 years old. As I figured, "Big'Un" was a big Op (spotted Yellowcat). I had used the calendar to try & catch it on the YC days. Weighing in on the meat locker scale with tail dragging the bottom, it showed 59#. But the guy said it should go at least 65#. I decided to just call her at 60#.

Anyway, another story in the making, is "The Giant" just out of Running Branch on Lake Limestone. An 82 pound Op was caught near this area back around 2005 or 2006. I have yet to see it, but one of my Catfish Calendar & YellowCat students has. The night it was on their line, he said there was nothing but "head" in the spotlight. When it turned & dove, its tail came up as if to wave Bye & he noted it must have been at least a 12 inch span. It took leader & hook. I have encountered it several times. And back on Cinco de Mayo this year, I did not realize I had it on the other end, until it was too late. Perhaps I was lucky, as it might have rolled my new 12 footer over. Needless to say, if the water level does not go down bad, I may return for "The Giant" with my Grandson (Willan) in the fall for another lifetime story. I estimated it at about 115#, but after the way it broke my leader, I may have to up that between 115# & 150#.

Sorry about your cousin, but glad to know you soon will have a very special partner. I was just starting with Willan when I had heart & blood pressure problems back in 2012. If "The Giant" gets a hair above 115#, and I can get it certified, we may be looking for not only the lake, but state YellowCat record too. Biggest YC in Limestone so farm, that somebody got certified, was 107#. And of course, I will be using the Calendar as to keying in on it.

Here's to memories & making them!!!

Sorry for your loss..my son lives 5 hours from me so my wife has become my fishing partner...last yr she only could handle 1 pole..this year she uses 4 poles...such a pleasure to hook someone on Catfishing...your son will cherish the time with u

Know the feeling well. Awesome thread!

Very sorry to hear about your Cousin Buddy..Seems like I've had to watch Loved ones over and over suffer through it...I'm happy he is not suffering any more Bro.....Your little boy is too cute!!!!...I'm already looking at little fishing shirts and stuff for my grand son..pretty excited!!

Sorry for your loss. I hate cancer having suffered tomany losses to it. Have fun with that little one they grow up so fast. seems like just a few years ago my son and I went fishing 2-3 times a week before he started kindergarden to now trying to find time to go between varsity football practices and workouts. Your boy looks like a natural cat man.

Why I catfish: Food.

Thanks guys! It can�t be just about food willie. With all the videos and web stuff you do it�s way beyond just food. I catch a years supply in 4 or 5 trips, what am I going to do the rest of the year amigo??

Sorry for your loss,Liked your post, i'm o. l.d. [64] still enjoy going does feel like iam akd again,till i climd on & off the trailer couple times, but when it cools down,i need to grip sum'n else in my left hand,so igrab my bow & head to.THE HI COUNTRY [not much longer now] BE SAFE LET SOMEONE KNOW WHER YOU ARE FISHING, WHEN YOU'LL BE HOME.See ya on the water.

Sorry for your loss I lost my brother and best fishing buddy sometime ago (see my sig). Catfishing is both relaxing and frustrating at the same time for me. It's killing me that me boat has been out of commission for over a month now.

Well said brother keep on keepin on !

Sure hate to hear about your loss. Winter time is around the corner and we are gonna get together and pull in some good fish. Or at least we will have a great time telling our stories to each other.

Thanks again guys! I�m gonna make sure we get to fish together this winter Mike. I know how hard it is to do a travel trip when you have a rompin stompin 2 yr old at home with the wife. I will make a trip to your neck of the woods since you put in all the work fixing up the battleship this summer. You can join me on my lake or any of my travel trips this winter. You might have to take turns reeling em in with Littlefeather though. We�ll have to get our 2 boys together next summer for a fishing trip.