One of the people I fish with is Dennis. Back in the spring, Dennis caught a 44lb blue, the 2021 PB for the boat. I saw the weather forecast on Saturday and saw it would be a perfect day on Sunday to fish one last time in 2021. So I called Dennis and said I'm going to go fishing on Sunday with the goal of catching a 45lb catfish. I want you there so I can watch you cry like a little baby when I do it. He agreed because he knows my chances are slim and none, and slim just left town. We arrive at the river, launch, and head upstream to G Dam for skipjack. Only no one told the skipjack we are coming. Second option, head up the creek below the dam to cast net for shad. The creek is covered in crappie fishermen. At the back of the creek is a place I can throw a cast net and not get yelled at by those trying to catch crappie. On the first throw, the Rock Gods said nope, this cast net is now my cast net. Third option, head downstream to a rocky shoreline and fish for bluegill with nightcrawlers. The skipjack must have told the baby bass we were coming as every other fish we hooked was a bass. It took us over an hour to catch a dozen bluegill.

Finally got bait and now I get to catch my 45 lb'er. Nope, the best fish of the day was my 14lb flathead. The worse part, I have to listen to Dennis for all of 2022 brag about how he is "The 2021 Catfish King". I may lose his number for a entire year.

Dennis with his 2021 44lb blue.


Me with my best attempt to catch a 45lb fish. A 14lb flathead.

Lol..good stuff Carey! He sounds like a bass fisherman! A quick reminder of who catches the bait, finds the fish, rigs the poles, applies the technique, and helps get em all in the boat usually ends that kind of talk. All he has to do is show up and reel em in which is the easy part.

Hey Carey, if yours is a flathead and his is a blue, that counts for something. There should be a multiplier on the weight if its a flatty. I too have sacrificed much mono to the cast net gods this year. Lost one yesterday and almost lost two! Keep after 'em. You will beat that 44. On that river you almost can't help it. One of these days you'll double that number!

A few hours after Dennis caught his 44, I caught this 42. It was our most productive day in 2021.

Solid post and fish. Good job.

Nice fish!!