As promised, here is my report on a killer, solo nighttime kayak fishing trip for Trophy Catfish on the Middle Brazos River.

Sorry for the delay!

As I prepared my gear I could not help but feel pumped about the possibilities for a productive trip. With the arrival of the first significant cold front of the year and a favorable moon phase, I felt that it was high time to return to my Middle Brazos catfish haunts.

I arrive at the primitive launch late in the afternoon and I begin to quickly unload and launch so I can make it to my destination well before dark. I also planned to net some bait along the way -



After another short paddle, I reach my destination. I begin to set up and put out a spread of freshly netted live and cut baits. Knowing that this section of the river is infested with laydowns and rocks along with some big cats, I have selected several of my Fenwick Pacificsticks with Abu-Garcia 6500s and 7000s for the task. I also recommend nothing but the highest quality terminal gear for this type application -



Before I can finish getting baits out, one of my Fenwicks comes to life as the rod begins to dip slightly. Immediately, the bait clicker on the 6500 starts talking. I grab the rod and come tight to what feels like a very solid cat that makes several good runs under heavy drag. After a short but intense fight, I slip my hand under the first Blue of the trip. A nice one at that! -



After completing the catch, photograph, release session, I return my atttention to my remaining spread of baits while I re-tie and bait up again. Shortly, out of the corner of my eye, I can't help but notice action on another rod as the bait clicker sounds the alarm. Again, I grab the rod and come tight to another good fish. Soon, I can hardly believe my luck, as I get the first glimpse of my opponent. A big Brazos Channel that looks to be well over 30", which I quickly CPR -



A little later, I can't help but notice that I've got "window shoppers" on two of my cut bait rigs. I quickly find my self in the midst of a double hookup and, after some fancy rodwork, I wind up landing both a Blue and a Channel for a quick CPR session -



Later, while I am re-baiting another line, one of my liveys gets blasted hard without warning. Now, I get another opportunity to tussle with a fiesty Brazos cat that betrays it's size by taking good drag and making several powerful surges. Soon I have my hands on the largest Channel I have personally seen from the Brazos in 20 years!. The look on my face says it all. LOL!-




Now my thoughts begin to turn toward the possibilty of fully documenting a solo Catch and Release Catfish Slam. In my opinion, after just catching three Chanels well over 30", anything is possible, Right?

As I prepare my holding pen for the first candidate of my "Trifecta" I begin to strategize on how to come up with the other two specie of catfish. I know big Blues and Flatheads are suckers for big live baits, so I put out a fresh spread of the biggest liveys I had.

Finally,I get significant break in the action, just long enough for a quick snack, before I notice one of my lines with a big bait goes slack. Believing to be bit, I quickly make a move to the rod and disengage the bait clicker so the fish can take a litle line with zero resistance. Sure enough, the line begins to move off as I wind down tight to a big fish that immediatley begins dramatic headshakes and has no problem taking heavy drag as I brace myself with both hands on the Fenwick's foregrip while trying to turn the fish away from a laydown that is paralell to the adjacent bank. With a dogged fighting style and a superior ability to keep it's head down, I was almost sure I was dealing with a big, adult Flathead. After the first pass, the fish came close enough for a positive ID and gave me an idea of hook placement, so I could calculate a lower lip grab. The fish went berzerk once it felt the skinny water. So I had to wait for another opportunity for the grab. In a moment, I get the opportunity, as I thrust my hand around the lower lip of a massive rod and reel caught Flathead -



I take a little time for a photo session before putting the Flattie in the holding pen. As this moment, I lack only another Blue to complete my Catfish Slam.

Later, my hopes brighten when one of the Pacificsticks starts bouncing hard. After a spirited tussle I have another beautiful Channel to CPR -



Now I'm starting to curse my success with the big Channels, as I defiantly bait up and return to my spread to wait out my final Blue of the trip.

So, I wait out my fish. After a longer than expected lull in the action, one of my baits gets blasted and now, again, I'm off to the races with a determined fish that really puts a good bend in my rod. I finally get a look, and sure enough I got my final and largest Blue
of the trip -



With all the members of the Catfish Slam present and accounted for, we all load in the kayak for a group shot, just before I release them back into the Brazos to fight another day -



Catfish Slam, anyone?

Nice Flathead! Is this one becoming Tacos as well? You'll get plenty! LOL
Just jealous...
nice trip! Looking for the report! Thanks for sharing!

Great catch

DAYUM!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awesome fish!

Updated report with pics.

Enjoy!!!!

Thanks for the kind words, Gentlemen.

WOW....what a great bunch of fish, with superb photography and wordsmithing to go with them...thanks for sharing Shane. I don't know how you do it....if not for the pictures I would think you were just a great storyteller because of the number of big, quality fish caught on a single trip. You must have a lot of practice managing multiple rigs and being able to have a Kodak moment with each of those "fat ladies". I think I would have lost several fishing rigs and a few cameras to boot if I tried to duplicate your formula of successful fishing. Thanks again for sharing your trips/pictures with all of us. We'll be spending next Thanksgiving at Possum Kingdom lake and I will likely give you a call to schedule a trip...you obviously know how to catch the big ones on the Brazos.

Tight Lines,

Ken

Thanks, Ken.

It's nice to know the reports are appreciated.

I would not even speak of or post a trip like that, unless I had photos to back up the storyline. lol

I look forward to fishing with you.

Absolutely great report. Were you fishing from your kayak or from the bank? Also, what do you wear to stay warm?

I specialize in kayak only fishing, with a emphasis on rivers.
Specifically the Middle/Upper Brazos. However, when fishing multiple baits in a spread, especially if big fish are invovled, it is often better to beach the kayak or use a stake out pole, so I can fight my fish from a fixed postion. Otherwise, a big cat or striper will pull you straight into a river obstruction or drag you around in the kayak, spooking or putting down other fish in the run. Regardless, I always get out of my kayak for the photo and release session.

As for my Winter kayak attire, I have always relied on Hodgeman 3mm stocking foot neoprene waders, Mion watershoes, polypro socks, Patagonia Capilene bottoms, North Face Vaporwick longsleeve tee, Helly Hansen 200 gram polartec vest and a Mountain Hardware breathable/waterproof outer shell w/ zippered armpit vents and storm hood. A 200 gram polartec cap, tops off my cold weather outfit. I also have two pairs of Warmers fingerless or fingered neoprene gloves, if needed.

In classifying the Brazos locally is the "upper Brazos" below Possum Kingdom to Lake Granbury, the "middle" Brazos between Lake Granbury and Lake Whitney and the "lower" Brazos below the Whitney dam south?

Pretty much.

YaknYota,

Fantastic fish, pics and story telling! I too enjoy targeting cats from my yak and have fished several stretches of the Brazos from Granbury to Whitney, although I have never had success anywhere near what your trip produced.

Without giving specific spots away, do you mind tell me what you look for to target these fish and what months are best? Are you looking for specific depths, depth changes, laydowns, cutbanks, water temp, etc?

Thanks!

Thanks, Kayak Guy.

Late Sept.-Jan. are the best months for me, regarding cats on the Brazos. I have notes dating back to the flood of 1999 that
have helped me establish a post flood year pattern on Brazos cats.

I also have destinct methods to my madness, and a "Nazi" like mentality when it comes to my bait quality.

I suggest keeping a log and making notes of the when, where and how. After 20 years or so, you should have a good reference point. lol

Good luck!