You'd have to be crazy to fish on a day like today

True statement. Winter Weather Advisory this morning, calling for rain and freezing rain. Temperature was 32 degrees at sunrise. East wind around 10, heavy cloud cover. So BCB and I were of coarse leaving the marina at first light. Catching bait was tough. They were all deep deep. Took an hour but we got them in 38 feet. My hands were froze solid. I would throw once or twice and I would have to stick my hands in my pockets with hand warmers to get enough dexterity back to throw again. But we powered through and got what we needed.

After the cold front, the surface temperature was back down to 46 degrees on the main lake. Wind had a nice chop going and with my new (old) Cabela's 78" drift sock we were pulling boards at .4 to .5 mph consistently. We put baits down about 8:15. At 8:30 we get a good takedown on #2 and I start bringing him in. Feels like a nice fish, while BCB is getting the net, #3 gets smoked and the fish is stripping drag. We just get my fish in the boat and BCB keeps saying Good Fish! Good Fish! I have the net ready but this fish is in charge of the show. BCB gets him up, he strips off what Bob gained and heads back down. He finally gets him up where we can see him and this fish is a beast. We get him in the net, then the boat. We are 25 minutes into our first drift and the boat is in chaos! We still have the first fish of the double laying on the floor and we get this thing unhooked and weigh him. This pig is a 60! New boat record! Biggest fish I've ever been part of boating. I am not calling it my new PB because it is BCB's new PB! So 15 minutes into our first drift we get a double with a 30 and a 60. Nice way to start the morning. That took the chill off.

That was the pattern for the day. A few minutes later we get a 6 pound eater then a 36, then a 30, a 15, then back to back 35s then a 5, a 15 and a 14. Between 8:30 and 12:00 we put 292 pounds in the boat. The cold was getting to us and after the morning we had been through, we decided that as the bite had slowed, we were gonna head for the barn and get warmed up. What a trip. Thanks BCB. Always a pleasure buddy...

What an amazing day, but holy [censored] it was COLD!!

You know its cold when you feel your (old) bones creek!

These things were a godsend.



One incident we had was when one of the first fish in the boat didn't get back to normal when we returned him. He struggled to get down as we watched him falter a bit. We upped our lines and headed back for him, but soon after he got down ok and we both breathed a sigh of relief. Tim burped him but with all the action we had him out a tad longer than optimal.

Tim missed off one of the monster cats we caught.





NSFW....Tim burping a monster.

(short movie)
https://maddbrit.smugmug.com/Family/Retirement-in-Allen/i-SHBDmBG/A

I don't normally feel the cold but honestly have no idea how Tim kept at the bait casting for as long as he did.

Another fantastic day with Catfish Tim.



Now thawed out after a long hot shower.

Nice!!!

Good job guys! Y’all are tougher than me !

Heck yea boys! That’s my kind of party!! We’re going tomorrow and I will be happy with half that! 🍀🍀🍀

Awesome job guys. That’s a heck of a day. I had all intentions to go to Lavon today for one last deep bite day but with them weather man saying ice over night I decide not to. Then when I woke up and everything was dry I was mad that I made other plans for the day. Look like most likely I won’t get another deep bite this winter.

Y'all BCB and I said to each other as we were leaving the marina, we had a feeling yesterday would be a good day. The cold was bad, especially while I was trying to catch bait. But the reward for enduring that was worth every minute. I love the cold weather bite, but I've had my fill for this year. I'm ready for shorts and t shirts and griping about the heat! I'm ready for night fishing for flatheads and the pre-spawn feed up. It had been by far my best winter season ever. Now, let's put the heavy clothes away and get on to spring!

Totaling up February, we ended up with only 4 days out this month. But managed 406 pounds. After 859 in January, that seems kinda low but that includes a skunk trip a week ago so really just 3 trips with fish to log. January, by comparison had 6 days out. Total for the year so far, 71 fish, 1,265 pounds. Every once released alive to fight again. Wow!

I'm with you Tim, bring on the flip flops and T shirts!

One thing you reenforced with me yesterday my friend, was the need to be able to reliably get fresh bait. I have to improve. That was so freakin cold yesterday, and seeing you throw the net over fish down 30+ feet, only to have the net come up empty a few times was tough. A few goes at that and honestly I would have waived the white flag and used frozen/supermarket bait.

Tim just kept at it, and final throw after an hour of trying said 'this throw for the win' and it was.

Thank goodness for hand warmers!

Less than a year ago I was aspiring to catch a catfish over 10 pounds.

Catching 406 pounds of fish in just 4 trips out is just the stuff dreams are made of for most of us mortals!

Yeah Bob. And look at the average that 1265 pounds over 71 fish is an average of almost 18 pounds! Wow! Just Wow!

Awesome post. Hard work pays off! Good job Sir.

Tim and Bob,

So happy you guys had a great trip - you earned it!

I have had some work and family things getting in the way of my fishing lately, and watching you guys, and Chris, over the last few weeks, just kill them... it is hard!

But glad to see my friends hard work paying off!

See you soon.
Ken

Thanks Ken. This winter has been awesome no doubt. But I am ready for some warm weather fishing!

Tim, that's one heck of a day of fishing. It's also one heck of an accomplishment based on what I did that day. For people who read this that have never thrown a cast net, doing it in 28 degrees is one of the hardest, most grueling things you can ever do. I don't care what you do to prevent your hands from hurting, it won't work. You better not have to throw the net very many times! Awesome post, great year of fishing, and I'm completely on board with you for T-shirts and sweat running down your back! It's been great to watch you and learn from you. You've made a lot of difference in the lives of so many but especially to me and BCB. For two guys who would've bobbled and fumbled around for years trying to pick up the Blue Cat'n game, you've really moved us along at a fast pace and I know I can speak for the two of us when I tell you how grateful we are to you. Congrats on another great day of line-stretchin!

^ very well said, Geno.

Speaking for myself I am very aware I don't really know [censored] yet, but thanks to Tim and Chris I now know enough to get in the game and have a chance every time I go out.

This coming week I'm heading to Ray Roberts for no less than (gasp) 12 full days of fishing. I am blessed for sure. I have never done well there, so spent last night looking at my boating avionics app, and looking at how complex and varied the structure there is across the whole lake.

So then the deep or shallow areas, transition scatter or creeks. Creek mouths or sources, 6 or 20 feet, drifts or anchors??

And so on it goes....

This new pursuit is an addiction for sure.

Heck of a day !

Nice cats!!