Fly rod PB - 4 lb channel catfish

Just got my PB (personal best) on a fly rod - I was trying to fish for bream to bait my yoyo's and trotline - a storm was moving close to I laid down my fly rod and started putting up the yoyo's

About that time my fly rod started flying down the fishing pier and I grabbed it and held on

I was fighting it - letting it run (like I had a choice) - and a neighbor came out down the street and I yelled for help

He yelled at another neighbor and they got a net - I figured I'd never get it out - but it was getting tired by time someone arrived with net and I dragged it into the net


By this time the rain was moving across the lake - so I gave the fish to the guy with the net and we all ran for cover (still didn't get to bait my yoyo's - and the trotline will not be baited tonight (dang it - perfect night but can't bait in a storm and short on bait (need about 3 dozen to bait yoyo's for bait thieves and 21 hooks on trotline

We didn't have time to weight the fish - I may see if they still haven't cleaned it tomorrow and go weight it - but it's a 4 lb or better according to my trained eye (e.g. I'm usually pretty close :)

I had 4 lb leader on my fly line and was using a #8 hook (yep I said #8) - had half a large red worm (was trying to get rid of the last half (I cut them in half for bream fishing) - best guess is that a bream got on the line first then the catfish - hard to believe a catfish that big would waste time on half a worm :)

I was surprised the catfish didn't straight the hook - but I let him run all he wanted - had to play him a while before someone showed up with net.

I've got 3 lb bass before on fly rod - but this is biggest fish - the channel catfish for fly rod