Sneaky Channel Catfish Scared Me

First for those that do not 'know trotlines' - you have to be careful - not only of the hooks, turtle, gar - but especially of 'foul hooked turtles.

A 'foul hooked turtle' is one that is not hooked in the mouth but has 'snagged itself' such as having the hook in its tail or a foot. This means the snapping turtle head and mouth might be about 9" (a drop line length) away from your fingers when you lift the line - so you should always be looking ahead for the drop line / hook - to make sure there isn't a turtle waiting on you - they may not be very active but still alive (not drown yet).

Anyway this AM the trotline was coming up just beside the boat and I was moving slow so I could untwist the drop lines - I hadn't felt any tugs at all and just as I pulled up last few hooks - I almost jumped out of my skin (not to mention the boat :) - when I looked down and something was on the line right under me (inches away from my hand) - right beside the boat - I immediately pulled myself / boat / line back - expecting to see a snapping turtle head with mouth going for my fingers.

But as I backed up and lowed line - in a flash I saw it was a catfish - which I then figured must be dead - it was not moving a muscle. So I pulled myself back up a little so I was over the fish - and then he woke up giving me my morning shower and slapped the side of the boat - so I immediately backed up again so he would not 'drown me' and beat against my boat to get free.

Of course, the landing net was just barely out of reach (I usually have it moved close when I feel a tug on the line - but this sneaky catfish wanted to scare me and give me a shower (it must have been on all night and worn out from fighting the weight which was only 3 hooks away).

Anyway to make this 'now long' story shorter - it was / is a 3 lb (2 lb 15oz min - 3 lb 4 oz max) Channel Catfish.

I'm dry now and going back to bed but my heart just recently stopped pounding and I'm sure to dream of a big ole snapping turtle that would have been eating my fingers if it was sneaky as this channel catfish.