Skip to main content

25 lb Flathead, 6# mono, Flips my kayak!!

25 lb Flathead, 6# mono, Flips my kayak!!

Ryan Lampe

NASHVILLE Tennessee

Well, been kayak fishing for months now, but I feel like this is my first real "kayak exclusive" type experience. Crankbaiting with a rebel wee craw when I hooked into this monster! I founght it for maybe 8-10 minutes, finally saw its face, then decided it was the perfect opportunity to film my first catch from a kayak. So I turned on my HD cam. Little did I know, I ran out of memory card from filming 22 minutes later and it was blank to start out. Long story short, I wrestled it through brush with the very light line... more with the kayak than with the rod. Biggest fish to date from the yak. It pulled me way down stream, then back up stream past where it started... stopping at 5 or 6 brush piles on the way to tangle.Finally, after I saw that the camera had no more memory, the catfish bulldogged into a hole next to shore in 4.5 foot of water. It would budge for a few minutes, so I decided this would have to be it. I was gonna jump in the water to pull it out by hand.. only it didn't happen as smoothly as I imagined. When I jumped out with my rod in hand, the boat dumped and EVERYTHING except my crate (bungied) was in the river. At that point, I was thinking, "Man, I'm such a dumbass! Did I really just do that?!" With my rod in hand, I put everything back in the boat as much as I could while the water was at my nipples. When most my crap was decent, I felt around with my leg for the cat. Then reached down and yanked it out by its tail and got her in the yak.Then I was like, "Now what?" So I brought the boat closer to shore and just stood in awe No memory left for video, but I guess it still let me take a few pics. Now if I can just get back in with her...

BTW, I just came out to crankbait some bass, but I guess my family's gonna eat good tonight! Praise the Lord for such an experience I won't forget!

Species: Flathead Catfish

Date Caught: 07/06/2011

Kept / Released: Kept

Recommended


Region of Catch: Region 2

Length: 48"

Weight: 25

Lure / Bait used: Lure | Natural Stream Craw/Olive Green Rebel Wee Craw Crankbait




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Destinations

In-Fisherman Classics: Bluegill Basics

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Destinations

In-Fisherman Classics: European Speed Fishing for Panfish

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Destinations

In-Fisherman Classics: Location Secrets for Fall Crappies

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Destinations

In-Fisherman Classics: Take a Kid Fishing

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Destinations

In-Fisherman Classics: Classic Crappie Presentations

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Fall Panfish Patterns

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Learn

In-Fisherman Classic: Summertime Bluegills

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Learn

Angler and Rescuers Reunite After One-In-A-Million Offshore Epic

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Destinations

World-Class Channel Cats below the Selkirk Dam in Manitoba with Blackwater Cats

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Learn

Controlled Drifting for GIANT Blue Cats with Phil King

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Learn

3 SIMPLE and EASY Catfish Rigging Tips with Captain Ross Robertson

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Destinations

CATFISH FEVER!

In-Fisherman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the In-Fisherman App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top In-Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All In-Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top In-Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use