How to land a large catfish in a kayak

[Flyfisher87]

I was wondering what is the best way to land a large catfish in a kayak. I lost a 30-40 pound catfish this morning and don't want to do that

[Ramjet]

[JPaul]

http://www.austinkayak.com/products/500 ... -Gaff.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Hirsch]

About 45 years ago I used a .22 derringer!!! That was a canoe though.

[Flyfisher87]

Thanks. I kind of surprised me I didn't expect to catch a thing. three of my hooks were gone, one was wrapped in a tree and all my bait was gone so. I will be more prepared tomorrow morning

[Ramjet]

A piece of pipe filled with lead .... knock in on the noggin works real good too. They use to sell little "bats" at academy just for that purpose tho I haven't seen one in years. With the way the world is so sensitive today , maybe its not so "appropriate" .... but its damn effective.

[farman]

I use a boga style lip grip teathered to my yak. Locks on their lip gives you somthing to really hold on to. Think mine is a berkley brand. I dont use a pipe or gaff because they are both permant if you know what i mean.

[quibbly]

I use a net and boga lip grip. More humane if it is catch and release.

[Plant]

I use a net and boga lip grip. More humane if it is catch and release.

Agreed. Lip grips work very well. Although I highly doubt anyone is advocates using the lead pipe/.22 combo with the CPR method! Ha!

[vanjr]

I kinda wonder what one does with a cat that big other than CPR. Eat it? Ugh.

[christian]

Net the head

[Mojo227]

I wear gloves and get a death grip on their bottom jaw! Just be mindful of where that hook is....

[Yakfoot]

I have not caught one big enough to really try this but I have seen several videos of landing large fish by using a leg lift. Something I never thought of but dead simple. Instead of trying to drag the fish over the side with him thrashing around and changing your balance point with the potential of joining him in the water, the fish is first secured by the jaw in the manner of your choosing. Then, one leg below the knee is dropped over the side. The fish is pulled up the side of your leg then straighten the knee and lift the leg lifting the fish into the boat. Your arms only pull up the side of your body pulling the jaw as you lean back and lift with your foreleg, then sort of boost him over with your knee. I did use that method to boost a 16 lb. yellow cat into the boat just to experiment. It worked really slick with that smaller cat and allowed me to keep my center of balance. I need a 30 pounder though to really test it out.

[Boomy]

Could it really be that much harder than pulling in a 40"red? Those I grab by the lip like a bass or under the gill plate and pull them in?

[Poolio]

I'll trust a lip grip up to around 40-45 LBS; after that I gotta grab that bottom lip like a handle. A big Blue can put enough torque on that fish grip to snap it like a twig and mess up your whole day. After you've got a hold on the head, just drop both legs off the sides and pull it into your lap. Then take a picture and let that big nasty fish go eat some more trophy bass.

-Poo

[Denny1]

I saw a video on UTube where people (???) were catching large sharks and pulling them into their yak. You may try a search on UTube for ideas. When I was a small kid running trout lines and we had a big one on we just grabbed the lower jaw and hung on. The cats would knaw on our fingers but we seemed to not mind at the time as we were so excited. But that was when I was about 12-15.

[Ramjet]

Could it really be that much harder than pulling in a 40"red? Those I grab by the lip like a bass or under the gill plate and pull them in?

Those reds don't have poison in their fins ... Ever had even a small cat stick a fin in you ?! dsf;jhjsrgkhj/sdrj Ouch!!!


Went to Stubblefield this weekend , caught several nice blues , two largest being right at 22lbs. (those are easy to land compared to a 50+)


I remember a 54lber I caught back in 1992 , I made the mistake of grabbing him by the bottom lip .... those teeth are like 80grit sand paper , skinned my entire hand (Would have lost it otherwise)


Best bet is to grab a large fish by the gill plate .... if he's too big for the net.

[bullet.catcher]

I like to play them out

[LastHurrah]

I like to play them out

Wow that video was awesome! That would be a blast.

[gotcha]

If you adjust your peddels the mirage wont slap your hull. Check out the Hobie website. Just FYI. Nice catch

[redfin21]

Awesome catfish. Man that rod and reel can sure take a beating indeed. Congrats.

[larry long shadows]

what were you turning on the side rudder ?

[DPT]

Way to go Good fish!

[bullet.catcher]

what were you turning on the side rudder ?

yes, its the rudder. one on each side side.

[Redyaker]

for me......there are too many sharks in the water to be sticking my leg in the water and sliding a bull red up my leg.......had several bulls taken by shark right at the boat.