Dover man lands huge catfish bass fishing
Jun 14, 2020 15:28:52 #
the troller
Loc: Downers Grove, il.
This guy is a real sportsman:
When Chuck Smith of Dover plopped his crank bait just off the shoreline at one of the Twin Lakes in Uhrichsville earlier this summer he was just hoping to hook a nice large mouth bass.
Instead he ended up with the fight -- and eventually the fish -- of a lifetime.
“I threw that bait about 3 feet off the shore, reeled it by a stump and he ate it!” Smith said of the 4-foot long and estimated 50-pound catfish he hooked.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” said the veteran angler. “I was bass fishing with a 6-foot Ugly Stick, Shimano reel and 10-pound line.”
All of which made the catch even more impressive.
“He hit so hard I could actually feel him bite that lure,” said Smith. “Then he barrel-rolled over like an alligator and started stripping drag. That’s when I yelled for my brother.”
Smith’s brother Jeremy heard him yell but just thought he was yelling “fish on.” He gave him a “thumbs up” sign but didn’t fully comprehend what was happening.
“It took me a good 20 minutes to get that fish in,” said Smith. “He stripped off 30 yards of line five different times. I had a really hard time getting him in plus I was on a steep bank which made it even worse.”
Eventually the brute tired out and Smith was able to grab him.
“I had my rod in one hand and a bag on my shoulders with all my gear so I was off balance the whole time,” he said. “I finally got him to shore and was able to grab a gill. Once I did I was able to back up about 2 feet at a time then stop. Eventually I was able to get him up the bank just as my brother made it over there.
“I’ve been fishing for 40 years -- mostly in the Tuscarawas River and the streams around here -- but had never caught anything like that. Man what an adrenaline rush that was. I was still talking about that fish 3 days later.”
Strictly a catch-and-release fisherman, Smith took a few pictures and quickly put the fish back in the water.
“He was 4 feet long and 3 feet around,” he said. “I’m 6-4 and when I was holding the fish chest-high his tail was touching the ground. We figure he weighed close to 50 pounds. A fish that big is probably near the end of his life so I figured I would put him back and let him live out his days.
“A lot of people have asked me why I’m not smiling in a picture. It’s because I’m straining!”
An accomplished fisherman, it has been a memorable year for Smith.
In addition to the monster catfish, he’s also caught a 50-inch muskie and an 8.5-pound large mouth just in the last two months.
“It’s been a good spring and summer,” he said. “I’ve caught personal bests on three different species in the last two months.”
Just like the catfish he let the other two go as well.
When Chuck Smith of Dover plopped his crank bait just off the shoreline at one of the Twin Lakes in Uhrichsville earlier this summer he was just hoping to hook a nice large mouth bass.
Instead he ended up with the fight -- and eventually the fish -- of a lifetime.
“I threw that bait about 3 feet off the shore, reeled it by a stump and he ate it!” Smith said of the 4-foot long and estimated 50-pound catfish he hooked.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” said the veteran angler. “I was bass fishing with a 6-foot Ugly Stick, Shimano reel and 10-pound line.”
All of which made the catch even more impressive.
“He hit so hard I could actually feel him bite that lure,” said Smith. “Then he barrel-rolled over like an alligator and started stripping drag. That’s when I yelled for my brother.”
Smith’s brother Jeremy heard him yell but just thought he was yelling “fish on.” He gave him a “thumbs up” sign but didn’t fully comprehend what was happening.
“It took me a good 20 minutes to get that fish in,” said Smith. “He stripped off 30 yards of line five different times. I had a really hard time getting him in plus I was on a steep bank which made it even worse.”
Eventually the brute tired out and Smith was able to grab him.
“I had my rod in one hand and a bag on my shoulders with all my gear so I was off balance the whole time,” he said. “I finally got him to shore and was able to grab a gill. Once I did I was able to back up about 2 feet at a time then stop. Eventually I was able to get him up the bank just as my brother made it over there.
“I’ve been fishing for 40 years -- mostly in the Tuscarawas River and the streams around here -- but had never caught anything like that. Man what an adrenaline rush that was. I was still talking about that fish 3 days later.”
Strictly a catch-and-release fisherman, Smith took a few pictures and quickly put the fish back in the water.
“He was 4 feet long and 3 feet around,” he said. “I’m 6-4 and when I was holding the fish chest-high his tail was touching the ground. We figure he weighed close to 50 pounds. A fish that big is probably near the end of his life so I figured I would put him back and let him live out his days.
“A lot of people have asked me why I’m not smiling in a picture. It’s because I’m straining!”
An accomplished fisherman, it has been a memorable year for Smith.
In addition to the monster catfish, he’s also caught a 50-inch muskie and an 8.5-pound large mouth just in the last two months.
“It’s been a good spring and summer,” he said. “I’ve caught personal bests on three different species in the last two months.”
Just like the catfish he let the other two go as well.
Jun 14, 2020 16:32:58 #
the troller wrote:
This guy is a real sportsman: br br When Chuck Sm... (show quote)
Great story troller. Thanks. Glad he released the fish too.
Jun 15, 2020 01:17:59 #
That whopper might have been the ghost of Albert Finney! Just Sayin...RJS
Jun 15, 2020 01:43:34 #
Robert J Samples wrote:
That whopper might have been the ghost of Albert Finney! Just Sayin...RJS
Jun 15, 2020 01:44:11 #
Robert J Samples wrote:
That whopper might have been the ghost of Albert Finney! Just Sayin...RJS
Good one RJ.
Jun 15, 2020 12:41:51 #
the troller
Loc: Downers Grove, il.
In our rapid, internet age where you can't tell a lie from the truth. It would be fantastic if we had more people respect the laws.
During my days of fishing for musky in Wisconsin and Canada, i saw, so called Musky Hunters keeping muskies as small as 20 inches, just to bring home for a meal.
When i hear of a real sportsman like this guy, it warms my heart to see there are still people out there that respect the laws, especially the ones written for the benefit of the millions that enjoy the great sport of fishing.
Well, I just thought I would put my thoughts to words.
Thanks for looking, and have a great day!
Ron,
www.fishingfacts.net
During my days of fishing for musky in Wisconsin and Canada, i saw, so called Musky Hunters keeping muskies as small as 20 inches, just to bring home for a meal.
When i hear of a real sportsman like this guy, it warms my heart to see there are still people out there that respect the laws, especially the ones written for the benefit of the millions that enjoy the great sport of fishing.
Well, I just thought I would put my thoughts to words.
Thanks for looking, and have a great day!
Ron,
www.fishingfacts.net
Jun 16, 2020 22:13:25 #
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