Santa Fe Dam 10-14-09

[synthesis808]

Hello everyone.

I decided to go with a friend to SFD. Got there around 1:00 p.m. We were fishing from the shore using spinners and other lures.

http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae4/synthesis808/2009-10-14143433.jpg?t=1255624077

http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae4/synthesis808/2009-10-14143423.jpg?t=1255624134

http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae4/synthesis808/2009-10-14143416.jpg

At around 5:00 p.m. after no action we were about to pack it up and go home. I decided to put on a swimbait and toss a few out before we left. I ended up with a catfish. It was my first catfish and by far the biggest fish I've ever caught. And it was done on a 6ft. Berkley lightning rod with a tiny cardinal spinner reel and 6 pound line.

http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae4/synthesis808/2009-10-14154614.jpg

http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae4/synthesis808/2009-10-14154624.jpg

Every time I would bring him in close to land, he would take my line back out. It took about 10 minutes to land.

I am somewhat new to fishing. I wasn't even sure if I handled the catfish correctly. If any of you have tips on how to hold the fish, please inform me as I am here to learn. Also, can any of you guys estimate how heavy that fish was?

After taking some pictures, I released him. Maybe I will see him again one day.

[fishincrave]

nice cat thanks for the report not sure about the weight .

[El Weirdo]

Thats a flat head...no V tail.......WOW!!

[jlgarciaiii22]

Very Nice Catch... That's a big one! Cool that you released it back but i'm sure theres somebody today trying to get that fat boy! That's whole lotta fish tacos:Big Grin:

[jw4Bassing]

I decided to put on a swimbait and toss a few out before we left. I ended up with a catfish. It was my first catfish and by far the biggest fish I've ever caught. And it was done on a 6ft. Berkley lightning rod with a tiny cardinal spinner reel and 6 pound line.

Also, can any of you guys estimate how heavy that fish was?


Welcome to the Board and that is definitely one heck of a Trophy Cat pulled from little "SFD". Nonetheless, congrats on bringing her in using a swimbait on 6 pound test line as well. Since I have caught a few cats myself about that size in the past, my guess is that it would weigh anywhere between 16 to 18 pounds.

Tight Lines....

JW

[Liteliner]

Looks like a flathead. Thats got to be an odd catch for that lake right? :Shocked:

[mickeysindahouse]

Cool catch! Looks to be around 10 lbs (based on comparison with my last 9.5 pounder I caught).

Congrats!!!

[Indo-angler]

Really nice fish especially since they haven' stocked for awhile.
I also enjoyed the great pics. Thanks!
SFD is a beautiful lake with that backdrop.

[B@$$[P][M][P]]

http://www.fadzter.com/smilies/eek.gif http://www.fadzter.com/smilies/eek.gif http://www.fadzter.com/smilies/eek.gif http://www.fadzter.com/smilies/eek.gif 6 lb line??? must have been a good fight! http://www.fadzter.com/smilies/deadat30.gif

[Mr Bendo]

Nice work!!!!! cool looks like a flat head!!!!

[Ifishtoolittle]

Wow nioce a flathead WTG!

[synthesis808]

Thanks for the comments and warm welcome to the board.

It was quite fun bringing the fish in on 6 pound line. The water was very murky and I couldn't see the fish until it was 3 feet from the shore.

[old pudd fisher]

Damn that cat must be as old as you. Love it and glad he or she was released...Nice!

[El Weirdo]

if you wonder what has been happing to all the blue gills in this lake..these non native predatory cat fish will if not have hurt the eco system of the lake..somebaody had to plant this fish or others like it...once again an illegal planting will harm the balance of this lake...unless it came as a passenger when they stocked channel cats..still in long run not good news for the lake..

my two cents...

[old pudd fisher]

if you wonder what has been happing to all the blue gills in this lake..these non native predatory cat fish will if not have hurt the eco system of the lake..somebaody had to plant this fish or others like it...once again an illegal planting will harm the balance of this lake...unless it came as a passenger when they stocked channel cats..still in long run not good news for the lake..

my two cents...

Good point EL Weirdo. Didn't know they were predatory cats. I learned something today thanks.

[La-Califa]

Nice catch! Are you supporting the cat by the Side horn? I never seen that before. Ha,ha! For the smaller one's the best way to handle is. Put your hand over the eyes & pin the top horn down with your palm. And hook you pinkie & thumb under the side horns. That way the cat can't stick you, which is painful! Ouch!!

[Bird dog]

Wow!!! That's an awesome catch.Cool that you released it.Thanks for the photo.

[ToadsToadsOnly]

if you wonder what has been happing to all the blue gills in this lake..these non native predatory cat fish will if not have hurt the eco system of the lake..somebaody had to plant this fish or others like it...once again an illegal planting will harm the balance of this lake...unless it came as a passenger when they stocked channel cats..still in long run not good news for the lake..

my two cents...

Sfd has a phenomenal amount of bluegill and shad population Ive caught those flatheads out of there 15 years ago. Don't think its has thrown the balance off this lake to much. I think the flatheads must of came from the San Gabriel river. Since Santa Fe dam is a flood basin on rainy years it gets flooded pretty bad. I've seen it where all the trees in the back end of the lake was flooded to the top. And that is an great catch bro and catfish put a heck of a fight on 6lb line especially one that size.

[smokehound]

I had no idea there were flatheads there...