Terry "Pontoon" Lairson and Chris "trollmeister" Hagopians EPIC Night 54.7lb Blue

[VineAssist]

I get a phone call from Chris and Terry saying they are on there way to the lake and they wanted to see if Roger's cafe had any of his famous Carne Asada Burritos. Roger was fresh out so terry and Chris stopped elsewhere to pick up dinner. By the way thank you for the tacos guys! While in the shop I chatted with Terry as usual and told him "Terry get me a big one so I have some good pictures to use"!
LITTLE DID I KNOW WHAT WAS IN STORE FOR ME TONIGHT!

I get a phone call from Chris about 9:30 is saying that Terry got a 16.9lb Channel Catfish on Mackeral near mid lake. I said great get me a good picture on the water because those always turn out the best! So here is the shot of Terry's 16.9lb Channel Catfish.
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/jrg26p/IMG_1799.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/jrg26p/media/IMG_1799.jpg.html)

Talked to Steve Carson the publicist for the lake at about 10pm ish and told him of the recent catches including Terry's 16 and a few others and was telling him how I was allready starting to see some signs that the big boys would be biting (chill in the air!)

Get another phone call right about 10:30pm and it is Trolly in his high pitched, louder than heck excited voice "WE GOT A BIG ONE!!!!!!!! ITS LIKE 40-65LBS!!!! WHERE DO YOU WANT US!!!!"
Thank god we had slowed down a little bit for the night so I was able to lock up the shop, load up our 100qt ice chest, grab the digital camera and off I went down to the dock to meet Trolly and Pontoon.

Trolley and Pontoon arrived at the dock with the MAMMOTH Blue Cat and I quickly realized the small hand scale I had for up to 40lb fish just would not suffice! Plan B!!!! Fill the 100qt ice chest and place the fish in it and transport the fish up to the CERTIFIED scale at the Tackle Shop! By now I think you guys and gals are ready to murder me for not posting a picture of the fish so here you go.
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/jrg26p/IMG_1802.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/jrg26p/media/IMG_1802.jpg.html)
Jose, Christian and myself prepparing the fish for transport! The 100qt ice chest idea idea I came up with worked like a charm for transporting the fish and I have to say we are going to be using this until I find a better way but wow is all I can say.
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/jrg26p/IMG_1803.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/jrg26p/media/IMG_1803.jpg.html)
As you can see the big boy harldy fits in the massive ice chest.
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/jrg26p/IMG_1807.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/jrg26p/media/IMG_1807.jpg.html)
Here he is up at the shop getting ready to be weighed. I owe a big THANK YOU to Jose our dock worker for listeing and being on top of everything by getting the hose in the ice chest and just helping me load and unload the ice chest. A lot of this fishes survival goes to him.
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/jrg26p/IMG_1812.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/jrg26p/media/IMG_1812.jpg.html)
Weighing him in with the plastic container in the scale to help keep the weight accurate! In this shot he tipped the scales to 54.7!!!!!
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Like I have stated a lot in the past we REALLY want to keep these fish alive and get them back into our waters. So after a quick weigh in back into the LIVE ice chest.
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/jrg26p/IMG_1817.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/jrg26p/media/IMG_1817.jpg.html)
A great photo by Trolly of his good friend with his EPIC catch. This is the smile I looked at for about an hour tonight and it was infectious!!!!
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/jrg26p/IMG_1823.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/jrg26p/media/IMG_1823.jpg.html)
Another quick weigh in without the container just to make sure we got it right! Once again the scale read 54.7!
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/jrg26p/IMG_1828.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/jrg26p/media/IMG_1828.jpg.html)
We took a couple of quick photos up at the shop! I really dont like photos taken up here just because I dont like the unnatural looking background. But the expressions on Pontoons face are just too good to pass up!
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After a quick and I mean very quick photo op at the shop we ran him back down to the dock. Here I (Jimmy) am with our LIVE ice chest on our dock carts getting the fish back out to the water and into a little deeeper water to be REALESED!
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/jrg26p/IMG_1835.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/jrg26p/media/IMG_1835.jpg.html)
A great photo of FNN's own Team Trooltoon with Terry's 54.7lb Blue Catfish. I can not say enough about these guys. I have knowen both of these men for the better part of a decade now! They are both class act individuals! They put an absurd amount of time on the water and deserve every thing they get in terms of their catch! Tonight was merley the fishing gods paying them back. Terry a huge congratulations goes out to you my friend! I cant tell you how STOKED I was when through this whole process from start to finish! You guys deserve this!
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/jrg26p/IMG_1838.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/jrg26p/media/IMG_1838.jpg.html)
Getting ready to realese the TROPHY Blue! As you can see Terry was very involved in the whole process. I said it before these guys are no stranger to Trophy Catfish so I appreciate his opionen on what was going on. And his help was very appreciated by our staff.
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/jrg26p/IMG_1843.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/jrg26p/media/IMG_1843.jpg.html)
AND THE MONEY SHOT OF THIS WHOLE SAGA! THE FISH SWIMMING AWAY AND BACK INTO THE DEPTHS FOR ANOTHER ANGLER TO ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/jrg26p/IMG_1835.jpg (http://s667.photobucket.com/user/jrg26p/media/IMG_1835.jpg.html)
Once again becuase I like this picture so much! And because I like these two individuals so much for all they have done for the lake and for this webpage and for the members of FNN!! Once again here they are Team Trolltoon with Terry " Pontoon" Lairson's 54.7lb Blue Catfish! Congratulations guys on your EPIC night!

Until next time! Tight lines and big fish dreams FNN
Jimmy

[karalm]

Can we all say..."MONSTER KITTY!!" Congrats to the guys, Jimmy, Jose the nice photos and release back into the Vine for another to catch when it gets bigger!!
Looks like Terry now as the Vine Catfish pro needs to have a seminar along w/ Catmando to show us all its done!!

[HawgZWylde]

Big congrats guys, that thing is huge!

Hail to the Kings of the Kitties!

[TroutOnly]

Way to slay terry and chris ,i should have checked the phone ,i was pretty spent from my epic day at the castaic.......................

[etucker1959]

Any chance this was the same 52 lbs that was caught a couple of months ago???????? With all the dead trout on the bottom of the lake now, it's plausible he gained a little weight.

[Catmando]

NICE TITANIUM TERRY! !!! WAY TO GO DESPITE THE FULL MOON. It can't stop the pros!...lol

[Nipple Twister]

YEAHHHHHHHHHH TEAM TROLLTOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AWESOME JOB GENTLEMEN!!!
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Old age and treachery wins every time!!!!!!!!



:EyePop::UDaMan::High Five::Beer Toast::Dancing Banana::Worship::Bug Eyes:

[troutdog]

AWESOME FISH TERRY, CONGRATS BUDDY!!!!! Was stoked to hear the good news last night, my phone was blowing up with all the notifications I was getting....word spread like a wild fire!

Doing Team 57 proud as always, see you guys on the 23rd if not sooner. Once again CONGRATULATIONS!


TD

[troutdog]

Any chance this was the same 52 lbs that was caught a couple of months ago???????? With all the dead trout on the bottom of the lake now, it's plausible he gained a little weight.

That fish had some battle scars on it's head, this one doesn't have any marks at all....Irvine has lots of big fish in it, this is just one of many.


TD

[guide]

Congratulations terry my friend you deserve this fish. You and Trolly both put in your time and it pays off big when it does. As you and I both know we have those very slow days but when its a good one its special. Your smile says it all. I wish I was at the lake to cheer you on like Trolly did me. I will never forget you being the first one to call me when I caught my titan. Congrats again my friend you deserve it.

p.s. oh yeah we need to catch more like this to see Jimmy get all nasty from a catfish. Great job Jimmy.

[guide]

That fish had some battle scars on it's head, this one doesn't have any marks at all....Irvine has lots of big fish in it, this is just one of many.


TD

This clearly isn't the same fish. also all the trout aren't dead. I caught 4 the other day.

[5150fishn]

Team Trolltoon getting it done on a beast of a kitty! Congrats Terry on this very nice catch! I got a late night text from Rooster telling me you had a 50+ and was smiling from ear to ear. You and Chris put so much time in and are so skilled that we knew it was only a matter of time before one of Team Trolltoon landed another beast. Super stoked for you!

[Rooster]

Congrats Terry on the fish of a lifetime. The blue is a beauty & I am sure the fight was as well.
That is so cool to catch a fish of a lifetime and to release her back for maybe another angler to share in the same experience you did. Major props to you, trolly and the Irvine staff.

Getting live updates and to be on the phone with Trolly when the battle was in process & when the TITAN was being netted was epic. It was a night I will never forget.

I appreciate everything you both do for me as well as everyone at the lake you run across.

You both are a true asset to Irvine Lake & the fishing community. I am dam proud to call you both my friends.

Team Trolltoon Rocks

[crappiemike]

Good job on sticking
That beast!!!




Cm

[VineAssist]

Any chance this was the same 52 lbs that was caught a couple of months ago???????? With all the dead trout on the bottom of the lake now, it's plausible he gained a little weight.


Terry's fish was a completley diffrent fish from Eric's. Like Troutdog said Eric's fish had battle scars on its forehead between its eyes. Terrys fish was clean and no real markings to speak of. I do a lot of visual research on these fish when they come to the scales. So I am 99.8% postitive they are diffrent.
I "personally" have hooked fish that where not stobable on heavy bass gear in the lake! And I have landed fish to 47lbs on that said gear.

I have a feeling this is only the begining of whats to come! We are only in EARLY August and traditionally September and "RocK"Ocotber are the two best months for TROPHY Catfish fishing here at Irvine Lake. Who knows we might just see a NEW lake record this year!!!!!!! Can not wait to see what this fall has in store for us

[VineAssist]

Congratulations terry my friend you deserve this fish. You and Trolly both put in your time and it pays off big when it does. As you and I both know we have those very slow days but when its a good one its special. Your smile says it all. I wish I was at the lake to cheer you on like Trolly did me. I will never forget you being the first one to call me when I caught my titan. Congrats again my friend you deserve it.

p.s. oh yeah we need to catch more like this to see Jimmy get all nasty from a catfish. Great job Jimmy.


Gee thanks Eric!!! I just am not fond of the little "up to about 18lbs!" fish for some fairly odd reason. The big TITANS and Trophies are completley different story! Those things are UNREAL! They are something out of the BLUE/GREEN Lagoon!!!!!!! The fact that they have reached the size that they have and just there sheer power is mind boggling. I can not wait to deal with the first Catfish over 100lbs out of this lake. It is only a matter of time before it happens and I think it could happen this fall!

[PONTOON]

Jimmy,

First, I want to to say Thank You to You, Christian and Jose for taking such good care of that fish, coming down to the dock so quickly and then getting it up to the tackle shop for the official weight and then back to the dock for some pictures and the successful release. That big blue cat was able to swim away and looked strong heading back into the deep water because Jimmy had a plan and the three of you carried it out. I know you guys feel the same way that I do about releasing these big fish back into the lake. :Cool:

Second, I just want to say Thank You to everyone who replied on this post or sent me and Trolly texts throughout the early morning hours and today. Your kind words are much appreciated. :Cool:

This is no doubt a night that Trolly and I will not soon forget and one of those nights that confirm the reason why we have spent a lot of hours out on Irvine Lake in hopes of landing that fish of a lifetime. I've been fishing with Trollmeister for well over ten years now and we've had a lot of fun along the way and we've got some fun stories to tell. I really don't think I could have a better fishin' buddy. I had to laugh last night in the middle of the battle. There comes a point after you realize you have a big one on the end of the line and you start to ask yourself, How good is this fish hooked?, Did I tie good knots?, Is my line going to hold up?, things like that. well that was where I was last night when I look over at Trolly and I see him dialing a number on his cell phone and asked him what he was doing? Trolly looks up with a grin and says, "I'm calling Rooster, I think you're going to be a while" :LOL:

Trolly, Thanks again My Friend! and Jimmy, Thank You. You are greatly appreciated and a Class Act. :Thumbs Up:

[Hitts0n]

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n594/hitts0n859/team57.jpg (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/hitts0n859/media/team57.jpg.html)

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Hard work pays off for the Dream Team ! After I head about that 16 I was like oh yeah....another bog boy was on the way ! I seen the lightening from the 101 and me and R00ster was talking
about how we should have went to the lake anyway! As I waited and waited for updates.....I kept refreshing my phone to see what Irvine was updating on facebook. Man the Team 57 room was quiet.
And then....phone rings !! The Twin Towers have done it again !! Congrats to you Terry aka Pontoon ! That dam Blue was as big as a pontoon ! Catches that we all dream about !!!

[muskyman]

Wow Nice fish guys, Terry you really put in the time with Chris, you guys really put the work into it. Nice job. I can only imagine what is to come this fall. That fish looked real clean too. Nice job guys

[cutbait]

Outstanding fellas! No one deserves this more than you guys.

Best cat fisherman I know!

[GdHkSet1]

Terry,
You the man, congrats on the big blue! After your DV report few days ago you bounced back big time-getting that fish of a lifetime on a moon lit night. It's nice to have that great friend and fishing partner right there who knows what there doing to successfully assist on landing the big boys. Hope many more will be landed by you down the road-well done my friend.

[riverbud55]

Congrats on the big kitty Terry,, know ya all deserve it,,,, now its on to bigger fish and maybe a big flattie someday:)

[DockRat]

What a catch !!!!!
Congrats..
DR

[See Chris Fish]

What a monster!!! You guys were still going crazy at the launch ramp. Well deserved!!!!

[trollmiester]

oh what a night.started out arriving at the lake at seven thirty at night.Launched and looked for a fishable spot to anchor for the next 4 and a half hours.Ate some grapes and drank some ice coffes.t.lol.I yelled up in the sky---hey dana if you get pontoon a big fish ,I will give u a chesseburger when I get up there,--those of u who might know we were lucky to share a cheeseburger with dana at pontoons house ,the night before his passing.--pontoon laughed,and I laughed but was still serious. All the sudden pontoons rod started screaming. I right away got some scissors and cut both my lines and reeled his other rod up.Pontoon had a big grin and told me it was a big fish.I put the net down and called rooster live and said pontoons on a big fish and its hard to move him.Rooster yelled on the phone--hey get off the phone and net his fish as he was laughing out loud.I whisked the net gently. it was a wing and a miss.--felt like the angles playing against the great Los angeles dodgers over the weekend.--another swing, missed again,another swing and I yell I got him--pontoon calmly says the nets empty..Wow ,I never miss,lol.then I get his head in the net and the big cat keeps flooping ,finaly secured I can not lift him,pontoon right away helps me get it in.Now our concern is keep him alive for the release.With out even talking he is pulling his anchor and I am pulling mine.Tthe anchors are heavy but at that moment they felt light as a feather.Motor fired up on one pull and hauled to the rental dock.You know the story from there.Special big thanx to Christian and jose ,man they are hard workersTthey knew what to do right away.well thanx Irvine super crew for putting on the catfish tourneys with danille and jimmy and all the rest I have not named.I drove home, never sleeped and neither did pontoonThe drive home felt like nothing after all that excitement Man I need to take a nap now lolol --Thanx dana-fisherman 57 for comeing thru for us.Thanx for reading everybody and all the ata boys.Team trollton appreciatesit.thanx pontoon for being the best fishing buddy ever and for that look candybar.

[Fishingdachronarch201E7]

WTG on that monster fellas!!! wow!!! hard work pays off, always reading your guys report, good job!!!!

Tony G

[fishinone]

Wow!

You guys need to buy a bigger cooler!

[trollmiester]

thanx for all the kind words everybody.

[murrieta angler]

WOW!!!
What a sweet looking fish Terry.
Don't tell me that you and Chris aren't using some SCUBA to scout the good spots...:LOL:
Congrats on a beautiful fish Bro,
Robert
<><

[Wingnut]

Team TrollToon Rock! Terry and Chris, very well deserved my friends. :Thumbs Up:
Love those smiles on your faces. :Big Grin:
Now, can the TrollToon Guide Service put me on one of those Beasts next Saturday? :Envious:
Looking forward to spending time with you both! :Razz: