Don't forget the net! (park catfishing)

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Originally Posted by fishmounter

etucker1959 Thanks for releasing those fish, so someone else can have a time catching them. When I used to fish for catfish, (when we would illegally spend the night at a popular LA area park, just to catch the giant catfish at night) I landed many catfish over 5 pounds, (up to 20!) by hand. You can land catfish with your hands, if you are careful and know which 3 fins are dangerous. You just need to know where to place your fingers, so their pectoral fins are between them. And you can also grab them like a bass, by the lower jaw. Sure they will bite down, but they don't have sharp teeth. Just never put your fingers in their gills unless you want to keep them.

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I'll make a confession about the net. I'm almost 60 years old and getting down on my hands and knees to grab a fish isn't as much fun anymore! lol A smaller fish 2 pounds or less I could easily bounce (gently) with #6 test. These bigger fish 3+ pounds don't bounce on 6 pound test! lol

Yeah, we always net our big Bluegill because if you try to swing aboard a one pound or better 'Gill on 2 lb test line, you just might break the line and lose your fish and the hand-tied jig!

Yup I know what you mean etucker about the bending down,I’m 65 with two knee replacements,still fish a lot,just don’t get down on my knees as much,so that means a long net.
Actually fished last night at Don Knabe Park,no cat love,just one red ear slider,poor guy actually got a tounge piercing! But was released in good shape.

Cya Tuna Vic