Summer Catfish

by Dale Grubaugh

Grab your fishin’ pole and come with me. We’re going down to the river to catch us a catfish.

There’s a big bluff on the north side of the river with a big hole of deep water stretchin’ the length of it. It’s the perfect spot to catch catfish.

Tonight we’re gonna use night crawlers and chicken livers for bait. I’ll put some chicken liver on my hook and you put a big wad of worms on yours.

Now, cast out just in front of that bluff and let your bait sink to the bottom.

That’s right.

Slowly reel your line in just until it gets tight. Prop your pole up in the fork of a stick and sit back and visit while we wait for ol’ Mr. Whiskers to bite.

I’ve been coming to this spot on the river since I was a young’in.

I’ve caught all kids of catfish out of this hole of water — channel cat, flatheads (yellow cats, some call ’em), big ol’ blue cats and once I caught an albino catfish.

He was white with pink eyes and whiskers — oddest and prettiest fish I ever did see. Because he was so rare, I let him go.

I’ve never caught another.

My cousins and I used to come down here during the summer and sometimes we’d spend up to a week at a time. We’d be armed with rowboat, rod and reel, trot lines, limb lines.

Once, we even put out jug lines (bleach jugs with line, hook and weights). Jug lines acted like big bobbers.

We used whatever we could to catch the wily catfish.

We’d use a big seine to get small perch and bluegrass — to use as bait. Then we’d stretch our trot lines across the river or along the bluff. We’d hang limb lines up and down the bank to be checked morning and evening.

In between times, we’d tight-line fish — just like we’re doing now — and swim, play in the water or laze around on the sand bar.

When we caught fish, we’d take them to the house, dress them and put them up. Then grab some food and back to the river we would go.

We had a lot of fun!

As I’ve gotten older, I realize our frequent fishing expeditions were more an affair of economics and survival than they were of recreation.

We didn’t know that then.

I still fish for catfish. I’ve fished in a lot of different rivers, lakes, farm ponds and even the big lakes. But my favorite spot is right here.

It’s quiet and peaceful — A good place to sit and think and remember.

Hey! You’re gettin’ a bite! Now don’t get in a hurry. When your line tightens up again, give your pole a firm jerk and set the hook.

Yep, you got him and he’s a big one! As soon you get him reeled in, we’ll take him to the house and heat up a skillet!

’Till next time,

Elias Tucker

July 12, 2009