Catfish Fishing Was Smoking On Texoma
By J.B. Webb
Outdoor Writer

August 22, 2007

This is a story from a little different angle. I am a Black Bass Guide and Tournament fisherman. I'll be honest and say if I catch a Big Catfish, I enjoy the tussle. I just don't look for them. I have friends who Catfish and even I've been known to drift a shad or two with them at times for Kitty Kats below Denison Dam.

I was asked to do this story for Catfish Gold Magazine. It was my first Professional Catfish Tournament and I was impressed. I would say the major difference between what I saw from this tournament and a bass tournament was the sharing of techniques or at least talking to anyone contestant or other wise that showed up. Many fishermen had never seen Texoma and the locals were helping them out for nothing. While for the most part Friday night looked like a good old boys get together Saturday saw contestants in their sponsored laden tournament shirts. With the backdrop from Bass Pro Shops over the stage, it was as professional looking and smoothly run fishing tournament as any I've ever attended. The fish looked different though.

You Professionals and just good old country boys give yourselves a pat on the back, I've never met a Cat fisherman who didn't have the time to just talk. Matter of fact most of them really like to talk.

Friday evening during the pre-registration, I visited all of the sponsor's booths. Some of them didn't have any samples left to give out. Everyone seemed to be carrying a copy of Catfish Gold Magazine, as copies were free and available for anyone wanting to take it home with them. I got some free product but the fried fish was all gone so I got fried pickles.

As this was a prepared Bait Tournament, the first ever held I got lots of inside information. As I talked to the Factory reps one idea came forth. Every one of them said if you use our bait, you wouldn't use anything else. If this were a carved in stone fact there wouldn't be but one bait company out there. All of the teams use whatever bait they need to catch fish.

There was a lot of good-natured talk and bragging going on from the different sponsors.

I could go up to any of the groups and feel right at home as I joined in the talk.

If you get the chance to go to one of these Bass Pro Shops Big Cat Quest Tournaments you need to put it on the "to do" list. If you go, walk up and talk to the fishermen or reps, they all will take time to talk with you; they are that kind of people. After the Friday registration there were 76 teams waiting to try out Texoma on Saturday. Included in the field were several husband & wife teams. The team of Russ and Janice Nash that "Hosses Hawg Bait" sponsored has been fishing together for 15 years.

When the tournament started Saturday morning high water, a dropping lake and Blue Bird skies met the teams. While morning wasn't bad, as the day went on the temperature hit 100 + and warmer in some places with little or no wind. That afternoon as the teams came in more than one made the comment it was cooking out there.

Most of the teams run up the rivers. Team Bee Jay from Kansas Mo. Wayne Lofton and John Young were new to Texoma After a little looking for where the Washita entered Texoma without any success another boat in the tournament led them in. Wayne or John said that they must have run 2 miles upriver through a Mayfly hatch. After they stopped and started to fish they said they heard a humming sound. One of them said they had been bothered by Mosquitoes in other tournaments but never as many and aggressive as Texoma had. They both swore that Deet attracted instead of repelling the pests. One said the little varmints didn't even slow down for the repellent before biting them.

This was just one of the many funny tails I heard as the drive through weigh in went on. When it came time to put their fish on the scales only 40 plus teams of the 76 entries were in line. With Ken Freeman running the show, it went along at a good clip. He kept a big turnout of spectators and fishermen laughing as time went by.

Just like Bass Boats, the Catfish trail has developed its own special boats. The one thing they all have in common is big live wells and shallow draft. Even Airboats were entered.

As the weigh in went on the money place weights kept going up. In a scary but funny moment, a fisherman Ken called Monkey Man, named after an untold tale of an encounter with a Georgia monkey according to Ken demonstrated how to use a rolling dismount when you fall out of a boat and came up with nary a scratch. After they saw that he wasn't hurt, the crowd started laughing. A local favorite Cody Mullinex the Texas state record holder with a 121.6 lb. blue cat called Splash brought in five fish at 18.15 lbs. Rounds of applause greeted all the fishermen as their fish hit the scales.

Most of the teams fished up the rivers except for the winning team of Nathan and Clifford King. They only had two fish weighing 46.10 lbs. but it was good enough for 1st place. This included the big tournament cat going 41.70 lbs. This team not only won $10,000 they picked up $1000 in Danny King bonus money and another $2000 from Big Cat Purse that made for a $13,000.00 payday. Wow, in a catfish tournament this was great!. These bonuses were for using Danny King Punch bait to win the tournament. Clifford said they were using 40 lb. Cajun Red line a #1 Eagle Claw hook and Danny King Garlic Punch Bait. The big fish wrapped around a tree and during the fight and it caused some concern before they got it out.

Almost all of the money winners said they used some form of Danny King Punch Bait to catch their fish. Most also said they let the current wash their Carolina rigged bait through the 18 to 23 foot river holes they had found with brush and logs in them. Some used small corks on a short leader to keep the bait off the bottom. Catfishing has its little tricks to and the best way for the average Cat chaser to learn theses tips is to read Catfish Gold Magazine.

The first ever Prepared Bait Tournament was hosted by Durant Oklahoma's Choctaw Resort and Casino in its Rodeo arena. The crowd had shade and chairs as the Casino went that extra step to make the anglers visit one to remember.

The teams from Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Missouri, Illinois and other points said they liked Texoma and its people.

At the interview when I asked did they fish deep or shallow, they said they tried it all and both stained and clear water. Half the field found the answer to catching Texoma Catfish while others didn't.

J.B. Webb
Outdoor Writer