Whisker Whackers: Catfish News and Views

MRM Win Goes to Terry and Lisa Haraway, and Chris Saunders Big Fish competition boosts angler to the 100-pound club. The 2021Mississippi River Monsters tournament out of Memphis, TN ended with lots of trophy catfish coming from the Big Muddy to the scales.  Spectators at the September 18, 2021 event witnessed 5,635.38 pounds weighed at […]

Ken Luttrell and Bryan Espy Win King Kat Tournament on the Illinois River The first place bag included Big Kat at Pekin, IL   Catfish anglers from several states traveled to the  Illinois River at Pekin, IL for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Eleven teams gathered to test […]

A fishing trip in recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Tackle 22 Fishing is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Their objective is to bring awareness to the unacceptable national average of 22 veteran suicides each day. Their mission is pursued by offering no-cost fishing trips to honorably discharged veterans, retirees, or active duty service members. In […]

A Photo Review of MRM Winners Big fish are always abundant at the Mississippi River Monsters (MRM) tournament out of Memphis on the Mississippi River. Rookie and seasoned anglers alike agree that MRM is one of the tournaments that they most look forward to attending. The American Catfishing Association Tournament Alliance event is scheduled for […]

Fishing For A Cure Charity Event Win Goes to Mike Mitchell and Rick Sexton The first-place bag included Big Fish. It was a simple slogan set forth by the organizers, “Fishing for Kids,” at the 2nd Annual Fishing For A Cure charity event. Promoted by tournament director Brad Andrews and the North MS Catfish Club, […]

Proposed Minimum Length Limit of 26 Inches for Blue Catfish and Flathead Catfish on Mark Twain Lake Public comment period in October for proposed rule changes. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Conservation Commission gave initial approval during its Aug. 27 open meeting in Jefferson City to a proposed regulation by the Missouri Department of […]

Fricke and Swearengin Win Bama Blues Nighttime Tourney on Wheeler Lake, AL The most recent Bama Blues Tournament Series event was held on Wheeler Lake, AL. Co-Tournament Directors Chris and Cory Ramsey (Pipeline Tackle) presented the August 28 event out of First Creek Boat Ramp near Rogersville, AL. The 3-fish tournament is part of the […]

Dains, Evans, Mantanya Win King Kat on Truman Lake The winning bag included Big Kat. Catfish anglers from several states traveled to Truman Lake at Clinton, MO for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Seven teams gathered to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Anglers […]

George Young Jr and Tim Spencer win The Catmasters Bag includes Big Fish at Helena-West Helena Tournament. Anglers fishing the two-day Catmasters tournament at Helena-West Helena found plenty of fish on the mighty Mississippi River. The area is well-known as a big fish destination and it did not disappoint. The 103 teams representing 240 anglers […]

Good People doing good things in the catfish community. by Ron Presley The BKPC Nation is a small non-profit organization with a  stated mission to promote and further fishing as therapy, recreation, and sport through conservation, education, networking, and community. Joey Middleton, owner of BKPC NATION puts it simply, “We focus on helping folks within […]

Dodd and Harkness Win Charity Tournament Tournament anglers share their love of the outdoors to benefit others. Hope Outdoors is a Christian Ministry that takes individuals with special needs hunting and fishing. Tennessee River Productions staged their 2nd Annual Trophy Belt Tournament on August 14, 2021, out of Savannah, Tennessee. Proceeds from the tournament went […]

Vinson and Littleton Win King Kat at Helena Big Fish honors went to Donnie and Lonnie Fountain. Catfish anglers from several states traveled to the Mississippi River at Helena-West Helena, Arkansas for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. The Chamber of Commerce in Helena-West Helena and the City of […]

Wet and stormy weather challenged anglers at the Victory Chevrolet Catfish Chasers Series in Saint Joseph, Missouri on the Missouri River.  Two hundred teams, all that was allowed to register, competed in the overnight tournament that lasted for 15 hours. Anglers were vying for a 2021 Chevy Silverado Trail Boss from Victory Chevrolet. Additionally, if […]

  Long, Jones, and Wilkinson Win The CatMasters at Caruthersville More than 5,350 pounds of catfish were caught by 214 anglers. Hosted by Grizzly Jigs, 214 anglers on 88 teams from 19 states kicked off The CatMasters 2021 season on the Big Muddy out of Caruthersville, MO. Day one was characterized by a hot day […]

Benningfield, Cress, and Morris Take Win at Twisted Cat Outdoors Big Fish went to Bradley Monnig, Rachael Monnig & Briar Hoffman at 65.77 pounds Sixty-one teams traveled from several states to Cape Girardeau, MO to fish the Twisted Cat Outdoors tournament trail event. The Mississippi River normally produces some nice fish and it did not […]

In less than a week, two programs make catfish memories for kids. United Special Sportsman Alliance, Inc. (USSA) is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit wish-granting charity. The organization utilizes volunteers to take critically ill and disabled children and disabled veterans on outdoor adventures. They match up well with the catfish community because of their willingness to […]

A fishing trip taken for pleasure turned into the stressful experience of catching a state record blue cat and getting it certified.   The North Carolina state record for blue catfish fell recently when Rocky Baker boated his monster blue from the Roanoke River in the early evening of July 10, 2021. Baker was pleasure […]

Memories were made and hearts were filled with laughter. United Special Sportsman Alliance, Inc. (USSA) is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit wish-granting charity. The organization utilizes volunteers to take critically ill and disabled children and disabled veterans on outdoor adventures. They match up well with the catfish community because of their willingness to share. USSA recently […]

Team DeWhitt Claims Bama Blues Night-Time Win on Wilson Lake, AL Nooner Hall and Les Thompson score big fish too! Wilson Lake was the site of the most recent Bama Blues Tournament Series event. Co-Tournament Directors Chris and Cory Ramsey (Pipeline Tackle) presented their June 26-27, 2021 event out of Safety Harbor Wilson Lake and […]

Team Shipman Wins King Kat Region 1 Championship on Wheeler Catfish anglers from several states traveled to Wheeler Lake at Decatur, AL for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Decatur Morgan County Tourism hosted 24 teams that gathered to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. […]

Mitchell and Sexton Win King Kat Tournament at  Pickwick/Wilson Big Fish goes to Jack Leo and Luc Duffey.   Catfish anglers from several states traveled to Pickwick and Wilson Lakes at Sheffield, AL for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Colbert County Tourism hosted the teams that gathered to […]

Team Sasse Wins King Kat Tournament on Carlyle Lake Sasse bag includes Big Kat honors too! Catfish anglers from several states traveled to Carlyle Lake at Carlyle, IL for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Clinton County Tourism hosted fourteen teams that gathered to test their catfishing skills against […]

Team Mega Cat takes the win at Texoma. The 2021 Catmasters at Texoma Catfish Tournament presented by SeaArk Boats and B’n’M Poles attracted 103 teams to Lake Texoma at Durant, OK. Two-hundred thirty-six anglers competed in the two-day event on January 22-23. By the end of the two days, 97 fish weighing 3,094.55 pounds had […]

Caleb Like, Brian Like, and Morris Arnold Team up to Win Bama Blues on Wheeler with 137 pounds in their three-fish limit. Their bag included Big Fish at 82.95 pounds. The first tournament of the season for Chris and Cory Ramsey (Pipeline Tackle) took place out of Rogersville, AL, and Joe Wheeler Lodge on Wheeler […]

Note: CatfishNOW is pleased to welcome the first four members of the ACA Conservation Committee. As one of the key challenges facing the catfish community, catfish conservation is the one area that all catfish anglers should be concerned with. We look forward to the work of this committee and its impact on the future of […]

The Bama Blues Tournament Series held their season finale on Joe Wheeler Lake in Alabama. The trail, operated by Chris and Cory Ramsey from Pipeline Tackle, offer catfishing events on both Wheeler and Wilson Lakes. Twenty-nine teams registered for the December 19, 2020 event out of First Creek Ramp. The 67,100-acre lake is created by […]

2020 is now officially the wettest year ever recorded in the Tennessee Valley. “The last three years have been a remarkable stretch of above-average rainfall,” said James Everett, senior manager of TVA’s River Forecast Center. “Before 2018, the previous record had stood for 45 years. Since 2018, we’ve either set a record or come close […]

Editor’s Note: COVID-19 has had a substantial impact on the fishing and boating behavior of America. Part of the increased activity is likely because of opportunity, but much was due to the positive benefits of being outdoors and enjoying what Mother Nature has to offer. Hopefully, many of the new anglers will continue to fish and […]

Grand Lake anglers caught plenty of fish—big ones were harder to come by. Sixty-nine teams representing 159 catfish anglers converged on Grand Lake of the Cherokees on December 11-12, 2020 for a Catmasters tournament. Plenty of fish were caught at the popular Oklahoma lake. The total weight coming to the scales was 4,157.12 pounds,    The Catmasters event was presented […]

Big Cat Shootout winners, Brinkley and Goggin, produce a record weight of Arkansas blues.    When Kevin Davis had the notion to produce the Big Cat Shootout, he challenged catfish anglers to go fishing and come back with their biggest fish. The result is a big fish, big pot payout. Santee Cooper always comes through […]

Editor’s Note: I have heard many reports in 2020 about anglers waiting on their new boats to be delivered. When COVID-19 hit, it limited production lines severely. It is good to see this encouraging report that indicates boat building production will be up in 2021.   In the latest Forecast on U.S. Boat Building Production from ITR […]

Catfish anglers from fifteen states traveled to Milford Lake at Milford, KS for the King Kat Tournament Trail Classic presented by Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s. Sixty-two teams gathered to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Anglers had fished throughout the year to qualify for the championship event. The Classic featured a guaranteed […]

Adam Michael Wright and Secody Howard pick up the win on Wheeler Bama Blues Catfish trail staged their 6th event of the season as the Battle of Lakes Pickwick, Wilson, Wheeler, and Guntersville. Anglers could choose any of the 4 lakes to fish but had to return to Ingalls Harbor in Decatur, AL for the […]

An extremely tight AOY competition was not decided until the TCO Championship Twisted Cat Outdoors (TCO) recently completed their invitation-only championship on Lake of the Ozarks. Not only did they crown the 2020 Champs (Joe Bell and David Burts) they also named and honored the winner(s) of the points race which came down to the […]

Chris and Kyli Baldwin take CatMasters at PK for the second time. In its fourth year, The CatMasters at Possum Kingdom remains one of the highest paying catfish events in the nation. Admittedly not a big catfish lake, but the winner will take home a check for $30,000. This year’s event attracted nearly 130 catfish […]

Invited anglers fishing the 2020 Twisted Cat Outdoors Championship were greeted with high winds and rough water on Lake of the Ozarks, MO. The Championship was by invitation only. Anglers had to be among the top 50 anglers for the season, based on their top 5 2020 events, or be a first-place or big fish […]

$10,000 Points Race will also be determined. The Twisted Cat Outdoors 2020 Championship will be held on Lake of the Ozarks, MO. The Championship is a no entry fee, $10,000 payout event plus prizes from the trail’s sponsors.   As it turned out, the $10,000 points race has come down to the final event. With […]

Big Fish goes to Stoller and Bruna. Catfish anglers from nine states traveled to Lake Milford at Milford, KS for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Thirty-eight teams gathered to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Anglers fishing the October 10, 2020 event were vying […]

Anglers reported a late bite due to cold front and full moon. Fifty-three teams made up of 123 anglers from 10 states traveled to New Madrid, MO to fish the last event of the season for the Twisted Cat Outdoors tournament trail. This is a popular destination for catfish anglers because the Mississippi River normally […]

John Tinsley may have been the only one around that was older than the tournament. Savannah Tennessee carries the moniker, “The Catfish Capital of the World.” The main reason for that designation is the annual National Catfish Derby and World Championship of Catfishing that has taken place there along the Tennessee River for 79 years. […]

Good Karma Carries Team Road Warriors to Top Spot at Bama Blues on Wilson Cad Daly, Tyler Dobbs, and Brett Hubbard had never met until they fish Bama Blues’ first daytime tournament. Bama Blues Catfish Trail holds events on Wheeler and Wilson Lake in Alabama. The September 26, 2020 event on Wilson Lake was their […]

Phil King and Tim Hanie win 79-Year-Old World Championship of Catfishing The 2020 World Championship of Catfishing (WCC) was held on September 26, 2020, at Savannah Tennessee. The town carries the moniker, The Catfish Capital of the World. The main reason for that designation is the annual National Catfish Derby and World Championship of Catfishing […]

A hot bite put fish in the boat early for Boat # 57. Big fish were abundant at the 2020 Mississippi River Monsters tournament out of Memphis. Rookie and seasoned anglers alike agreed—it was a good day to be fishing the Mississippi River. One-hundred and three boats from 17 different states fished the popular event. […]

Her once-in-a-lifetime fish came while fishing with her mentor. Melissa Redger (Missi Duerksen) runs a single-parent household. Nevertheless, she has a passion for catfishing. That passion was evident when she joined Joe Stringer (Stringer Guide Service) on the Mississippi River near Memphis TN to fish the Mississippi River Monsters catfish tournament. To her surprise and […]

With 191 teams competing, only one pound separated the first and second place teams. The Ohio River Cats hosted a record-breaking event at their 15th annual catfish tournament in Rising Sun, Indiana. The two-day tournament began on Friday, September 11th with registration and ended with fishing on Saturday and Sunday with more than $50,000 up […]

The top three teams after day one break the 100-pound mark. Big fish is 51.99 pounds. The Ohio Valley River Cats launched 191 boats in the 15th Annual Rising Sun Catfish Tournament on the Ohio River in Rising Sun, Indiana. The two-day event will distribute more than with more than $50,000 to participating teams. The […]

Reelin’ for Leftie-Catfish and Cornhole Tournament For the past few years, the Johnson family from Wichita, KS has been putting on a fundraiser or volunteer project in October during Brachial Plexus Awareness Week. In 2016 their son Luke suffered a brachial plexus injury at birth. This injury results in paralysis of a nerve. For Luke, […]

The event raised $13,450. The catfish community came together on Saturday, August 29 2020 to fish for fun while benefiting a worthwhile cause. The Bryce and Kinley Tormoehlen Cancer Benefit Tournament was staged by the Poor Boy Catfish Tournament Trail. New friends and old shared tears and laughter as 58 teams gathered at the Angel […]

The local team also claimed Big Kat Honors. Catfish anglers from four states traveled to Tuttle Creek Lake at Manhattan, KS for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Twenty-one teams gathered to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Anglers fishing the August 29, 2020 event […]

Urban American Outdoors TV (UAOTV) and SODAS Life will host a National Urban Kids Fish Virtual Derby. As more events become virtual, here’s an interesting event that creates the possibility of a family fun fishing adventure anywhere in the country. The national fishing event will be held from Saturday, August 29, 2020, to Saturday, September 5, 2020. A free […]

Tutorow and Han win The Catmasters at Helena Beautiful Weather and Lots of Fish Characterized the Tournament Plenty of nice fish were caught at Helena, AR on the Mighty Mississippi in The Catmasters event presented by SeaArk Boats. SeaArk Territory Sales Manager Jeremy Coe emceed the event that attracted eighty-four teams from 16 states. This […]

Team Bodine Wins King Kat Tournament on Old Hickory Big Fish goes to Craig Shirey and James Wesney Catfish anglers from five states traveled to Old Hickory Lake at Gallatin, TN for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Thirteen teams gathered to test their catfishing skills against other anglers […]

Catfish anglers from six states traveled to Carlyle Lake, IL for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Twenty-one teams gathered to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Anglers fishing the August 15, 2020 event were vying for $ 4,920 in cash and prizes, and an […]

Hot Weather and a Slow Bite Characterized the Tournament on the Mississippi River The weather was hot and the bite was tough at Caruthersville, MO on the Mighty Mississippi. Seventy-six teams from 16 states hit the water to compete in the season opener for The Catmasters 2020 season presented by SeaArk Boats. This event began […]

I needed this book when I first started crappie fishing. The learning curve would have been so much shorter. Huffman offers chapter after chapter of well written effective tips for crappie anglers of all levels. Huffman is a long-time student of crappie fishing. He has honed his skills as a crappie angler and as an […]

Practicing the Four P’s of fishing on Wilson Lake by Hugh Thompson Luck is always a factor in catfishing success. Skill is also a factor. Over the past year, a good friend and great angler, Carson Pierce convinced me that it was not my fishing skills that were lacking. It was the “Four P’s” of […]

The Bryce and Kinley Tormoehlen Cancer Benefit Tournament The Tormoehlen Family Story On Friday, April 28th, 2017 Katie Tormoehlen started her day like any other. She fed, dressed, and got the family ready for the day. Then while changing her 11-month-old daughter Kinley’s diaper she noticed blood clots. She called the doctor and made an […]

Fishing was on the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers. Catfish anglers from four states traveled to the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers at Gallipolis, OH for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Thirty-five teams gathered at Gallipolis to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Anglers fishing the […]

Runner up spot goes to Shirey and Wesney. Catfish anglers from seven states traveled to Lake Wateree for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Sixteen teams gathered at Camden, SC to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Anglers fishing the May 30, 2020 event were […]

Hot and humid weigh-in sees 100-pound mark broken. Catfish anglers from six states traveled to Lake Wiley for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s.  Fifteen teams gathered at Belmont, NC to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Anglers fishing the June 6, 2020 event were […]

ICAST Online will virtually connect the sportfishing industry this July 13 – 17 Alexandria, VA – May 29, 2020 – ICAST, the world’s largest recreational fishing trade show, has transitioned from a physical show to a virtual event with ICAST 2020 Online. The American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the show’s producer, is committed to delivering attendees and exhibitors alike […]

King Kat Tournament Trail Guidelines During COVID-19 Pandemic After being shut down by the coronavirus, the Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s King Kat Trail got underway again on May 17th at Clinton, MO on Truman Lake. They operated under the following guidelines and plan to do so for the remainder of the season. Social distancing must […]

[pl_row] [pl_col col=12] [pl_text] Catfish anglers from two states traveled to Truman Lake for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Twelve boats gathered at Clinton, MO to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. It was the first tournament in a couple of months since the […]

Most catfish anglers have their favorite way to fish for trophy cats. For B’n’M pro staff angler George Young Jr. (Mississippi River Monsters) it is a method referred to as bumping. It is an active method of fishing where the angler always has the rod and reel in his hands and he controls the placement […]

Big fish were abundant at the catfish tournament at Decatur, AL Catfish anglers from 14 states traveled to Wheeler Lake for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Forty teams gathered at Decatur, AL to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Anglers fishing the March 14, […]

The Big Kat of the tournament weighed 67.80 pounds.  Catfish anglers from several states traveled to Lake Tawakoni for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Twenty-seven teams gathered at West Tawakoni, TX to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Anglers fishing the March 7, 2020 […]

Editor’s Note: Well known for their support of the catfish community, SeaArk Boats has been recognized for their support of their local community. Congratulations on a job well done. Read the story here.   Chamber of Commerce selects SeaArk boats for its community centered efforts MONTICELLO, AR (February 28, 2020) – Last night, SeaArk Boats […]

Huge weight wins at Garland, TX. Three-tenths of a pound separated first and second place. Catfish anglers from several states traveled to Lake Ray Hubbard for a King Kat Tournament Trail Super Event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Sixteen teams gathered at Garland, TX to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother […]

The first King Kat tournament of the year highlighted the big fish destination of  Santee Cooper Country. Catfish anglers from nine states traveled to Santee Cooper for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Forty-eight teams gathered at Black’s Camp and Restaurant as for the kick-off event of the 2020 […]

First Place winners, Holmes, Holmes, and Cline are shown here with Steve Henderson, president of SeaArk Boats. Holmes, Holmes, and Cline take $40,000 win at Texoma The largest payout in tournament catfishing history was made at the Catmasters Texoma Catfish Tournament presented by SeaArk Boats and B’n’M Poles on January 25, 2020. The event was […]

One catfish per team determines the winner at the Icebowl. The Icebowl catfish tournament is an annual January event at Kerr Lake (Buggs Island). Icebowl was created as a challenge event between catfish anglers from North Carolina and Virginia. The state accumulating the most total pounds earns bragging rights for the next year. Since its […]

It’s gonna’ be a long week but a good week. The CatMasters Lake Texoma, presented by SeaArk Boats, kicks into gear this week. More than 200 teams are either already there, on the road, or thinking about getting on the road for the main event that will be this weekend, January 24 and 25. I […]

How They Fished When Kevin Davis had the notion to produce the Big Cat Shootout, he wanted to challenge catfish anglers to show him their biggest fish. He developed a tournament format aimed at big fish and a big payout. Teams pay $500 each to fish knowing that 100 percent of the entry fees will […]

Catfishing fun for charity. After two years of weather-related cancellations, the Toy Rod Catfish Challenge is scheduled for November 30, 2019. The brainchild of Tammy Wilson and her co-director Capt. Tom Van Horn, this catfish tournament is put on to help needy children enjoy a merrier Christmas. How to Enter The requirements for entry are […]

Some for the anglers and some for the vets. Catfish For Veterans (CFV) is a charity cat-fishing tournament to raise money for the Spring Street Veterans Renaissance (veterans shelter) in Springfield, IL. The 2020 tournament will be the 5th year at CFV has contributed to this worthy cause. The tournament has grown from 28 teams […]

Big Fish and Big Payout rule the day. The December 13th and 14th 2019 Black’s Camp Big Cat Shootout features a two catfish per boat weigh-in. South Carolina rules allow one blue cat over 36 inches per day, per person, so both catfish can be over 36 inches each day. ­ Davis describes the Shootout […]

In only its third year, the Possum Kingdom Catmasters (PKC) Catfish Tournament is the highest paying catfish event in the nation. This year’s event was capped at 200 entries and sold out seven months before the tournament. Catfish teams from all over the nation traveled to Possum Kingdom Lake to participate in the two-day tournament. […]

Will and Russell Sylvester claim victory at Huntington, WV. Catfish anglers from seven states traveled to Huntington, WV and the Ohio River for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Thirty-four teams gathered at Huntington to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. The King Kat tournament […]

In only its third year, the Possum Kingdom Catmasters (PKC) Catfish Tournament is the highest paying catfish event in the nation. This year’s event was capped at 200 entries and has been sold out for months. Catfish teams from all over the nation are traveling to Possum Kingdom Lake to participate in the two-day tournament. […]

MOTO—Ten Years and Counting by Ron Presley Photo Credits: Shannelle Everman Kline Aaron Wheatley has been presenting Monsters on the Ohio (MOTO) since 2010. This year’s event marked Wheatley’s tenth year of providing the catfish community with a popular catch and release tournament with an emphasis on fish handling and care. The tournament day festivities […]

Mississippi River Monsters (MRM) 2019 attracted 125 catfish teams from 20 different states to fish the Big Muddy out of Memphis. When the scales closed on Saturday evening September 19th, 217 catfish weighing 3,940 pounds had been checked by TWRA officials and returned to the river. Amongst the 293 anglers, 31 were veterans competing for […]

Hunter Jones and Tyler Moses caught their big fish early to lead the way to the win on the Mighty Mississippi. Catfish anglers from thirteen states traveled to the Mississippi River for a King Kat Tournament Trail even presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Nineteen teams gathered at Caruthersville, MO to test their catfishing skills […]

  Inclement weather may have made the catfishing better at Camden, SC. Catfish anglers from eight states traveled to Lake Wateree for a King Kat Tournament Trail presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Twenty-six teams gathered at Camden, SC to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. As is often the case, […]

An early bite led Team Grose to top honors at Jeffersonville, IN. Catfish anglers from eight states traveled to the Ohio River for a King Kat Tournament Trail Super Event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Fifteen teams gathered at Jeffersonville, IN to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Competitors were […]

123.04 pounds claim top honors on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Catfish anglers from eight states traveled to Grand Rivers, KY to the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Thirteen teams gathered at Grand Rivers to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and […]

The Ohio River Cats hosted a record-breaking event at 14th annual catfish tournament. The fish were biting and the weather was great for the 14th Annual Rising Sun Catfish Tournament. The Ohio Valley River Cats presented the Sept. 7-8 event in Rising Sun, IN. Always a popular tournament, 2019 was better than ever. When the […]

The Ohio Valley River Cats will present the 14th annual Rising Sun Catfish Tournament on Sept. 7 & 8 More than 14 years ago  Frank McIntosh had a wild idea that a big catfish tournament could happen in Rising Sun, Indiana. He reasoned, that If the money was right, people would come like they do […]

Big fish was the name of the game at Helena-West Helena, AR Catfish anglers from 12 states traveled to the Mississippi River at Helena-West Helena, AR for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Twenty-four teams gathered to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. The top […]

Anglers were challenged by a rapidly falling Rock River. Catfish anglers from several states traveled to the Rock River for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Thirty-six teams gathered at Dixon, IL to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Competitors were vying for $10,025.00 in […]

Editor’s Note: Godwin is known for his role in the Duck Commanders enterprise and also for his crappie fishing. I know for a fact that he has also caught the catfish fever. A little bottom bumping on the Mississippi River with Bill Dance and George Young instilled a yearning for catfishing too. In reality, he […]

The Twisted Cat Outdoors tournament at New Madrid will be a big cat tournament. by Ron Presley The first Mississippi River catfish tournament I ever covered was the 2014 Bass Pro Shops Big Cat Quest at New Madrid, MO. Just being introduced to the Mississippi River was awesome and exciting, but everything that went along […]

Channel cats dominate but flathead wins Big Kat honors at Carlyle, IL. Catfish anglers from several states traveled to Carlyle Lake for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Thirty-six teams gathered at Carlyle, IL to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Carlyle Lake is known […]

Ohio River anglers were challenged by a full moon and high pressure Louisville, KY – May 19, 2019 – Catfish anglers from nine states traveled to Tell City, IN on the Ohio River for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Thirty-four teams gathered at Tell City to test their […]

by Ron Presley Chattahoochee River tournament is open to the public and features a  100 percent payback. With their sights set on South Georgia, South Alabama and North Florida, M&J Catfish Wars has shown steady growth in their short existence. It all began when avid catfish anglers Marty Highnote and Joe Belcher, decided to organize […]

by Ron Presley Making memories while making history.   Organizers of Chick Fight, the first all lady catfish tournament, chose Wheeler Lake in Alabama for the inaugural event. Wheeler Lake was a good choice because it is a bucket list destination for most catfish anglers because of the huge catfish it offers. “Everyone wants to […]

Catfish anglers from eleven states traveled to Loudon, TN on the Tennessee River (Watts Bar Lake) for a King Kat Tournament Trail Super Event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Fifty-four teams gathered to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Competitors were vying for $16,000 in cash and prizes, and an […]

Moving to find bigger fish was a winning strategy at Camden, SC. Catfish anglers from seven states traveled to Camden, SC and Lake Wateree for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Thirty-seven teams gathered to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Competitors were vying for […]

Brandy Brooks and Brandi Livingston have teamed up to fish the inaugural Chick Fight tournament on April 6, 2019, in North Alabama as Team Catfish Now. Dawn Hammond Bungay joins Brandy and Brandi as the third tournament partner. These three ladies will put their skills to the test in support of the sport of catfishing […]

The West Tennessee Catfish Anglers just completed their second tournament of the year. The March 30, 2019 event saw eight boats participating. The tournament was staged on Pickwick at the historic Botel at Savannah, TN. Air temperatures were in the mid 60’s with the water temp ranging from 56 to 59 degrees. Winds were at […]

LOS ANGELES – MacArthur Park, a City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks facility, located at 2230 W 160th, Los Angeles, CA 90057, will host a youth fishing derby on Saturday, May 4th, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm. This activity is designed to give boys and girls, 15 and younger, who live in […]

The inaugural King of the James Catfish Tournament (KOJ) kicked off on Saturday, March 23 out of Hopewell Marina in Hopewell, Virginia. There were 296 anglers competing, some on two-person teams and some on three-person teams. The KOJ started with a challenge and met other challenges along the way to its successful launch. It’s opening […]

The most recent Fishin’ Blues tournament was held on March 23rd and 24th out of Ralph’s Resort, Elgin, OK. Anglers had to be back at the weigh-in by 4:00 pm on Saturday and 3:00 pm on Sunday. The tournament featured boat and bank fishing and paid the top 3 places and big fish. First Place […]

Eighteen teams gathered at Safety Harbor on Saturday, March 23 to fish a HOLD’em HOOK Catfish Trail event. The weather was good, cool in the morning and warm during the day. The winds were fairly calm and the current was reported by some to be “perfect.” Jared Robertson and J.R. Hall carried the day and […]

The Bluegrass Catfish Bash was co-directed by Matt “Catmatt” Jones and Michelle Mock Jones. The March 23, 2019 event was staged out of the Lynnhurst Family Resort in Murray, Kentucky. In addition to a great catfish tournament, the event featured a Kayak Division and a Kid’s Derby on Saturday morning. It requires the help of […]

Big Kat at King Kat pushes 115 pounds Carl Morris Jr. and Rob Parsons crushed the King Kat record for biggest fish ever weighed at a King Kat event. The huge 114.96-pound Wheeler Lake, Alabama beast quickly became the talk of social media and the accomplishment was shared worldwide. Morris, from Johnstown, OH, and Parsons, […]

In their continuing support of tournament catfishing, SeaArk boats paid three bonuses at the 2019 Santee Cooper Monster Cat Quest held out of Black’s Camp in SC. Chris and Mandy Gaines attracted 177 boats to the popular Santee Cooper Lakes and many of those teams fished from SeaArk boats, giving them a chance to earn […]

Big fish are expected at Santee Cooper and anglers were not let down at the 2019 Santee Cooper Monster Cat Quest. The event scheduled out of Black’s Camp and Restaurant attracted 177 teams, all hoping to catch a monster. This year’s event featured pre-tournament tournaments on Wednesday and Thursday preceding the main event. Each was […]

The highly anticipated Santee Cooper Monster Cat Quest 2019 shined brightly in its third year of operation. Two pre-tournament tournaments added to the competition and had some great fish coming to the scales. Wednesday’s pre-tournament tournament was held out of Hill’s Landing and Thursday’s pre-tournament tournament was held at Canal Lakes. The big fish weighed […]

The first-place total weight included Big Kat of the tournament at 72.44 pounds. Catfish anglers from eight states traveled to Lake Tawakoni, TX  for a King Kat Tournament Trail presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s event. Thirty-eight teams were hosted by the cities of West Tawakoni and Emory, TX to test their catfishing skills against […]

Where catfish anglers seek products and camaraderie. Catfish Conference has been a hit among catfish anglers from its inception. The conference’s small beginning in Versailles, KY was not really that small in terms of expectations and reality. The organizers didn’t really know what to expect. The results were overwhelming and the event continues to grow […]

Rogersville, AL lies between Athens, AL on the east and Florence, AL on the west. It is in the heart of big catfish country. Rogersville served as the location of the captains meeting for the 2019 Fishlife National Championship of Catfishing. All the boats launched from the ramp at Joe Wheeler State Park. An overcast […]

The first tournament of the year for King Kat proved once again what a big fish destination Santee Cooper is. Catfish anglers from twelve states traveled to Santee Cooper Lakes to fish the King Kat Tournament Trail presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s season opener. Sixty-four teams gathered at Black’s Camp and Restaurant in Cross, […]

Big blue cats are the most likely target for a winning bag Catfish anglers from several states will travel to the Santee Cooper Lakes at Cross, SC to kick off the 2019 King Kat Tournament Trail presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Local and traveling anglers will be vying for cash, prizes, and an opportunity […]

Big Wheeler Lake catfish are sure to be plentiful. Louisville, KY – January 22, 2019 – Catfish anglers from several states will travel to Wheeler Lake at Decatur, AL for a King Kat Tournament Trail event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Local and traveling anglers will be vying for cash, prizes, and an opportunity […]

Cold, windy, and wet weather characterized prefishing for Winter Blues on Wheeler presented by SeaArk Boats. The Decatur, AL event was staged out of Ingalls Harbor on the banks of the Tennessee River. The inclement weather resulted in wide-ranging pre-fishing reports with some anglers finding fish and others not. Availability of fresh bait may have […]

“Show me your big fish.” — Kevin Davis Plenty of big fish ruled the day on Friday at the Black’s Camp Big Cat Shootout. Prefishing was great with multiple 40 pounds and over fish reported. All the while, anglers and organizers were watching the weather. Winter storm Diego was bearing down on the area with […]

Two fish weigh-in challenges anglers to find the big bite The Southeastern Catfish Club traveled to Lake Wylie for their last tournament of 2018. Fifty-three catfish tournament teams were greeted with inclement weather for the December 1st event out of the Buster Boyd Bridge Access area. Fishing began at 7:00 am and ended at 3:00 […]

Wheeler Lake produces big fish at Turkey Bowl Classic The First Annual Turkey Bowl Classic, brought to you by HOLD’em HOOK Catfish Trail, was given life on Saturday, November 24, 2018. Seventeen teams left Ingalls Harbor, Decatur, AL at first light. All were in search of the biggest whiskered critter they could find. The top […]

Big Fish and Big Payout will rule the day The December 7 and 8, 2018 Black’s Camp Big Cat Shootout features a two catfish per boat weigh-in. South Carolina rules allow one blue cat over 36 inches per day, per person so both catfish can be over 36 inches. ­ Davis describes the Shootout as […]

The First Annual Reindeer Catfish Games Editor’s Note: All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names. They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games. Then one cold Missouri night two tournament directors did a live feed on Facebook and announced a catfish tournament that didn’t exclude anyone from playing […]

A fishing dream come true for a cancer patient and fellow angler by Troy Basso- Before I can tell this story properly, we must go back a few months to Memphis Tennessee. While at the Mississippi River Monsters event many catfish Anglers had the honor of meeting Michael Conley. Michael had his life impacted profoundly […]

The two-day Possum Kingdom Catmasters (PKC) Tournament attracted 129 teams from as far away as California and Montana. Catfish anglers were competing for the first-place prize of $25,000 and custom sculptured wooden catfish trophies created by Savage Saint. The October 20, 21, 2018 event was in its second year of operation and is already making […]

 by Ron Presley Ole Sad Daddy four weeks in a row B’n’M Poles’ Jeff “Big Daddy” Dodd is known for calling his big cats “Ole Sad Daddy.” He credits a complete stranger for the name. “We was up there at Clarksville,” recalled Dodd. “I didn’t have what I call a big fish, maybe about a […]

Hoosier Hospitality and Big Fish Too by Ron Presley The Ohio River runs boldly along the riverfront at Jeffersonville, IN. The city’s history is inescapably tied to the river which the city embraces for the wonderful asset that it is. Back in the days when roads were few, the rivers were lifelines to the city’s […]

Ever since being addicted to the catfish scene I have heard about Aaron Wheatley’s Monsters on the Ohio catfish tournament. I almost made it in 2016, but a hurricane had other ideas about where I needed to be. A conflict in 2017 kept me away again. Finally, this year I have plans to make the […]

A Fishing Tournament with no Fish by Lisa Hill A recent catfish tournament was a little disappointing, but not enough to dampen the spirits of the anglers and others who supported the Challenged Outdoorsmen of America-Arkansas Chapter, Catfishing for a Cause Benefit Catfish Tournament. “Once again it was an amazing day for the Challenged Outdoorsmen […]

Heavyweight catfish characterized the King Kat Championship on the Ohio River. Catfish anglers from 15 states traveled to the Ohio River for Cabela’s King Kat 2018 Classic. Sixty-six teams gathered at Jeffersonville, IN to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Plenty of uncertainty prevailed in the Southern Indiana town in the […]

Some big catfish came in early Day one of Cabela’s King Kat $110,000 Classic got off with a bang. While catfish anglers were struggling with floating debris in a rising Ohio River the fish were hungry. The anglers launched on Friday morning, September 14, 2018, to begin fishing about first light and continue until 3:00 […]

Catfish anglers are challenged by rising river. The Ohio Valley River Cats 13th annual Catfish Tournament was held in Rising Sun on September 8-9, 2018. The two-day tournament challenged anglers with high and rising water, floating debris, and rain, rain, rain. Despite the challenging weather, 141 teams competed in the popular tournament, according to tournament director Frank McIntosh. Frank […]

The 2018 Mississippi River Monsters event was more than just a catfish tournament. Mississippi River Monsters (MRM) was a catfish celebration that demonstrated the importance of the sport and confirmed the dedication of those who love to chase the whiskered fish. The celebration began with the MRM Excel Boats Warm Up Event on Saturday, September […]

More signs of confidence in the catfish community Grizzly Jig Company, located in Caruthersville, MO, recently announced the launch of BigRiverCats.com. The new division of Grizzly Jig will cater to everyone from the everyday catfish angler to those that hit the catfish tournament trails. With its convenient location along the banks of the Mississippi River, […]

Fifty-eight boats competed in the Excel Boats event that was billed as a warm up to the Mississippi River Monsters tournament the following weekend. It all took place on the Big Muddy out of Memphis, TN. Competing anglers launched and returned to the Mud Island boat ramp on Saturday, September 1, 2018, and then returned […]

A clean reel is a dependable reel. When it comes to taking care of catfish reels, Jarrett Tempus compares them to any important tool a person might use. Good maintenance is the key to the lifespan of the tool. Tempus is the proprietor of River Rat Reel Repair in Carbon Hill, Alabama. “A reel is […]

Scott and Emily Cress claim top honors at Paducah, KY with a two-day total weight of 219.83 pounds.   Catfish anglers from eleven states traveled to the Ohio River for a Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail Super Event. Thirty-seven teams gathered at Paducah, KY to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. […]

Cabela’s King Kat will crown a Classic Champion and name the winner of the 2018 points championship on September 15.  Catfish anglers from several states will travel to the Ohio River at Jeffersonville, IN to compete in Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail Classic Championship. Competitors include only those anglers who have qualified for the Classic […]

George Young Jr and Austin Pierce Claim Cabela’s King Kat Victory with 344.22 pounds of Mississippi River Catfish. Catfish anglers from 11 states traveled to the Mississippi River for a Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail Super Event. Twenty-one teams gathered at Helena, AR to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Helena […]

Chris Souders and Nick Conaway claim Cabela’s King Kat Tournament win at Huntington, WV Catfish anglers from nine states traveled to the Ohio River for a Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail Event on Saturday, August 11, 2018. Forty-seven teams gathered at Paducah, KY to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Rain often […]

ORLANDO, FL — Watershed Innovations, a Correct Craft technology initiative, today added Torqeedo and SeaDek as two new partners on the project that Watershed previously announced with the University of Central Florida (UCF) to build an ultra-quiet aluminum fishing boat with electric propulsion. Watershed has now partnered with SeaArk Boats, Torqeedo, and SeaDek, and UCF’s Senior Design […]

An important Kentucky Fish and Wildlife committee meeting including catfish regulations is coming on August 17, 2018 at 8:30 AM EDT in Frankfort, KY. If you are able to attend be advised that the location is currently in limbo as they look for a larger venue. The Committee will consider a number of issues related […]

Jerry Ishcomer, Noah Ishcomer, and Carey Cox drove 1,100 miles to claim the top spot in the Ohio River catfish event. Catfish anglers from ten states traveled to the Ohio River for Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail event. Forty-three teams gathered at Tell City, Indiana to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother […]

It was hard to find unders at Taylorsville tournament. Season two of Capt. Mad Jack’s catfish tournament was held August 3 and 4, 2018 at Taylorsville Lake, KY. Billed as The Nocturnal Pursuit, the tournament ran through the night on Friday with weigh-in at 9:00 am on Saturday morning. Fifty-nine boats competed in the popular […]

September Catfish Action in Memphis Grab your pencil, roll up your sleeves, and take some catfish notes. Fall is here and all kinds of catfishing action abound. Fast forward to September and look at what the catfish community has to look forward to in Memphis, Tennessee on the Big Muddy. There is definitely something for […]

Wheeler Lake in Alabama will host first Chick Fight. Chick Fight is a catfish tournament for the ladies. As the sport of catfishing grows, so grows the number of women participating. This tournament will give women catfish anglers a platform to demonstrate their skills and enjoy the competition and camaraderie of tournament fishing. The excitement […]

Catfish anglers from twelve states traveled to the Mississippi River for a Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail Event. Forty-six teams gathered at Caruthersville, MO to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. The Mississippi River is always expected to produce some good catfish and anglers approached the Caruthersville event on July 28 […]

Missouri and Georgia value and promote catfishing It pleases me to see states recognize the value of catfish as a recreational fish. Missouri and Georgia, for example, have recently shared information about catfishing. Missouri shared a release about a catfish clinic coming up in August and Georgia shared information on how to catch catfish and […]

Michael Ballinger wins RigRap Wheel spin on Catfish Weekly On Monday, February 12, 2018, Catfish Weekly’s RigRap Wheel landed on CatfishNow for an angler from Northern Indiana. There are a million stories in the catfish community, this is just one. **************** Michael Ballinger is a riverman. He enjoys spending his recreational time along and on […]

Although rare to the area, Big Kat honors were won with a blue catfish. Catfish anglers from seven states traveled to the Illinois River for a Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail Event. Thirty-seven teams gathered at Pekin, IL to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Most anglers suggested that the high-water […]

Catfish community gathers for one of their own by Lisa Hill Mike Padgett, from Moffat TX, is considered a pioneer in rod and reel catfishing by many members of the Central Texas Catfish Trail. The catfish community came together in his honor and for his benefit on Belton Lake. The event was the Central Texas […]

Catfish anglers faced torrential rainfall at Carlyle Lake Catfish anglers from seven states traveled to Carlyle Lake for a Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail Event. Twenty-six teams gathered at Carlyle, IL to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Competitors were vying for $6,350.00 in cash and prizes and an opportunity to […]

It was a family affair for Mike, Timothy and Krissi Kuehl. Catfish anglers from four states traveled to the Rock River for a Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail Event. Forty-three teams gathered at Dixon, IL to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. The Rock River is known for its big channel […]

The Mt. Vernon, IN event posted a King Kat record weight  Catfish anglers from nine states traveled to the Ohio and Wabash Rivers for a Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail Event. Thirty-five teams gathered at Mt. Vernon, IN to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Pre-fishing the day before the tournament […]

Some special needs children will be having a special time at Lake Guntersville this weekend. The May 18-20 event is the 10th year for the kids to receive some special love from dedicated sponsors and volunteer anglers at this location. United Special Sportsman Alliance, Inc. (USSA) is an all volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit wish granting charity […]

The Catfish Weekly National Championship was characterized by strong winds and pleasure boats that kept the water rocking. Missouri regulations kept anglers on their toes too. The state regulates with a slot of 26- 34-inches where no fish can be kept. So, the best 5 fish limit would be 2 over slot fish and 3 […]

Yantis Catfish Classic Honors Ken Freeman by Lisa Hill This was the 13th year for the Yantis-Catfish Classic and the 5th year for Mayor Jerry Miller along with the assistance of his wife Phillis to be the Tournament Director. At the end of the first day of the tournament, there was a parade in downtown […]

Lake Ozark, MO is hosting a catfish tournament in May that will go down in history as an important step up the ladder in the public’s acceptance of catfishing as a sport. More than a year’s worth of planning and hard work will come to fruition on May 12th and 13th, 2018. Lyle Stokes has […]

Catfish anglers from three states traveled to Rocky Fork Lake for a Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail Event. Twenty-five teams gathered at Hillsboro, OH to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Competitors were vying for 6,350.00 in cash and prizes, and an opportunity to qualify for the $110,000 Classic Championship to […]

The highly anticipated Santee Cooper Big Cat Quest 2018 shined brightly in only its second year of operation. Last year’s event was showered with praise after 76 teams, from 11 different states participated in the inaugural event. This year the event, held out of Black’s Camp and Restaurant, was even better. The already popular event […]

Catfish anglers from ten states traveled to the Tennessee River and Watts Bar Lake for a Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail Super Event. Forty-six teams gathered at Loudon, TN, to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature. Watts Bar Dam, located midway between Knoxville and Chattanooga, is one of nine TVA dams […]

Day one is in the books at the Santee Cooper Monster Cat Quest out of Black’s Camp, Cross, SC. The tournament, now in its second year, attracted more than 100 boats to fish the popular Santee Cooper waters. Mark Coborn, from Myrtle Beach, SC was on hand at the weigh-in. He reports that today’s leaders […]

Joey and Jerry Pounders moved from 5th place on day one to claim top honors at Gallatin, TN Catfish anglers from nine states traveled to the Cumberland River and Old Hickory Lake for a Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail Super Event. Twenty-seven teams gathered at Gallatin, TN to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and […]

Lake of the Ozarks in Sunrise Beach, Missouri, welcomed catfish anglers to the March 24, 2018, edition of Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail. They rolled out the red carpet for more than 50 anglers from 5 different states. Competitors were vying for $6,000 in cash and prizes, and an opportunity to qualify for the $110,000 […]

Big Fish record for King Kat Trail busted on Wheeler Decatur, Alabama and Wheeler Lake are on most catfish anglers wish list. The number of personal best catfish coming from the Tennessee River lake continues to grow. Now, this destination claims the distinction of producing the biggest catfish ever to weigh in at a Cabela’s […]

LITTLE ROCK – As many of the state’s elementary and secondary schools go on a week of spring break starting next Monday, the time off coincides with several central Arkansas fisheries being stocked with catfish. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Family and Community Fishing Program is in full swing this week delivering catfish for […]

Paul Hurt wins RigRap Wheel Spin on Catfish Weekly On Monday, March 5, 2018, Catfish Weekly’s RigRap Wheel landed on CatfishNow for an angler from San Marcos TX. There are a million stories in the catfish community, 54-year-old Paul Hurt’s is just one. “I started fishing like most, very young,” offered Hurt. “I was catching […]

Will those catfish be shallow or will they be deep? Deep or shallow was the question as sixty-two catfish boats from 12 states planned their tournament day strategy to fish the popular big fish lakes of Marion and Moultrie in Santee Cooper Country. The question of shallow or deep arose because of a cold front […]

No one really knew where it would go when several catfish fanatics launch the first Catfish Conference in 2016. It was billed as a catfish community gettogether for all persons interested in the whiskered fish. Now, in only its third year, it has become something the whole catfish community looks forward to. The underlying premise […]

Catfish, Baseball Bats, Horse Racing and more As the sport of catfishing grows, so grows tournament trails and events like Catfish Conference. Louisville, KY was the location of Catfish Conference 2017 and it will be again in 2018. With the next opportunity just around the corner don’t fail to leave some time from conference activities […]

Anglers battled wind and rain and unsettled prefishing to test their catfishing skills on Lake Tawakoni at W. Tawakoni, Texas. The weather has been up and down for a month, making it difficult to pattern the fish. The occasion was Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail. The February 17, 2018, event attracted 50 teams from 10 […]

Note: Kathy Stallings wrote this beautiful tribute to TJ Stalling’s. She wrote if for his friends as a way to honor him on the one-year anniversary of his passing and to also say thank you. Kathy graciously allowed it to be published here. TJ was a friend of mine. He had a great impact on […]

Santee Cooper’s growing reputation as a big fish lake will likely draw top catfish competitors in March. The March 10, 2018 event will be held out of the popular Black’s Camp and Restaurant. Both lakes, Marion and Moultrie, will be in play for anglers to demonstrate their catfishing skills. The tournament offers the opportunity for […]

Ken Freeman was well known around catfish circles. He made his mark both as an angler and as a tournament director. His first catfish success came when he was 10 years old. He and his dad fished the World Championship of Catfishing (WCC) on Pickwick Lake and won it. When he turned 20 years old […]

Winter Blues on Wheeler presented by Bottom Dwellers Tackle was a testament to the toughness of catfish anglers. They battled cold and windy weather to showcase a growing sport and show what catfish anglers are made of. It all took place on Wheeler and Wilson Lakes where big catfish are king. Anglers could choose which […]

Lake Tawakoni at W. Tawakoni, Texas, will host the second Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail of 2018. The February 17, 2018 event is an opportunity for catfish anglers to compete for cash, prizes and a chance to advance to the Cabela’s King Kat Classic Championship. There are a couple of important changes to the schedule […]

Trade in your winter blues for some Wheeler blues Success often brings growing pains. Such is the case at Winter Blues on Wheeler (WBW). Thank goodness, they are pains of a good kind. Winter Blues is one of those tournaments that caught on quick with catfish anglers. Now in its 4th year, the boat total […]

#CatfishClass Catfish stories that relate to a good deed warm my heart. In this Christmas season the Hold’em HOOK Christmas for Kids Tournament is an example of using the sport of catfishing to do good in the community. The event began three years ago when tournament co-founders Steve Dobbs and Cad Daly discovered some families […]

Chad Everett wins RigRap Wheel spin on Catfish Weekly On Monday November 27, 2017 Catfish Weekly’s RigRap Wheel landed on CatfishNow for an angler from Mebane, N.C. There are a million stories in the catfish community, this is just one. Chad Everett is a catfish angler and he has been for a long time. But, […]

Canine Companionship Is your dog a companion or a pet? This question is asked early on in Robert U. Montgomery’s book, Pippa’s Journey: Tail-Wagging Tales of Rescue Dogs.  He makes the distinction that early in life his dogs were just pets. As he grew older and wiser it became apparent that his dogs meant more […]

“Gimme’ your best two . .” With an emphasis on catfish health and conservation, the first Black’s Camp Big Cat Shootout was a great success. Thirty-one angler teams paid the $500 entry fee to fish some of the best catfish waters around – Lakes Marion and Moultrie (Santee Cooper). The weather was variable, but the […]

Catfish, passion, friendliness, fun and conservation Jody Harrison is no stranger to tournament fishing. He has a long history of staging bass and crappie tournaments. I guess you could call him a tenderfoot in the catfish world, but he catches on fast. “I started putting on tournaments in 2007,” explained Harrison. “It all started at […]

Tournament features two fish weigh-in Santee Cooper waters from the Pinopolis Lock up to the Rimini Railroad Trestle will be full of whisker whackers on November 17 and 18, 2017. The lakes of Santee Cooper are growing in reputation as a big catfish destination. Those waters are a perfect location for a major tournament and […]

Sometimes you take what Mother Nature gives you It was a cloudy, rainy, foggy day predicted for Kentucky Lake. We had checked into Moors Resort and Marina after attending the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association’s annual meeting at Kentucky Dam Village. We had a few days available before the upcoming Crappie USA Classic, also on Kentucky […]

Monsters on the Ohio 8 brought 180 catfish boats to Owensboro, KY for one of the most anticipated catfish tournaments in the nation. Given the make up of two- and three-angler teams that translates to nearly 400 anglers fishing the tournament. Tournament director, Aaron Wheatley present the guaranteed first place prize to the new Monsters […]

Chris Dunaway is a catfish angler. He prefers to fish from his boat, but don’t be surprised if you see him throwing out a line from the bank if the opportunity presents its self. On Monday October 8, Catfish Weekly’s RigRap Wheel landed on CatfishNow for the angler from Buffalo, WV in Putnam County. This […]

Family matters, especially in catfishing Roy Harkness is a cotton farmer. When the times comes to pick cotton nothing else matters much and the Bass Pro Shops Big Cat Quest (BCQ) Championship was scheduled on what would likely be a cotton pickin’ weekend. It was Oct. 7 and 8, 2017. “I really wasn’t planning on […]

Whole lotta bumpin’ goin’ on Bumpin’ the Mississippi River is a favorite way to catch trophy catfish. The bumping method is a situation where anglers set the bow of their boat into the current and use the trolling motor to control a backward drift at their preferred speed. Each angler holds a single rod and […]

Monsters on the Ohio is one of the most anticipated tournaments of the year. Under the tutelage of tournament angler Aaron Wheatley, the tournament has grown from a small tournament in 2010 to one of the biggest catfish tournaments in the nation. Monsters on the Ohio takes place in Owensboro, KY, a very supportive and […]

Approaching Hurricane Nate had no great impact on Cabela’s King Kat Eastern Championship on Lake Wateree at Camden, SC. No severe weather occurred during the October 6 and 7, 2017 tourney, but a great bite led anglers to catch numerous fish. Day one was sunny with light winds and temperatures in the high 80’s. Day […]

Richard Wimmer III and James Saxton took the day one lead at Cabela’s King Kat Eastern Championship on Lake Wateree at Camden, South Carolina. The event, hosted by the Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center, attracted anglers from several states to compete on the popular lake. “We hadn’t caught fish that big this […]

The Battle for Vicksburg produced the heaviest weight ever for Larry Muse and Dino Meadors. They enjoyed a day of fishing that all catfish anglers dream of. They brought 244.94 pounds of Mississippi River catfish to the scales. Their weight included a fish that weighed 86.35 pounds to claim big fish of the day. “The […]

  The Cumberland River (Old Hickory Lake) produced some nice fish for the 2017 Cabela’s King Kat Western Championship. The Sept. 22 and 23 event featured top anglers from all across catfish country. Weather was in the low 90’s both days making it a hot championship. Light winds did not help ease the heat, and […]

The leaders just went fishing Anglers began fishing at 6:30 am knowing that they needed to string two good days together to win Cabela’s King Kat Northern Championship on Old Hickory Lake. The Captains Meeting the night before was filled with stories from anglers that said they could have one if only they could have […]

It’s all about the catfish fun A tough bite for most, and HOT weather challenged anglers on September 16, 2017 on the Mighty Mississippi. One Hundred Sixty-Seven boats gathered in Memphis for year two of the Mississippi River Monsters tournament, directed by George Young Jr. Young’s dedication to the tournament accumulated more than $100,000 in […]

Are you TJ Stallings’ brother? It is Thursday, September 14. I am in Memphis, TN at the Mississippi River Monsters catfish tournament. I have my Whisker Whackers/CatfishNow banner set up in the breakfast room at the Clarion Hotel. My goal is to take as many photos of tournament competitors, friends and family as I can. […]

You can’t make this stuff up Some of the anglers at the Mississippi River Monsters catfish tournament are keeping their boats at the Mud Island Marina/Memphis Yatch Club.  It is predominately occupied by the Yatch Club members, but users are not required to be a member of the club to moor boats in the facility. […]

MRM ANGLER ROUNDUP – 2017 The 2017 Mississippi River Monsters tournament in Memphis will feature prominent anglers and tournament teams in a series of catfish seminars. The Friday afternoon event promises to provide more catfishing information in one afternoon than an individual could accumulate in years of fishing on their own. One of the distinguishing […]

Souders and Conaway earn points race honors   As Jason and Daryl Masingale took the top spot at Paducah, the tight 2017 points race ended with honors going to teammates Chris Souders and Nick Conaway. The King Kat points race tightened up last week in Quincy where several individuals finished the event tied at 383 […]

Points raced tightens at Quincy As Joey Heckrodt and Jerry Cox took the top spot at Quincy, the King Kat points race tightened to set up a shoot out on the Ohio River next week. Three teams were are tied at 383 points following the Saturday, August 19, 2017 event. “The Angler of the Year […]

What will it do to the bite? Wow! The first time in 38 years that there has been a total eclipse of the sun in the Lower 48 states. I have seen so many Facebook friends making plans to be on the water it’s making me want to be out there too. Weather.com  reports that […]

MRM ANGLER ROUNDUP – 2017 The 2017 Mississippi River Monsters tournament in Memphis will feature prominent anglers and tournament teams in a series of catfish seminars. The Friday event promises to provide more catfishing information in one afternoon than an individual could accumulate in years of fishing on their own. One of the distinguishing elements […]

MRM ANGLER ROUNDUP – 2017 The 2017 Mississippi River Monsters tournament in Memphis will feature prominent anglers and tournament teams in a series of catfish seminars. The Friday afternoon event promises to provide more catfishing information in four hours than an individual could accumulate in years of fishing on their own. One of the distinguishing […]

Catfish anglers fishing the Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail were greeted with sunny skies both Friday and Saturday. The final day saw 15 mph winds, blowing N early and S late. The river was lower than normal and afternoon temperatures were in the low 80’s all weekend. The Friday and Saturday, August 11 and 12, […]

MRM ANGLER ROUNDUP – 2017 The 2017 Mississippi River Monsters tournament in Memphis will feature prominent anglers and tournament teams in a series of catfish seminars. The Friday afternoon event promises to provide more catfishing information than an individual could accumulate in years of fishing on their own. One of the distinguishing elements of tournament […]

MRM ANGLER ROUNDUP – 2017 The 2017 Mississippi River Monsters tournament in Memphis will feature prominent anglers and tournament teams in a series of catfish seminars. The Friday afternoon event promises to provide more catfishing information in four hours than an individual could accumulate in years of fishing on their own. One of the distinguishing […]

As the sport of catfishing grows, so does the anticipation of yearend tournaments. The Cabela’s King Kat Southern Championship will take place on Lake Wateree at Camden, South Carolina. Qualifying anglers are already planning for the big event. The Championship is a two-day event on October 6 and 7, 2017. Just as the sport is […]

It’s gonna’ be like a two-day party Finding a bunch of catfish vendors in the same spot at the same time has not been common in the catfish community. Catfish Conference in 2016 was the first big one to have a lot of vendors in one place. It is just natural for anglers to want […]

As the sport of catfishing grows, so does the anticipation of yearend tournaments. The Cabela’s King Kat Northern Championship will take place on the Cumberland River (Old Hickory Lake) at Gallatin, Tennessee. Qualifying anglers are already planning for the big event. The Championship is a two-day event on September 22 and 23, 2017. Just as […]

Editor’s note: If you book a guided fishing trip on one of 5 days in September, all proceeds will go to support the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation. Read the details below. Our future depends on kids! Anyone in the fishing industry understands that statement well and will go to all ends to introduce and maintain […]

How did they fish? There is no time like summer to hold a night catfishing event. The Bass Pro Shops Big Cat Quest travelled to Rome, GA and the Coosa River to host their Saturday July 22, through Sunday July 23rd Nite Series tournament. Fishing began on Saturday at 6:00 pm and continued until 12:00 […]

It was an accident of sorts. The outcome stirred the fishing world. The intent of South Carolina pest control guy, Harold Collins, was to create a way to keep his minnows alive longer. Collins concocted a mixture of chemicals that he thought would do the trick. The result was to turn the minnows blue. Collins […]

Steve Douglas conducted the highly anticipated and successful event on Taylorsville Lake this past weekend. The inaugural Capt. Mad Jack’s Catfish Clash was held on July 14th and 15th, 2017. The event was staged with a mission statement that could be adopted by all catfish loving anglers everywhere. It reads, “Promoting the sport of catfishing […]

Noticing the catfishing community If you are not familiar with the ICAST acronym, it stands for International Convention of Allied Sportsfishing Trades. It is a gathering place for about 15,000 people from 80 different countries, all with something to do with fishing. It is a trade show and NOT open to the public. Manufacturers show […]

Chasing the coveted WWC belts The World Championship of Catfishing (WCC) took place on the Tennessee River at Savannah, TN on July 8, 2017. The long running tournament has been held on Pickwick Lake for many years and has been fished, and won, by many legends in the catfish world. The area is known by […]

Catfish anglers fishing the Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail were greeted with inclement weather as they started their search for Delaware River catfish. The early morning storms cleared in the afternoon. The tournament finished with sunny skies, temperatures in the 80’s and winds blowing a stiff 13 – 15 mph. The June 24, 2017 event […]

Catfish kids show their stuff Ten teams competed for top honors at the family friendly Madison Catfish Anglers tournament on the Ohio River out of Vevay, IN. Each of the top three teams had kids on the team. The weather and water conditions were pretty good. The day progressed from warm and calm to hot […]

Gone Fishing movement aims to introduce fishing to families everywhere with free activities, donations and partnerships Bass Pro Shops (BPS) is a huge supporter of the catfishing community. You cannot go to many catfishing events without seeing the familiar BPS logo and you don’t go to many without seeing plenty of kids. Catfishing is a […]

Catfish anglers were greeted with a swift river, a few feet above normal for the June 3, 2017 tournament event on the Rock River at Dixon, IL. More than 100 anglers from 8 states, were competing for $9,300.00 in cash and prizes, and the opportunity to qualify for the 2017 Cabela’s King Kat Northern and […]

It don’t get much better than this The growing popularity of catfishing demonstrates an interesting dichotomy. The question has become, to eat or not to eat. In recent years, many more catfish are released than in the past, but they remain popular on the dinner table. The growing trend towards Catch-Photo-Release (CPR) has many sportsmen […]

A river, dropping 5 feet in 24 hours preceding and during the May 20, 2017 the Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail made for some tough fishing. Anglers were fishing the Ohio and Wabash Rivers at Mt. Vernon, Indiana. Temperatures were in the low to mid 80’s with early morning rain and scattered thunderstorms throughout the […]

Oklahoma based Fishing Blues had a change in schedule for their May 20 event. Seventeen teams fished the rescheduled tourney on Waurika Lake. The results are posted below: 1st and Big fish winners Michael Castillo, Brian Seale, David Castillo , Big Fish 12.2, total weight 36.8# 2nd Malcolm Williams, Danny Garza,Terry Williams 34.0 # 3rd […]

Turning off your iPhone passcode I continue to be amazed at the technology we carry in our Smart Phones. I also continue to be amazed at how hard it can be to find a simple solution to problems that bug me about using my phone. When I got my iPhone 6s I discovered that it […]

Evan Martin has been on a big fish streak this spring. He calls it luck, but you have to wonder. What is this avid catfish angler doing that led him to his big fish catches, that included three Big Fish awards during his tournament fishing? “I’ve been getting lucky in the tournament’s,” stated Martin.  “We […]

  High water, a 5 to 6 mph current and floating debris challenged anglers at the May 13, 2017 Cabela’s King Lat Tournament at Gallipolis, OH. Early morning fog with temperatures in the 50’s cleared to sunny skies, temperatures in the 70’s and North winds at 5 to 10 mph as anglers fished the Ohio […]

It was a pretty good bite all day long according to B’n’M prostaffer Mark Blauvelt. “Water was on the rise, raining and overcast all day. Those conditions seemed to keep the bite pretty good all through the day.” Blauvelt was fishing with Shannon Dotson in the May 6, 2017 Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail on […]

Warm temperatures, in the 70’s, and a stable river one day turned to drastic weather on Saturday for the May 6, 2017 Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail on the Monongahela River at Morgantown, West Virginia. Rain, winds at 10 to 15mph and temperatures in the 50’s created an additional challenge to anglers as they witnessed […]

Sunny skies with temperatures in the 80’s greeted catfish anglers to Camden, SC, the location of the latest Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail event. The two-day Super Event began on Lake Wateree, SC, Friday, April 28, 2017 and finished on Saturday, April 29, 2017. Winds at  5 -10 mph on Friday and 10 – 15 […]

Camden, SC, is the location of the latest Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail event. The two-day Super Event began on Lake Wateree, SC, today and continues thru Saturday, April 29, 2017. Legal waters for the event was all of Lake Wateree. Anglers could fish from 6:30 AM until 3:00 PM on opening day, as well […]

Sea Ark boat owners launched on Wheeler Lake out of Decatur, AL for the 2017 Sea Ark Owners Tournament. One hundred and forty-one boats and more than twice that many catfish anglers were vying for cash and prizes with payouts going to the top 20 boats. Anglers had to do combat Mother Nature as well […]

Sixty-two boats competed on the Ohio River, Gallipolis Pool today. They were fishing for fun and charity. The event, organized by Tim “Doc” Lange was pulled off with the help of numerous volunteers and sponsors. The tournament offered no prizes or payout. One-hundred percent of the money raised went to Janet and Bink Fox to […]

It started off as a normal fishing trip. It was a rainy day, just like it had been for several days, with a high temp of 55 degrees expected. Mike O’Hara and his good buddy, Pete, headed out to fish the Missouri River in Nebraska. “We started the day off by netting some fresh shad,” […]

Paula and Steve Haney have been fishing together for about 15 years. They had made the trek from Anderson, South Carolina to do a little Santee Cooper fishing out of Hills Landing and Marina at Cross, SC. Little did they know that their pontoon boat would be carrying the new South Carolina state record blue […]

The thunder storms and heavy rain were gone from day one as Santee Cooper Monster Cat Quest tournament anglers hit the water on the final day of competition, Saturday, April 1, 2017. The promise of better weather was on everyone’s mind after the first day’s competition was fished in severely bad winds, rain and choppy […]

Thunder storms and heavy rain rolled through the night as 76 teams of catfish anglers prepared for day-one of the Santee Cooper Monster Cat Quest catfish tournament. Although the rain had stopped by daybreak, anglers were greeted with cloudy skies and a promise from the weatherman of windy conditions. The rain came again, accompanied with […]

Blacks Camp was the perfect venue to kick off the inaugural Santee Cooper Monster Cat Quest, where a buffet dinner and registration kicked off the proceedings. More than 70 teams from numerous states made the trek to Santee Cooper Country to fish the popular catfish lakes. Prefishing was characterized by great weather, right up to […]

Perfect catfishing weather greeted Bass Pro Shops Big Cat Quest anglers for the March 18, 2017 tournament on the James River near Richmond, VA. The good weather followed some really cold, windy, rainy and stormy days. Anglers were pleased with the change for the better, because it is so often the other way around on […]

Daryl Miller Junior opened the Madison Catfish Anglers season this past weekend out of Craig’s Creek. He described the day as windy, cold and brutal on the water. He wanted to thank everybody for coming out and supporting the event. Jack Hite and his partner Marlin managed to catch a nice stringer in inclement weather. […]

King Kat anglers started out on a cold Decatur, AL day. Temps were in the lower 40s and light rain scattered the area. Skies started clearing and the day got encourageably brighter, before more clouds rolled in to keep the temperatures from raising much. By one o’clock it was still only 46 degrees with the […]

      Blue skies, mild winds and temperatures in the mid to upper 60’s prevailed all week during prefishing for the March 4, 2017 Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail on Lake Tawakoni at West Tawakoni, Texas. Many anglers were reporting poor fishing as the tournament approached. Tournament day, as it often does, brought a […]

George Young Jr. is well known in catfish circles for his ability to catch big cats. His favorite way to do it is bumping bottom on the Mississippi River near Memphis. I personally took some “bumpin’ lessons” from Young and he is a good teacher too. He is often seen on the river chasing whiskered […]

Catfish anglers were greeted with a beautiful sunrise and fair weather for the final day of Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail on Santee Cooper. The South Carolina lake is known for big catfish, and day one proved it so. The team of Billy Patton and Dan Robison weighed in a 73-pound blue cat to claim […]

    Santee Cooper showed why it is known for big catfish on the opening day of Cabela’s King Kat 2017 Tournament Trail. The two-day event kicked off on Friday, Feb. 17 and continue on Saturday the 18th. Catfish anglers were greeted with beautiful weather and an early bite for the first day. The only […]

Today’s The Fishing Wire carried this story from Southern Fishing News related to the use of gill nets in the Tennessee River. *************************************** Readers may remember back in 2015 Southern Fishing News was in the thick of the fight to defeat Alabama’s Representative Lynn Greers’ proposed bill to allow the use of gill nets in […]

The outdoor industry lost a dedicated friend on January 31, 2017. TJ Stallings was a friend to many and he will be so sorely missed. I had the opportunity in 2016 to nominate him for one of the Florida Outdoor Writers prestigious awards, The Hardy Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award. The award, created in 1994, requires […]

Dale Russell Lowe, Jr has caught big catfish before, just not this big! He was fishing the Icebowl Tournament on John H. Kerr Reservoir (Buggs Island Lake). The reservoir is bounded by Virginia and North Carolina. “My cousin Stephen Faircloth fishes that tournament with me every year,” said Lowe. “I had two of the most […]

My travels and my work take me to numerous catfish and crappie tournaments. What I find everywhere I go are “real” people, patriots with family values, that love their sport. The anglers are normally just as excited about seeing old friends and making new ones as they are about the fishing Oh, don’t get me […]

Paul Strouth was well known in the catfish community. He untimely death in 2016 left many in the community mourning. Paul was a quiet, but thoughtful man and well respected in catfish circles. As part of the JKV Catfish Trail, Josh Vanover, tournament director, named their first event in 2017 in Paul Strouth’s honor. The […]

The Bass Pro Shops Big Cat Quest has announced the 2017 schedule. It consists of 10 stops, in 7 states, including VA, TN, TX, IL GA, MS and MO. The 2016 Classic was held out of Richmond, VA on the James River. It was won by James “Jaybird” Hopkins. The first event this year will […]

One year ago, I wrote, “There has never been a catfish conference, so what is it?” Well, that question was answered in 2016 when the first Catfish Conference was an overwhelming success. The venue at Jeff Jones Marine was filled with inquisitive catfish anglers, knowledgeable vendors and some of the best in the business giving […]

Yes, I know this is a Catfish mostly page, but once in a while I like to crappie fish. So, when a particularly good day comes along it Is fun to report about it, because I know a lot of you like to crappie fish too. The St. Johns River is a particularly beautiful place […]

King Kat Decatur, AL was a windblown event in 2016. Anglers from 12 states competed in the weekend competition that saw mild temperatures in the low 60’s, but 20 to 25 mph winds providing an obstacle for anglers to deal with. Nevertheless, two catfish anglers brought a personal best (PB) catfish to the scales that […]

Anticipation is growing for Catfish Conference 2017. The event is set in a bigger venue because of the enormous success of the inaugural event in 2016. This year it is a two-day event, scheduled for Feb. 25 and 26, 2017. The Crowne Plaza Conference Center, Louisville, KY, offers excellent facilities and the two-day schedule opens […]

        Big fish, cold, nasty weather, old friends, new friends and friendly competition characterized the popular Winter Blues on Wheeler catfish tournament (WBW). The 3rd annual WBW, presented by Fishlife Fish Care, attracted 78 teams from 19 states to the highly-touted Alabama lake near Rogersville, AL. The weather affected more than the […]

    Plenty of catfish anglers are keeping an eye on Facebook and noting the numerous big fish being caught on Wheeler Lake in Alabama. The ones that are catching them will have to beat an age-old curse that often falls on tournament anglers that catch their big fish in practice, only to fall short […]

  My Facebook Memory this morning was a link to an article I wrote last year when I learned of the Catfish Conference. It was published on my Examiner.com page. Since Examiner went out of business, and thousands of articles were lost to the public, including this one, I decided to re-post it. Take a […]

  I try each year to offer some Christmas shopping suggestions. I started this year by asking myself what I would like to have for Christmas. The first thing that came to my mind was a catfish trip with a guide. That led me to think about tournament anglers and the fact that they might […]

The Toy Rod Catfish Tournament – A Model for Others A guest editorial by Tammy Wilson Once a year, a secret society of anglers convene on the banks of the St. John’s River in Florida with a single mission in mind – to be crowned champion of the Annual Toy Rod Catfish Tournament and stand in […]

I have always had good luck using chicken livers for catfish bait. If you’ve ever used them, you know the challenge of keeping the tender bloody mass on your hook. So, when I saw this idea for stabilizing the chicken liver presentation I wanted to give it a try. The opportunity arose when I had […]

Two years ago the Hold’em Hook Catfish Trail was started by Steve Dobbs. “I started the trail on Wheeler Lake,” said Dobbs. “I host monthly events for anyone who wants to participate. The trail started in June and in October of 2015, Cad Daly and I put together the first Christmas for Kids Tournament.” Good […]

For experienced powerboat operators, there is an automatic mental thought process that guides them as they approach the dock to tie up. They may be stopping for supplies, fueling up, or unloading passengers. If those steps are carried out efficiently they dock safely. For the less experienced boater, docking can be a challenge, especially in […]

Veterans Day History – the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month 1954: President Eisenhower officially changed the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. 1968: The Uniform Holidays Bill was passed by Congress, which moved the celebration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. The law went […]

The JKV tournament on the Ohio River drew some of the best catfish anglers in the county to the last trail event of the season. The JKV trail has been characterized in 2016 with a river out of its banks and the current cranking or a summer drought with no current. Sometimes it was 30 […]

The World Championship of Catfishing (WCC) was held on Pickwick Lake, AL on Oct. 29, 2016. The long running event turned out to be a dream maker for two GA catfish anglers. A tough bite on the river lead to a 59.85-pound weight claiming the WCC belts. The proud and happy anglers were Lonnie Fountain […]

  The blustery wind kept anglers on their toes at the Oct. 22 and 23, 2016 Big Cat Quest Classic. Angler after angler lamented the impact of the wind on boat control and fishing conditions. Still, plenty of big fish came to the scales as determined anglers challenged the cold October wind. “If the cold […]

A 55-degree temperature and partly cloudy skies greeted anglers on the James River out of Osbourne Landing, VA for the 2016 Bass Pro Shops Big Cat Quest Classic. That pleasant temperature was altered by 19 mph winds with occasional gusts up to 40 mph. Boat control would be a serious challenge for competitors Osbourne landing […]

Year ending tournament are always exciting for the anglers. This year’s Big Cat Quest is conducting its two-day Classic in VA on the James River. It may just offer an added challenge because of forecasted winds. Osbourne Landing, on the James River, will come alive on Oct. 22 and 23, 2016 with anglers from several […]

Richmond VA is the location of the Bass Pro Shops Big Cat Quest 2016 Classic. The Oct. 22 and 23, 2016 event will hold registration on Friday, Oct 21, at the Bass Pro Shops in Richmond, VA. The entry fee is $200. The event allows trailering so anglers can launch from various ramps on the […]

My life has become entangled with catfish. My mind is rambling from thought to thought and every thought leads to a whisker connection of some kind. Yesterday CatfishNOW digital magazine launched and it it’s time to put the second issue together. I am proud to have been asked to be a part of it and […]

Tailin’ Toads Fishing Gloves are designed for comfort, utility and most importantly, sun protection. Like so many other innovative products, this one has a story behind it, a story of love, devotion and healing. Following the loss of her mother, Pam Stanley, a world-renowned watercolor artist, Manny Altman was in search of a new direction […]

When you compete in a catfish tournament with 192 boats a 16th place finish is just not bad at all. It is even better, however, when your team includes the top youth in the event. The Monsters on the Ohio catfish tournament took place on Oct. 8, in Owensboro, KY. When all was said and […]

Winning Big Fish at Monsters on the Ohio earns prize money and braggin’ rights for the lucky anglers. Doing it twice had never happened before. Prefishing had uncovered some fish for the B’n’M team of Jody and Trish Beavin. “We had found an inside bend up river from Cannelton, Indiana,” revealed Jody. “It had been […]

Monsters on the Ohio launched a record 192 boats on the Ohio River at Owensboro, KY. Catfish teams traveled from across the U.S. to compete in the October 8, 2016 event. Prefishing conditions were warm and sunny for the competing anglers, but all that changed as tournament day approached. A cold front carrying nasty winds […]

English Park in Owensboro, KY came to life early this morning as 192 teams answered the wakeup call for a 3:30 am launch. The 2016 edition of Monsters on the Ohio readied for blast off with livewell checks on the record number of boats. A cold front with nasty winds will challenge anglers as they […]

Hurricane Mathew decided to take control of my life and keep me from travelling to Aaron Wheatley’s Monsters on the Ohio. Since I couldn’t be there I decided to ask a few folks how they prepare for the tournament coming up on Saturday, Oct. 9 in Owensboro, Ky. Common preparations include checking the weather, tying […]

“Daddy you won,” was heard over the live stream from Cabela’s King Kat Southern Championship as competition ended Saturday October 1, 2016. That sweet little voice turned out to be the daughter of Fonzi Malaikham letting her pleasure be known at her daddy’s victory. Fonzi Malaikham from Murfreesboro, TN and Adam Dehner from Independence, KY […]

Bumpin’ the Mississippi River is a favorite way to catch trophy catfish. On Saturday Oct. 1. 2016 there was some bumping goin’ on out of New Madrid, MO as anglers fishing the Bass Pro Shops Big Cat Quest vied for trophies, cash and braggin’ rights. “The city of new Madrid is an awesome place to […]

The Cumberland River (Old Hickory Lake) was a tough bite for the first day of the 2016 Cabela’s King Kat Southern Championship on Sept. 30. Prefishing anglers predicted a tough bite because of a lack of current and for most that prediction came true. With top anglers from all across catfish country competing in the […]

Jake Abts is a relatively new cat man. Catfish Weekly is an internet TV show that disseminates catfish information. In today’s social media world lives become connected without the people actually knowing each other personally. Sometimes those stories need to be told. Lyle Stokes, Chuck Davidson and Tim “Doc” Lange are the hosts for the […]

The Cumberland River (Old Hickory Lake) will be the site of the 2016 Cabela’s King Kat Southern Championship. The Sept. 30, Oct. 1 event will feature top anglers from all across catfish country. King Kat tournament director Jeremy Coe knows well the potential of that area of the river. “In terms of the Old Hickory […]

The Mighty Mississippi River is calling catfish anglers again. Saturday Oct. 1, 2016 is the day for the Bass Pro Shops Big Cat Quest (BCQ) out of New Madrid, MO. Plenty of big catfish are likely to come to the weigh-in. New Madrid is a catfish friendly town where anglers, friends and family are welcomed […]

Recreational catfishing continues to grow, often in a family way. Tournament teams are frequently brothers, fathers and sons, husband and wife, or some other combination of family members. When boat number 7 at Monsters on the Ohio launches on Oct. 8, 2016 it will be historic. The first ever all female team to fish the […]

Carl Morris Jr. and Rob Parsons were the only anglers to break the 200 pound mark as they won the 2016 Cabela’s King Kat Northern Championship at Henderson, KY. They competed against 50 other teams to win the coveted title in the Sept. 23 and 24 event. “This is something that cannot be bought,” said, […]

Anglers spoke of a slow bite, no current and working hard to find fish. However the evidence at the weigh-in would suggest a pretty good bite. Lots of anglers were doing the right thing and catching good numbers of fish as is often the case when fishing the Ohio River out of Henderson, KY. Many […]

We rolled in to Henderson late last night, just in time to catch the very last of the standing room only Captains Meeting. Anglers were ready to launch and get the Northern Classic underway as soon as the five o’clock hour rolled around the next day. The motel parking lot was full of boats and […]

Just two short weeks after the Mississippi River Monsters tournament in Memphis the big catfish stage will be set in Henderson, KY. The community is long known for its big catfish and welcoming residents. That welcome will be extended to the anglers in Cabela’s King Kat Northern Championship on September 23 and 24, 2016. Henderson […]

Mississippi River Monsters was a dream of George Young Jr. He wanted to bring a catfish tournament to the Mississippi River out of Memphis. “Mud Island had the facilities and the Mississippi River had the fish,” commented Young following the tournament. “It was intimidating and exciting at the same time.” Plenty of catfish anglers shared […]

When you consider the fact that catfishing goes back further than most people can remember, it is not unusual that methods to catch the whiskered critter have changed. “Catfishing used to be done with cane poles and chicken livers off the banks of a river,” commented Warrior Cat Rods prostaffer Jason Huggins. Jason and his […]

The organizers call it a benefit tournament and fun day. It is all about catfishing so it has to be fun. It goes to a good cause so it is a benefit too. Best of all, you can participate, show off your catfishing skills, and contribute to a good cause while having a chance to […]

The trail to Mississippi River Monsters (MRM) for David Wood and his fishing partner Hugh Thompson passed through the 2016 Catfish Conference. “I attended the Catfish Conference to learn more about the sport,” explained Woods. “I kept in contact with Steve Douglas and found out about the Memphis tournament through that.” Thompson lives near Ackerman […]

After being home two days from Mississippi River Monsters in Memphis, we packed up and headed for the annual Florida Outdoor Writers (FOWA) meeting in Palm Coast. We are in an amazing facility. The Hammock Beach Resort is a combination of a luxury resort experience in the midst of residential living in a neighborhood environment. […]

If it is trophy catfish you’re after, the Mississippi River around Memphis is a good place to start. In fact, 184 catfishing teams did just that on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. They all launched in the early morning darkness in search of some Mississippi River Monsters, appropriately enough, the name of the tournament. Anglers could […]

The top seven teams at the Mississippi River Monsters catfish tournament broke the 100-pound mark for a bag limit of 5 fish. Combinations of blue catfish, flatheads and a few channel cats filled the scales. The 354 catfish weighed in added up to 4,907 pounds. That’s nearly two and a half tons of Mississippi River […]

How big will they be? That is the only question remaining this Saturday morning Sept. 10, 2016 where more than 180 boats and nearly 400 anglers launched from Mud Island into the Mississippi River. The challenge of the Mississippi River, a quest for trophy catfish and the possibility of winning a first place prize worth […]

More than 170 boats have made their way to Memphis, TN to compete in the Mississippi River Monsters tournament. With a launch scheduled from Mud Island on Saturday Sept. 10, anglers are busy preparing, checking weather reports and talking strategy. Many anglers have been on site since early in the week to test the Mississippi […]

I have never seen so many happy faces. I’ve touched base with friends and made a bunch of news ones. Catfish anglers, and their friends and families, rock! Mississippi River Monsters (MRM) is becoming one big gathering of catfish people sharing information and talking catfishing. Everything takes a while longer than usual, but it is […]

It seemed like an innocent question. I am trying to remember who, but I think it was Lyle Stokes on a Catfish Weekly broadcast that asked Vicky Mathenia an all-important question. “If you could fish with anyone you wanted, other than Jason, who would it be?” For those of you that don’t know, Vickie is […]

A slow bite has improved daily as the Mississippi River Monsters (MRM) catfish tournament date draws near. A slow bite characterized the early days of prefishing, but still some big fish catches were reported. One of those reports was a 78-pound blue caught very near the launch site. The river has been falling and there […]

Plenty of catfish anglers have been waiting for this tournament in Memphis, TN on the Mississippi River.  George Young with assistance from Bill Dance and others have been working to make this a monumental event. Fishing on the Big Muddy and a weigh-in at the Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid – what could be more […]

Every cat man or cat woman has to start somewhere and Ronnie Dixon is no different. Dixon, also known by his friends as “Catfish Ronnie,” has a passion for catfishing. My first introduction to Dixon was digital. I friended him on Facebook when I saw a post where he said something like, “I am going […]

I was convinced right off that Larry Muse was a fisherman’s fisherman. I had traveled to Wilson Lake in Alabama to learn something from him about catfishing. TJ Stallings had given me his name. An email and a short phone called set up the trip. As we left the ramp in his catfish rigged Sea […]

Robert Montgomery has written an excellent book named, “Why We Fish.” He never found a single defining answer to the question. He found many. Following his lead I ask several catfish men and women what the easy part was, what the hard part was and why they fished for catfish. The answers ranged from practical […]