[WOODIE13]

Fishin was pretty slow back home while I was on R/R, but me and the boys had a good time. Water was about a foot low and cats just were not biting, caught a total of 4, this being the largest.

[Tom H]

Yikes! You use a rod and reel, or are you one of them fellers that just reaches in under the bank and grabs em? Tom H

[WOODIE13]

Nah, no noodling for me, I like skin on my hands

This one came off a trot line, tough getting him in the boat when you are fighting fish, current and the net

[squbrigg]

Nice looking fish, good eating? Must feel good to get home and do some normal things with the kids and family. Best of luck to you.

Bob

[WOODIE13]

He fried up pretty good , got to be the quickest two weeks ever.

[AlArchie]

Nice fish, there, Woodie! We don't have cats around here....well, not that size anyway.
Al

[Raparee]

Nice fish, Woodie! I used to fish 'cats' when I was growing up in Quebec, but they were nowhere near that size.
I only have one fishing trip planned this summer. I'm headed to New Brunswick in August to fish the Miramichi with my brother and father.

[Lightningbolt]

Sorry to hear that the cats weren't biting very well... but when you catch one that BIG all you need is one! Living in the south all my life (minus 2 years in Alaska) I've also caught a LOT of cats, mostly on trot lines. On extended canoe trips we always tied lines off the canoes or tree limbs at night with great results. Chicken livers are my favorite bait but I've caught cats on everything from chunks of Ivory bar soap to chunks of smaller fish I'd caught.

Since I've caught most of my fish on extended canoe trips I've learned to bake them on a carefully crafted "forked" stick right over hot coals with great results. That otherwise tought skin peels off just like a banana peel when done. Talk about some good eatin', us southerner's can make it happen!

I honor your service in Iraq. Ya'll are doing a GREAT job. Keep your head low and sunglasses clean!

[chuckt]

Wow! That's one nice Cat you got there Woodie. Reminds of when I was a kid a taking fishing trip with my grandfather in Indiana and Kentucky. We used to set trot lines in the evening and come back the next morning to all kinds of excitement. The cats to this little 7 or 8 year old looked like freakin WHALES that could swallow me whole. The scaryest though was when you got a snapping turtle on the line. Yikes!!

Haven't done much fishing with my own kids. A little over the years, but there hasn't been much time with all our other activities. <sigh> My boys (18 & 15) liked it ok, but I am not the fisherman my granfather was so our success has always been pretty limited. What I want to do when I can get some time is try flyfishing with lightweight rods & lines & poppers for bluegills.
They are scrappy little fish, plentiful, and seem to strike fairly easily. And they fry up pretty nicely too! YUM!

Anyway - as Dave said, many thanks to you for your service to our country. You guys have a tough mission and are doing great under the circumstances. My wife's cousin's son has just been accepted into the Navy Seals program (his third attempt), and is very excited to get in. We are praying for him and all our service men & women. Thanks!

ChuckT

[dtoggs]

nice fish Woodie,I used to trot line in Nolin River,but got educated and now fish only for crappie and bluegill.