Fishing Update

Well I've been busy fishing but this challenge has proven very difficult.  So far I have hooked a total of ten fish and have landed exactly two.  Both of them were small fish weighing less than 3 lbs each.  The greatest difficulty has been getting the hook to penetrate so I've downsized my hooks to a 1/0 J-style hook.  I've also changed rods as it proved too difficult to use the fly rod effectively.  My rod for now is a 6 1/2 foot Ugly Stick which has a very flexible tip.

Stay tuned for more updates.

The Cradle

The IGFA requires that any fish being weighed for a possible line class record be weighed on shore, not while on the boat.  Therefore, if I am to release this fish after weighing it, I need to be able to transport it to shore quickly and safely.  This would entail keeping the fish in water while making the trip to shore, which might take up to 30 minutes from the fishing grounds.  Of course, most boats don't come with a livewell large enough to transport a fish the size of the one I seek...certainly my 17 foot center console does not.  This fish will most likely weigh at least 40 pounds and be at least 45 inches long...that's a lot of fish.  So exactly how does one transport a fish that size without carrying a bathtub aboard his boat?  The answer is a fish cradle. 

A fish cradle is a device that is flexible enough to be neated stowed out of the way when fishing and can be put into action quickly, filled with water and fish and stay in place while under way.  I made one to fit across the gunnels of my boat just in front of the center console.  It is made of common electrical conduit for the handles and part of an old tarp for the cradle body.  It rolls up around the handles and stores nicely with three small bungee cords attached to the side rail.

Got the scale back

Well, I had a nice surprise the other day when I returned home from work...there was a box from the IGFA waiting for me.  Inisde was my scale and a letter explaining the certification.  First off, they stated that my scale was certified up to 82 pounds, not the full 100 pounds that the scale was rated for.  The letter explaned that the scale was within tolerance up to that point but after that it was "too far off".  The IGFA performed two tests on the scale:  a "test load" and a "consistency test".  The test load consisted of testing the scale at various intervals starting at 2 pounds.  The test load readings were as follows:

Test load                    Scale Reading
  2 lbs                               1 lb  15 oz
12 lbs                             11 lbs 15 oz
22 lbs                             21 lbs 14 oz
42 lbs                             41 lbs 14 oz
62 lbs                             61 lbs 13 oz
72 lbs                             71 lbs 12 oz
82 lbs                             81 lbs 12 oz
92 lbs                             91 lbs 11 oz
100 lbs                           99 lbs  9 oz

The consistency test consisted of weighing the same weight three times...each time the scale must have the exact same readings.  In my case the scale was weighed at 22 lbs and read 21 lbs 14 oz each time.

My scale was given the ID number 2073 and is certified until January 15, 2011.  The final instructions indicated that I should return the scale with any record catch submissions.  Now, all I need is a big catfish!

Scale Certification

The IGFA requires that any fish submitted for a world record be weighed on a "certified" scale.  This can be done at any retail outlet that uses a scale certified for commerce.  The IGFA also has a very nice service where it will certifiy your own personal scale (up to 100 lbs, members only) for a small fee.  I recently purchased a Berkley electronic scale and just finished packing it to be shipped to the IGFA in Florida.  I'm not sure of the turn around time but hope to have it back soon...the fish are waiting.

The business end...5 1/2 feet of 60 lb leader with an 8/0 circle hook.

This is what two pound test line looks like compared to a single dog hair.

Finally, the Rod

After several different rod were tested I finally chose to use my 10 wt 9 foot Sage fly rod.  It has the required flexibility to protect the light line and enough backbone to move the fish when required.  The length of the rod should enable me to anticipate any quick movement by the fish and react with enough time to prevent breaking the line.  It looks a little unorthodoxed with the casting reel mounted to it but this endevor is not about looks...it's about results.  What do you think?

Equipment

Like most undertakings a lot of thought has gone into this little project of mine. Finding just the right equipment is paramount to success so with that in mind I have chosen the following:

Line: Tectan Premium Plus monofilament line in 2 pound test. Why this particular line? First off it has superior knot strength...a very important feature when your only dealing with 2 pounds of breaking strength. Secondly, it has a great reputation for being a quality line. This brand has been in use in Europe for decades and is used widely in tournament fishing there. It is a fairly new line in the American market but has caught on quickly gaining a loyal following. Lastly, it was one of the very few lines that was available in 2 lb test...most Americans just don't like to fish that lightly.

Reel: Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 6600 casting reel. This was an easy choice. The Ambassadeur reels have a super smooth drag assembly, have a more than adequate line capacity, and the 6600 model has a line out alarm allowing the reel to be put in free spool until a fish takes the bait.

Leader: 5 feet of 60 lb Seagar Flourocarbon. You may think that this seems like a little overkill for catching a fish that will most likely go 40 lbs but catfish have a nasty habit of rolling when they feel the hook. Add that to the sharp dorsal and pectoral fins they possess and you have a recipe for damaging a smaller diameter leader.

Hook: Owner 8/0 Circle hook. Owner hooks are by far the sharpest circle hook on the market...sharp hooks require less pressure to penetrate than a dull hook. I chose a circle hook because you don't need to "set" the hook with one, all that's required to pull it into the corner of the fish's mouth is a tight line...setting the hook with 2 lb test line would surly break it. A hook in the 8/0 size is large enough to set into a catfish's rubbery mouth without a chance of hooking it deeper. A deep hooked fish complicates things immensely: it exposes the leader to the fish's abrasive teeth and stresses the fish too much for a recovery and release.

Rod: I'm still testing a few different options trying to find the right balance between a flexible tip to protect the line and a little backbone to provide resistance to the fish and wear it down. Stay tuned...more to come.

The Mission

Catch a new International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) Freshwater Line Class record for the 1 kg (2 lb) category. The current record is 36 lbs 9 oz that was caught in the James River (near Richmond, Virginia) by angler Bob Shepard on December 27, 2000.