Four monstrous blue catfish with a combined weight of over 233 pounds, for an average of nearly 60-pounds – all in a morning’s fishing trip.

“If you can find a day to put aside your Ruger/Trijicon/Hornady combo and come of out the deer woods, you need to meet me at Tawakoni,” said long-time hunting and fishing friend Billy Shoemaker. “Whatcha doing on the eighth of January?  Surely you can skip one day of hunting?”

Before I could respond, he said, “I’ve got Michael Littlejohn with Tawakoni Guide Service already reserved for the eighth and you need to catch the Tawakoni Blues!”

Before answering his question, I started on a tale. “As you know Tawakoni, pronounced tah-wah-konee, was a Comanche warrior who wreaked havoc among the early Texas settlers. When the Calvary got after him he hid out in a cave near Buffalo Gap, overlooking an expansive creek bottom. I used to hunt the ranch where that cave is located. Back then the property was owned by the Sayles family, when I lived in Abilene working for the State as a wildlife biologist.”

“Yeah, yeah and knowing you, you probably used to carry on a conversation with his spirit!” interrupted my friend. “Drop whatever you’ve got planned and meet me just north of Wills Point at the bed and breakfast where we’ve stayed in the past. Late evening for the seventh, we’ll fish on the eighth. Tommy Hine is driving over from West Monroe to meet us there. I’ve already made reservations and have got Michael booked. You’re coming up and going fishing! Not taking ‘no’ for an answer!”

“Yes Sir!” I responded. I knew Lake Tawakoni in northeast Texas was the home of some fabulous fishing. I also knew Michael and Terri Littlejohn and their full-time guides with Tawakoni Guide Service put clients on very big, and lots of, fish. I had fished Tawakoni before with them for channel catfish, yellow bass, white bass, striper hybrids and crappie. I was also aware that in January and February monstrous blue catfish gather in specific areas of the lake to spawn. Billy had in the past told me of catching numerous big blue catfish in the 40- to 60-pound plus category while fishing with Michael.

The night before the excursion our guide called. “Change of plans,” he said. “We’ll have to meet at a different boat dock. The recent rains have raised the lake level about three feet. Our usual meeting place is under water.”

Before we could ask if it had altered fishing he added, “We had a good day yesterday. Caught two near-fifty pounders. The influx of fresh water has seemingly not had an effect on the fish.”

Meeting at the appointed boat dock the next morning, after appropriate greetings, we loaded into Michael’s well-equipped boat.  Before leaving the dock, the captain asked, “Larry, what’s your biggest catfish, or for that matter, fresh water fish?”

“Biggest was about a thirty-pound lake trout I caught in the Northwest Territories on a snow goose banding trip, nearly a lifetime ago,” I responded. “Biggest catfish I’ve ever caught was 18-pounds here on Tawakoni about three or so years ago. ‘Course there was that German shepherd dog, belonging to my cousin Oliver, I caught with a fly rod back when I was a kid. Boy, talk about putting up a fight! Figger he weighed about 60 pounds…”

“Gotta a feeling we’re going to beat all your personal fresh water records today!” replied Michael Littlejohn. I loved the way he thought!

The lake was mirror smooth prior to the arrival of a cool front.  We fished for about thirty minute, six rods out, moving slowly. “If we start getting any wind I think they will start feeding,” Michael said. “Larry, since Tommy has previously caught a mid-forties fish with me and Billy one well over sixty, you’re up first. I have a really good feeling we’ll catch big fish today and I feel certain you’ll catch a fish even heavier than that German shepherd.”

There came a very slight northerly breeze along with a drop in the temperature. I was really glad I was wearing my Sitka vest and rain gear top.

“If the rod nearly bends double, wait till I tell you to start reeling,” Michael continued. “Then reel as fast as you can without taking the rod out of the holder. Only take it out when I tell you to do so. Always keep pressure on the fish as he fights. The drags are set where they need to be to catch fish. Once you start fishing one, I may add a bit of drag, depending upon how big I think the fish is. We’re fishing with 30-pound line.  The lake record is over 80-pounds and I suspect there are fish here that will go close to a hundred or more.”

No sooner had Michael finished talking then he began shouting, “Rod four!  Fish on!  Larry, you’re up!” I quickly moved toward the rod and started reeling. I noticed immediately I was not taking in any line!

“Reel, reel, reel!” I heard Michael instruct. I furiously cranked, but noticed line was going out instead of coming in. “Pick up the rod,” he shouted. “Do not quit reeling until we’ve got the fish in the net!”

It took some effort, but I got the rod out of the holder and positioned it against my lower abdomen all the while reeling. Line was still going out, not coming in.

“Start pumping the rod,” Michael said. “Raise the tip high then reel in what you can on the down swing. Fight this fish like you would a big marlin!”

I did as instructed, and three minutes into fighting whatever was on the end of the line, I finally started taking in line. Behind me I could hear Tommy say, “Bet you can feel each time it swishes its tail.” I could indeed!

One crank at a time, I started taking in line. Michael tightened my drag ever so slightly. I reeled and took in a bit more line.  Finally, the fish was coming closer to the boat.

“When she sees the boat she’ll likely lunge and make another run!” commented Michael. “You’re hooked on to your biggest fresh water fish ever. I promise you this is a monstrous fish!”

I tried to concentrate on reeling.  Hands ached, arms ached, shoulders ached, but I was not going to give up until this fish was in the net!

“She’s coming up!” I heard Billy say.  I watched as a huge tail slapped the water and propelled the fish away from the boat.  I hung on, all the time reeling, initially loosing line, but then again bringing it in.

“Bring her to the side when you can, and I’ll get the net under her,” Michael said. “But keep full tension on the line in case she is not well hooked.” I did as instructed, slowly gaining line. As soon as the fish’s head appeared within reaching distance, Michael slid his big net under the fish.  “Got her!”

When Michael hauled the netted fish aboard I could hardly believe my eyes. It was huge, way bigger than any catfish I had ever seen before; long, wide, deep and absolutely beautiful!

I was so excited, I did not hear nor feel Billy, Tommy and Michael shouting congratulations all the while pounding my back.  Moments later Billy handed Michael his scale. I noticed our guide strained as he picked the netted fish off of the boat’s floor.

“Seventy-two point three pounds!”  I heard Billy say, followed by, “Weishuhn, I know that’s you’re biggest fresh water fish, and probably second biggest fish only to a blue marlin you caught last year!”

I simply nodded. I could hardly believe the fish or my good fortune in being able to land it. My catfish was so much bigger than I ever imagined I would be able to catch.

After some quick photos we released my fish so she could spawn, and grow bigger!

About forty minutes later, as I still seemingly floated above the boat, Billy hooked into a monster blue cat which he like me, fought for over ten minutes before Michael netted it. The scales on his fish read 63-pounds, not Billy’s biggest blue cat but close. After photos we released her as well.

The wind kept increasing out of the north and the sun shined. A few minutes later Tommy hooked into a big blue. After a masterful job of fighting the fish, Michael landed Tommy’s extremely fat fish. The scales indicated his fish weighed 43-pounds, again close to Tommy’s best blue catfish, which he had caught the previous winter fishing with Billy and Michael.

“Got time for one more run,” Michael announced. “Larry, you’re up again. Got another spot where yesterday we caught the two near-fifty pounders. It’ll take us twenty minutes to get there.”

We were ten minutes into the very slow drift when the same rod I had caught my monster on almost bent double. I did as Michael had previously instructed and started reeling. This time it was even harder to lift the rod out of the holder. I fought the fish just as before, raising rod tip high and reeling on the down swing. Slowly I gained line.

About ten minutes into the fight I had the fish thirty feet from the boat. I continued cranking the reel and finally got the fish to within netting distance. Michael slid the net under the big fish and pulled her aboard.

She was mine!  Once again, I could hardly believe the fish’s size. While not as long as my first fish, this one seemed much deeper. Raised high enough to clear the boat’s floor so Michael could get an accurate weight, I heard Billy say 55.6 pounds!

Four monstrous blue catfish with a combined weight of over 233 pounds, for an average of nearly 60-pounds – all in a morning’s fishing trip.

You gotta love the Tawakoni Blues!