McClatchy Washington Bureau
Posted on Tue, Jul. 19, 2011
Huge catfish caught, released in Kansas' El Dorado Lake
Michael Pearce | Wichita Eagle
last updated: July 19, 2011 09:48:28 PM
Pity the poor five-pound bass not paying attention in El Dorado Lake. He could become lunch at any moment.
Any angler using equipment short of a boat winch for a reel and pool stick for a rod could get his tail whupped by a beast swimming within El Dorado’s waters.
Last Friday Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism biologists caught and released a huge flathead catfish at the lake.
“It’s the biggest thing I’ve seen in my career,” said Craig Johnson, the lake’s fisheries biologist. “The pictures don’t do the thing justice, really. Not only was it a long fish it was a really thick fish, too, with huge head.”
Johnson said biologist Sean Lynott said it was the second-biggest flathead he’d ever seen. The only other was the 123-pound state and world record caught at Kansas’ Elk City Lake in 1998.
Johnson and others estimated the fish at a conservative 80 pounds. That number could change quickly for the fish with a five-gallon face. Asked if he thought Moby Catfish could swallow a five pound carp Johnson chuckled and said, “Absolutely no problem.”