Lake Sonoma 10/13. Big catfish while trout trolling.

I went out to Lake Sonoma to do a little trolling for trout. Water temp is 65, visibilty is 15 feet or so. I trolled for a few hours with only 2 take downs. One bass, one catfish. I talked to a few other people who didn't do too well either. I was marking most of the fish deep still.

So I was trolling flashers and a plug 40 feet down in 80 foot deep water along the face of the dam when my rod popped out of the downrigger release. I feel up the slack and I feel a lot of weight. I get pumped and think I've hooked a monster trout!! A few minutes later I begin to realize that it is not a trout, it's fighting all wrong. I begin to think it's probably a big squawfish and continue to fight it. 15 minutes later I can finally see it and it's a huge catfish! WTF catfish?? While trolling in open water?? That isn't supposed to happen! 29.5 inches and fat.

So lake Sonoma fishing was slow, but I caught a monster cat on light gear. I also caught a monster cat the day before at clear lake as well. That one hit a swimbait and was over 31 inches and fat as well.  I guess it's catfish season!

Nice kitty.


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Nice surprise. I bet that got your heart pumping.

Nice Cat  . Thanks for the report and picture 3mJ.

Cats fight HARD!  MEOW   they say after a cat gets to around 10lbs. it does not scavenge anymore, it turns into a predator.

Pretty cool, catfish will eat anything anywhere, I caught a nice one in clear lake on an octopus once.

Very cool, nice fish...

Aggressive cats...

Nice kitty


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Nice "by-catch"
kittys pull hard!

Thanks for the report.
Sucks about the trout tho
I need to get back on that water soon.
Great bycatch.