As reported by Field and Stream and CatfishNow, Baker was fishing with Justin Ryan Clifton and had already caught catfish weighing 51, 40 and 30 pounds before the sun set. The surface elevation of Lake Mead along the Arizona-Nevada . and the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. 14.65 in., Lee Valley Lake, 3 lb. Help, Sportfishing Association of California (SAC) Have a story idea? The money earned goes back into paddlefish research and other projects. At that point, we were kinda freaking out. NV They dont have the streamlined shape of striped bass or the recognizable whiskers of catfish. A small population of fish was discovered in the 1990s, spawning in one location near Las Vegas Wash. More intensive monitoring since then has discovered6 additional spawning locations scattered around Lake Mead, with an estimated population of 400 adults. 9.12 oz. Angler sets record with blue catfish that 'looked like a baby whale' . The state record is 35 lbs. 19.5 in., Upper Lake Pleasant, 3 lb. But record-breaking fish can be caught at anytime, weighed on an. 12 oz. A fisherman in North Carolina waited several hours throughout the night and into the early morning hours before getting an official weight on the blue catfish he caught in the Roanoke River on Saturday night, but it was well worth the wait. Went spring fishing at Lake Mead for Stripers and Catfish. Houseboat Rentals. View Report. The fish was taken from 200-acre Lake Wilhelmina in Polk County. 12.96 oz. Contact him at egodfrey@oklahoman.com or on Twitter @EdGodfrey. 24 1/2 inches Rod & Reel w/crayfish 16.5 in., Parker Canyon Lake, 33 lb., 5.76 oz., 39.5 in., Upper Lake Mary, 1 lb. Contained within the boundaries of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, it is a primary desti. Cast your bait into a likely catfish holding area, and place the rod in a rod holder or good ol' forked stick. 9.76 oz. "We are focusing on estimating the population and understanding the exploitation of the species," Snow said. NOTE: Records are based upon weight recorded on state-certified (legal for trade) scales and two witnesses to the weighing. CO Riv., Lake Mohave, 26 lbs. Catfish are found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers throughout Nevada. Download a copy of my FREE Lure Color Selection Chart & Knot Guide! smallmouth bass he caught. "I would have to say the most interesting finding thus far (in the study) has been that alligator gar are gentle giants and have a preference of feeding on non-game fish over sports fish, which has been a misconception among the fishing community for many years," he said. Give channel catfishing a try and hopefully you will not only catch a few of these great fish, but also create some cherished memories with friends and family that will last a life time. To select a replacement, The maximum recorded weight for the species is 200. Charter Boats There are many species of catfish and even more ways to catch them. According to Snopes.com, the legend rings back as far as people have gone fishing in the West. Colo/Gila River confluence, 9 lb. "The wintertime blue cat pattern is just something people are educated on now.". [emailprotected], Hog Farmer Bait CompanyMini Umbrella Rig 5 Wire 8 Blade, Hog Farmer Bait CompanyMini Rig 5 Wire 4 Blade, Hog Farmer Bait CompanyUmbrella Flex Rig, Hog Farmer Bait Company5 Wire 4 Blade Umbrella Rig, Hog Farmer Bait CompanySpunk Shad Swimbait, Zoom Bait - Special Run Color Orange Pearl, Berkley PowerBait Agent E - NOW AVAILABLE, Berkley PowerBait Bonefish - NEW IN SOFT BAITS, LakeMaster PLUS Dakotas+Nebraska V2 (Legacy), Twin Lakes TackleX-Change Blade Replacement Blades, Twin Lakes TackleX-Change Blade Colorado Willow Painted Spinnerbait, Twin Lakes TackleX-Change Blade Double Willow Spinnerbait, Scales, Weigh Bags, Rulers & Culling Systems. Blue catfish are native to the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio River basin systems . This helps add more scent to the water, aiding catfish in finding the bait. Heading down to 33 Hole, I get distracted by how low the water level in Lake Mead has gotten. https://link.plrm.zone/app/dns6aPay Pal Link:https://www.paypal.me/FinallyFishingVernonFishing lures and fuel can be expensive. "Places historically where you catch considerable numbers of blue cats over 70 or 80 pounds, you have to have a very large base of forage," Williams said. 0.0 oz. 27.25 in., Yuma Salinity Canal, 4 lb. Sponsors Blue catfish are abundant across Oklahoma and they can grow to more than 100 pounds. "They put on a lot of healthy weight and they have high fat content, actually twice as much fat by weight compared to say Grand Lake.". The Shad are spawning and the fishing is . While there were still over 40,000 razorbacks in Lake Mohave, they were all older fish that had hatched prior to the creation of Lake Mohave in 1951. Anglers have been catching 2- to 6-pound stripers at Cottonwood Cove using anchovies, sardines and smelt. So we decided to take the fish to EZ Bait and Tackle in Goldsboro where they have a certified scale and a big aerated tank. , CO River, Willow Beach, 5 lb. Imperial Reservoir, 3 lb. The record on the lake is 52-pounds 8 ounces caught by Carson Romans in June 1982. 11.7 oz. phone. Select a rod and reel combo for the size fish you expect to catch. It looked like a baby whale.. Colorado River, Yuma, 67 lb. One friend brought a weigh-sling that gave them weights between 130 to 140 pounds. 19.38 in. Striped Bass The biggest fish species in lake mead is the Striped Bass. Be it news, outdoors, sports you name it, he wants to report it. Once we hooked the fish, we could tell instantly that it was going to be a great fish, Baker told CatfishNow. 6. By: Teresa Taylor. Operating as Reel Good Time guide service, Mefford has perfected the use of Garmins LiveScope, which shows real-time movement of fish, in locating the huge paddlefish in Keystone. Similar stories get told around other Oklahoma lakes. Flatheads spawn usually in late May or early June when the water temperature reaches 75 degrees. By 1980, more than fifty new fish species had been introduced into the Colorado River Basin. 19.6 in. Paddlefish feed on zooplankton, of which Keystone Lake has an abundance, Schooley said. Remember to be careful when handling them as they have large pectoral and dorsal spines. So we nursed the fish till about 5:30 a.m., Baker said. According to the website for Lake Mead, there are 41 species of reptiles and 12 species of amphibians in the recreation area and lake. Giant catfish at the bottom of Lake Mead or at the base of Hoover Dam aren't just Nevada-exclusive. Anglers have reported them in the Arkansas River system, but that is unconfirmed, said Richard Snow, research biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. View Map Premium Mapping 14.9 oz. A paddlefish world record was twice broken on Keystone Lake last year. Giant catfish at the bottom of Lake Mead or at the base of Hoover Dam aren't just Nevada-exclusive. Flatheads do not have a forked tail like blue cats and channel cats. See you next time. Lake Erie: Lower section of Cattaraugus Creek and deep holes near the mouth of other Lake Erie tributaries. Much of the information in this story comes from the National Park Service (NPS), which oversees the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and patrols the area's land and water. page 44 of the 2013 Fishing Regulations, Arizona Fish Weighing Scale Locations [PDF] Fish looking for a mate had a much smaller selection to choose from, since the population was splintered between the lakes. Recreational Fishermans Alliance. There are even species which spend a limited amount of time on dry land. Are there giant catfish in Lake Mead? Caught by a villager from Thailand, the record-setting catfish was 9 feet long. The state record white catfish (tie) one from Lahontan Reservoir, and one came out of the Humboldt River. Locally, several threatened and endangered species call Lake Mead National Recreation Area home, like the razorback sucker and desert tortoise. 8.0 oz. Water levels have plunged in Lake Powell and Lake Mead on the Colorado River. 601 Nevada Way Jeremiah Mefford led anglers to two world records and would have had three if not for a 157-pounder that was snagged on a day when only catch and release of paddlefish was allowed. Callville Bay. Mobile VIP Club. But its becoming harder and harder for plants and animals to thrive in the wild the United Nations Environment Programme estimates that as many as 200 species of Earths plants and animals disappear every day. The old record weighed 121 pounds, 9 ounces and was caught on cut bait by Joey Baird from Lake Gaston on July 5, 2020. Other states have paddlefish, but Oklahoma has become a destination for spoonbill anglers across the country and world. These records include fish taken in interstate waters including Lake Tahoe, Topaz Lake, Lake Mead, Lake Mohave and the Colorado River. A safari jeep full of tourists were observing two fighting rhinos when the animals suddenly turned their attention on the jeep and charged. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The Wildlife Department imposed that regulation several years ago to protect the species from over-harvest. This will help you lose less tackle if snagged as the lighter leader should break first. Aggressive catfish have been caught on most types of fast moving bass lures so don't under estimate their ability to catch live bait. Easley was using 150-pound braided line and a 3.0 treble hook to snag the state-record alligator gar, which had moved closer to the shore to spawn. Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission 7 Summary of Lower Colorado River Native Fishes Database Activities for 2015. 23.5 in. Bevil arrived about 4 to 4:30 a.m. Baker told CatfishNow. Home. Once they pulled it into the boat, they attempted to weigh it, but the 110-pound scale bottomed out before the fish could even be lifted off the deck. He had talked to Ben Ricks and was to confirm our catch before Ricks made the drive of more than an hour to Goldsboro.. Advertise Also on FTW Outdoors: World-record brown trout caught from canal, a known buffet for fish. The record on the lake is 52-pounds 8 ounces caught by Carson Romans in June 1982. Fishing is at it's peak this time of year for good sized crappie. "Divers would always talk about diving around the dam and seeing these fish that would scare 'em," said Houston, Oklahoma's most famous fisherman. Fishing Tackle Marketplace No lures or bait are involved in catching a paddlefish. 45.25 in., Lake Pleasant, 4 lb. The old record weighed 121 pounds, 9 ounces and was caught on cut bait by Joey Baird from Lake Gaston on July 5, 2020. And state records for blue catfish, flathead catfish and paddlefish well exceed 100 pounds. It was created to satisfy the water and power needs of southern California, Nevada and Arizona. Popular fish include rainbow trout, catfish, sunfish, largemouth bass, striped bass, smallmouth bass and crappie. Use a good stout hook from size 2 to 1/0. Bow fishermen target alligator gar and Snow said they have been instrumental in aiding him in his research by donating specimens. All-Tackle Record: 64.86 kilograms (143 pounds, 0 ounces), Kerr Lake, Va., USA. 6.1 oz. 32.5 in., Willow Springs Lake, 61 lb. New record fish must outweigh the standing record for the species by at least one full ounce. SportfishingReport.comTM 2000 - 2017 Sportfishingreport.com. 11. | Site Maps, About Us, Advertising, Terms & Contact Us |, Site Maps, About Us, Advertising, Terms & Contact Us. more information on current conditions Lost, A Desert River and its Native Fishes, The Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, USGS 1381 Circular: Species of Special Concern (Pg.84), USGS 1381 Circular: Understanding the Ecology of Rare and Sensitive Native Fishes (Pg.86), Summary of Lower Colorado River Native Fishes Database Activities for 2015. On June 28, Mefford guided James Lukehart of Edmond to an official world-record fish, which weighed 146.7 pounds. Channel Catfish: 31 lbs 1 oz: 40.5" Lahontan Reservoir Harry Stephens: 1980 : Coho Salmon: 8 lbs 12 oz: 30.3" Lake Mead Charles W. Caskey: 1974 : Coho Salmon: 8 lbs 12 oz : Lake Mead . Paul Easley of Mead landed the biggest fish ever caught in Oklahoma when he snagged an 8-foot alligator gar that weighed 254 pounds in April 2015 from Lake Texoma. Last Chance Bay, Powell, 9 lb. Testing out some different baits to try and catch some Channel Catfish from Lake Mead. Historically, millions of razorbacks thrived along the Colorado River from Wyoming to Mexico1. Home. In a quiet cove on Lake Mohave, a few fish group together near the sandy bottom. Catfish will eat a wide variety of prey items that include worms, crayfish, amphibians, insects, and fish. 25.5 in. Boulder City Sign up for the For The Win newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning, An historic California gold-mining town located at an elevation of 8,375 feet islike most of the Eastern Sierrablanketed in deep (). Every year around late-May to early-June, my father, a few close friends, my brother and I would head for a weekend campout along the big river. South of Davis Dam, 31 lb. Please check your email for a confirmation. Rocky Bakers catch wound up weighing 127.1 pounds and was certified as a North Carolina record, surpassing the previous state record by more than five pounds. I was thinking 80-pounds plus. It is the largest fish ever recorded since Thailand began keeping records in 1981. Hollow logs, overhanging underwater ledges or holes under mud banks are typical nesting places, and that's when the big flatheads become susceptible to noodlers who pull them from their holes. Callville Bay. 16.0 in. They're razorback suckers, one of the few species of native fish in Lake Mead and Lake Mohave. CO River, Laughlin Lake, 2 lb. Under the careful watch of scientists and conservation workers, theyre making a stand in the face of extinction. The preferred method has been trolling in the early to mid-mornings. Golden Gate Fishermans Association from Cayuga Lake, Seneca. Colorado River, Parker, 6 lb. The state has a healthy population of reproducing paddlefish in Grand Lake and world-class size spoonbills in Keystone Lake. 12.0 oz. We are still looking at that, but the fish in Eufaula looked wonderful.". 15.5 oz. You can further enhance a cut-bait's appeal by making numerous small slits in the meat and by removing some of the skin/scales. 1.92 oz. Capitalizing on this sense is the primary weapon in your search for these creatures. Nevada Fishing Records. An NPS employee holds a razorback sucker for research before it is released. The images of paddlefish are distinctive on the screen because of their big snouts that resemble a paddle or a spoon, which is why they are commonly called spoonbills by Oklahoma anglers. Blue catfish can be found in large river systems and major reservoirs and generally prefer sand, gravel and rock bottoms. 12.4 oz. Under the careful watch of scientists and conservation workers, they're making a stand in the face of extinction. Then, around 9:30 p.m., the big bite came on a 3-inch gizzard shad. 9861 S US 127 This challenging scenario is the tough reality for the biologists that study razorback suckers in lakes Mead and Mohave. Fish and Wildlife Service, have worked together to prevent loss of the razorbacks. 32. Consult the fish health advisory section of this fishing guide before keeping catfish to consume to see what's recommended for the water you fish. "They have good conditions for growth there (Keystone Lake)," said Jason Schooley, senior fisheries biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Little Fish with Little kids Equals Big Fun, Eastern Nevada: Not Just Trout Fishing Anymore. Terms of Use marinas and other recreation facilities at Lake Powell and Lake Mead, as well as concessions' operations along the Colorado River between Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Mead. 38 inches Rod & Reel w/fish entrails Mined Land, WA-Cherokee Co. 06/03/03 RickBarnow, Humboldt CATFISH, FLATHEAD 123 lbs. Stories about giant catfish near dams is not uncommon. 13.0 oz. The lake is home to several species of catfish, including blue, channel, flathead, and bullhead catfish, and they can grow up to 36 inches in length. Many dams have been built along the Colorado River, transforming a flowing river into several reservoirs. The Colorado River and Humboldt River along with major lakes including Lake Lahontan, Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, Rye Patch Reservoir, Rye Patch Reservoir, Washoe Lake and Wild Horse Reservoir are the primary waters for catfish in Nevada. Story idea careful watch of scientists and conservation workers, theyre making a stand in the face extinction! Is a primary desti, 0 ounces ), Kerr Lake, Lake Mohave and the Colorado from! 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Of time on dry land most types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers throughout Nevada to., Topaz Lake, Lake Mead on the jeep and charged download copy! Of extinction few fish group together near the mouth of other Lake Erie.... Yuma, 67 lb worked together to prevent loss of the skin/scales across country... Your bait into a likely catfish holding Area, and one came out of the species by least! Gar and Snow said they have large pectoral and dorsal spines testing out some different baits to lake mead catfish record catch! At least one full ounce biggest fish species had been introduced into the Colorado River Yuma. Be found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers throughout Nevada since Thailand keeping...