Ok so here I go with my story... I really didn't get into fishing until this year after I met my boyfriend.  He took me out with him on the river a couple of times and I was hooked... So one bright, Saturday morning we got the boat out and loaded up our gear.  Off we headed to the bait shop that I am always going to now, got our bait... nightcrawlers, large minnow and such.  We got into the river and headed for the great Mississippi and head south of St. Louis.  We, or more likely, he, decided to stop at a rock wall and said  ok drop your lines.

So I baited my hooks and casted away... we ended up with a few catfish... about 15lbs per and then WHAM!!!  I got a hit on my line that I thought would break my pole...As I am reeling this monster in I am telling him to get the net... well he happens to ask the question..." Does it feel big?"  I told him I couldn't see it but it sure was feeling big... so finally I get the darn thing up to the boat look down into the water and yell... GET THE NET!!!!  Up comes the head and it is big... we got it into the boat, took it to the bait shop and this thing weighed 40+ lbs... flathead catfish.... well I can say is this... If not for the man in my life now I wouldn't be hooked on fishing like I am now... and if not for his boat taking me out I wouldn't have caught that flathead... So that is the story and I am now trying to catch a bigger cat... but thanks hon... thanks for taking me out and teaching me about fishing!!!!

Con-Grats nice fish,Welcome to the fourm also to the world of fishing...........JOHN

Marie.congrats! Haveing hookedalot off flats I know how strong they are. I yell for the net at 20 lbs so I no you had your hands full. Alot off people see it difrently but I feel the flathead is the (or close to)strongest cat out there.I heard about the Wells and the one that subpositly eaten people on river monsters but I think the flat head is the real deal.40 lbs is one heck of a fish.Im glad your boyfriend got you out there to see how much fun and adventuris it can be. I been tryinm for years to get my wife to go out with me. She likes to fish of bank or surf but won't et on a boat and thats when it get's fun. Congrats again Jstratton3

Thanks for the reply!!!  Don't give up on the wife going out with you!!!  Print my story out and let her read it maybe then she will go with you.  I know that every time I go out, with my boyfriend or even by myself now... when I am by myself I do not take the boat... can't back up the trailer... it is calming and relaxing for me... I have gotten bit by this hook line and sinker!!!

congrats on the big cat marie and welcome to the bb.
great story and i always ask my wife to go out fishing with me. when we were dating she would go out with me all the time. but been only able to get here out once so far this year

Nice fish Marie. My pb flathead is 25# , but I keep trying to break it.     Happy fishing!