It's a whopper: Hamilton County man catches 103-pound blue catfish

'It was like I was walking a dog, and then it would walk me,' says angler at Nickajack Lake

Photo courtesy of Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency via David Anderson / Hamilton County, Tenn., resident David Anderson caught this 103-blue catfish caught just before midnight May 30, 2020, on the Tennessee River's Nickajack Reservoir.
Photo courtesy of Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency via David Anderson / Hamilton County, Tenn., resident David Anderson caught this 103-blue catfish caught just before midnight May 30, 2020, on the Tennessee River's Nickajack Reservoir.

A Hamilton County, Tennessee, man hauled in a 103-pound blue catfish Saturday night from a favored fishing hole on Nickajack Lake, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

TWRA said in a statement that David Anderson on Saturday was looking ahead to having the next day off as he headed out for a night of fishing on the Tennessee River, but ended up fishing alone after his friends declined the invite.

"Fishing is more than catching for me. It's my church. It's my go-to place. It's my get-away, where I gather my thoughts," Anderson said in the statement.

He likes to fish when all the boat traffic ends at night.

According to wildlife officials, Anderson set out with a 7-foot, medium-action rod and spinning reel wound with 12-pound monofilament line. As bait, he was using, appropriately enough, a nightcrawler for his nighttime pleasure.

"As he walked to the bank of Suck Creek on Nickajack Reservoir, he thought he might land something, like the 60-pound catfish he hooked Memorial Day weekend," the TWRA said in the statement. While he chatted on the phone, a strong bite broke his line, but before long his luck would change.

Just before midnight, another bite snatched his rod from where he'd lodged it in some rocks.

"It didn't bump or tug, but literally was jerked out. I grabbed it, leaned back and let the drag out," Anderson is quoted as saying. Anderson went on Facebook Live to share the experience with the friends who were no doubt wishing they'd gone with him.

According to TWRA, Anderson spent a long hour getting the fish closer to the bank, then stepped into deeper water with his net, hoping to scoop the fish.

photo Photo courtesy of Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency via David Anderson / Hamilton County, Tenn., resident David Anderson holds up the 103-blue catfish he caught just before midnight May 30, 2020, on the Tennessee River's Nickajack Reservoir.

"I saw it roll, and I saw the tail fan," he said. "I was in disbelief. I put the net under the fish, and it dropped its head and bent the net. It was like I was walking a dog and then it would walk me."

Despite breaking his net with the monster in it, Anderson managed to get the fish and net to the bank by himself.

"I was not going to let this fish get away after the fight, and I gathered both net and fish and took them to the bank," Anderson said. "I stood there catching my breath thinking, this is unreal, and this just happened."

Anderson took a few photos. Knowing he could be close to the state record of 112 pounds set by Robert E. Lewis on the Cumberland River in 1998, Anderson took rope and secured the fish for the night.

Anderson reached out to TWRA and found a friend who brought a certified scale to him early Sunday morning and the blue cat weighed in at 103 pounds.

"At this point, I just wanted to let it go," he said. "You just don't see them this big, and I was concerned."

He released it back into the water.

Although catfish growth rates are variable across Tennessee reservoirs, "a catfish this size would be at least 25 years old," Mike Jolley, Region III Reservoir Fisheries biologist, said in the statement.

Wildlife officials said Anderson's been fishing for 38 years and shares this love with his 9-year-old son, Avery.

"If you want your kids to talk with you, take them fishing," he said. "Fishing opens another door of communication for families and kids. It brings friends and families closer together."

TWRA officials agree.

"This is more than just a big fish," Jolley said. "This near record fish illustrates the potential for many of our reservoirs across the state. Tennessee offers great fishing opportunities, and we hope people are enjoying these resources."

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