Big fish for the new year
When the boat ramp looks like a ghost town that means it’s time to hunt for those big cold water blue cats! That’s exactly what I did.
I am a female angler who has a huge passion for those rod-bending cats. The month of January and February are my favorite times to fish those steep drop offsets.
I started my day catching bait – you know those hundred of throws with the cast net – hoping to throw over some huge gizzard shad! Well I did just that. I had my bait and was on the quest to find a 2026 tank. I spent some time scanning some of my favorite spots when I saw something that sparked my attention, so I zoned in a setup on the steep drop off, hoping I could get its attention.
My Driftking rod was rigged with an okie rig from Bluffton Tackle, my go-to tackle shop for all my rigs. I like to use large baits in the cold winter months, so I like to use the head piece. It normally always produces for me, and boy did it that day! I wasn’t setup 10 minutes before I heard the crackle of my rod holder and the rod doubled over. I knew then I had hooked what I was looking for. The fight was exactly what I was looking for too. I was eventually able to bring it up from the depths to then only see that hook barely hanging on. I knew I had to get it netted before it tried to go back down. Finally after what seemed like hours, I landed the fish I was looking for to start the new year with!
After a few pictures I was able to release it back quickly into the water so one day another fellow angler will get to enjoy what I got to experience.
–Danikka Wolfe
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