February’s big-cat data

According to Dieter Melhorn of the Catawba Catfish Club, the ”perfect storm” situation for big catfish occurred in February 2010 in a tournament at Lake Wateree. Three of the club’s biggest catches ever were made in that tournament.

“Mid- to late-February can be feast or famine on Lake Wateree, and weather is usually to blame for both,” Melhorn said. “A few days of warm temperatures, or a spike in water flow from heavy rains can make a slow bite great in a day or two.”

Melhorn said the February 2010 tournament was an anomaly that produced three of the top five three-fish stringers all in the same day.

“With that said, it is proof that a phenomenal bite can occur in just about any month,” Melhorn said.

Here are the five heaviest three-fish weights in Catawba Catfish Club records. All five came from Lake Wateree — three from the same Feb. 20, 2010 tournament:

• Chad Catledge, 129.95 pounds, Lake Wateree, Feb. 20, 2010;

• Marty Green/Jeff Green, 119.95, Lake Wateree, Feb. 20, 2010;

• Sam Holder/Mike Durham, 110.40, Lake Wateree, Dec. 8, 2012;

• Justin Whitesides/Travis Hull/Ashley Gable, 109.65, Lake Wateree, Feb. 20, 2010;

• Terry Springs/TJ Springs/Jeff Smith, 105.50, Lake Wateree, May 7, 2011.