Shocking Story!

[PoleMaster]

" Wichita Eagle Newspaper a couple of weeks ago.

 

A resident in the area saw a ball

 

bouncing around kind of strange in a nearby pond

 

and went to investigate. It turned out to be a

 

flathead catfish who had obviously tried to swallow

 

a child's basketball which became stuck in its

 

mouth!!

 

The fish was totally exhausted from trying to dive,

 

but unable to because the ball would always bring

 

him back up to the surface. The resident tried

 

numerous times to get the ball out, but was

 

unsuccessful. He finally had his wife cut the ball in

 

order to deflate it and release the hungry catfish.

 

 

You probably wouldn't have believed this, if you

 

hadn't seen the following pictures...

 

[Chris Plumb]

And the following week anglers were seen using 14inch boilies!!! (This story's been around a while - think it first appeared 18months ago....)

 

 

 

C.

[fantasticfisherman]

yeah i think ive heard that one before somewhere...

Edited December 8, 2005 by fantasticfisherman

[Andrew Boyd]

Wow

[Norfolkdan]

It's a good few years old

[DavyR]

It's a good few years old

 

Come on, Dan, everyone knows that it's impossible to tell the age of a fish from photos...

[Gaz51]

I've seen the pictures today whilst out and about Chrimbo shopping with the wife.

 

The pictures and story are featured in "Ripley's Believe it or not" book.

[Chris Plumb]

Happened May 04...

 

http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/catchfish.asp

 

 

C.

[zenith10]

first time ive heard of it how big was the cat then?

[Newt]

At a guess based on the photos, probably 30-60 lbs range. They are very large from the head to about half way back then quickly get smaller. Think of a spindly fellow who takes up weight lifting but only develops himself to about the waist.

 

This is the species that loves to leave it's deep hidy-hole at night and cruise the flats looking for snacks. We often use 2-3 lb carp as bait and you can see from the photos that it is easy enough for a decent size flatty to slurp in.

 

The picture below is of the 66lb fish that is the current record flathead in the state of Virginia and the shape is typical.