Angler Eric Mauer was recently awarded a Line Class World Record by the International Game Fish Association. Mauer specializes in catching monster catfish and recently claimed the world title for the IGFA Freshwater 130 lb. Line Class record for blue catfish.

Mauer caught the 84-pound blue on March 18, 2007 near the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant in about 38 feet of water. He was using a 2-inch “steak” cut from a river herring (skipjack).

Mauer described it this way, “It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon on Chickamauga Lake fishing the drop-offs with 130 lb. test Ande line when this 84-pound monster picked up the bait. I knew it was a monster right from the beginning and fought it for about 45 minutes.”

Mauer said another boat watched the entire show, however he netted the beast by himself.

“It’s a technique I’ve learned on other big catfish… and the net held,” he exclaimed. “I grabbed a couple of fellow fishermen and headed for a dock because I knew this fish should set the new IGFA 130 lb. line class record. It had to be weighed on land on certified scales (which I carry) and witnessed.

The fish was 55 inches long and had a girth of 34.75 inches.

Mauer said, “After weighing, measuring, and taking photos, I stood in the water with it until it revived enough to swim away.”

Mauer, who is retired, says he normally fishes 3-to-4 days per week and averages about 25 hours per week year-round.

“I don’t specifically fish for record fish, but I do use methods and fish areas that will produce big fish. I always use line that will test at or below the maximum allowed for each line class so that if I do catch a record fish it will not be disqualified because the line tested too high. I preset my drag at 25% to 30% of the stated line test, especially for the lighter lines. I also prefer circle hooks for catfish, in a size appropriate to the line strength, so that “setting” the hook is not required and there is less risk of breaking off the fish. I also carry the required paperwork and a list of state and world records so that I know if a fish qualifies, and can have the fish witnessed and weighed and photographed, and can still release it.”

Click the link below to read the full story and discussion.
Angler Claims (Another) IGFA World Record

Katmasters has released tutorials on the most common questions asked on our forums. On our tutorials page, you will find flash tutorials on how to upload images to your posts, how to resize images (on different photo programs) and others. More tutorials are on the way to help members with there questions and problems dealing with our forums.

Tutorials done in this format dealing with catfishing issues may also be posted in the future.

Katmasters Forum Tutorials

Congrats to “bluegrass kitty” on winning the Katmasters May 2007 Catch of the Month. While fishing Wyboo Lake in South Carolina, she lands her personal best flathead catfish. The catfish weighed in at 50 pounds.

As we finished with the picture taking and gently slid him back into the water, I cried. From the excitement. From the amazement. From the moment. A moment I will never, ever forget……….

May 2007 COTM Page
Read the forum thread for this winning COTM

George Marzeck worked for nearly 40 years tring to persuade lawmakers to name the Channel Catfish as the Iowa state fish. When the bill came up again in April, it once again failed, leaving Marzeck’s and other’s dream unrealized.

‘‘It is dead for the year,’’ said Rep. Paul Bell, D-Newton, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. ‘‘There are too many amendments and they’re making a joke out of everything, so we’re not even going to attempt anything.’’

Marzeck, along with seven other men started the push and as one by one the other men have past on, Marzeck kept pushing for their dream by writing letters and promoting the change with his own money. Marzeck died in September 2006 at the age of 82.

His wife, 81-year-old June, said she was disappointed but not surprised by the Legislature’s decision.

‘‘I certainly would hope that someday it would happen for George’s sake,’’ she said. ‘‘He worked so hard trying to have it happen and he won’t be trying any more since he’s gone. I hope that people there in Des Moines some day see fit to do that.’’

You can read more and discus this article at the link below:
State fish bill dies in Legislature