Fishing with an ultralight rod can increase the challenge

I saw the bobber disappear beneath the surface of the water with a crisp fast dunk. No playing with it, no sliding it across the surface, no slowly taking it under, no just tipping the bobber slightly, or picking up the bait and rising so the bobber tips over in the water. The fish that did that weighed more than a panfish.

I picked up the pole to take a little slack out of the line before setting the hook and the bobber popped to the surface. I let the line set a bit but no repeat action. I reeled in to find most of the bait missing. I rebaited and casted, letting it drift to the same spot. The bait sat in that spot for a long time. I almost called it quits when the bobber moved ever so slightly, I slowly took the slack out without putting any pressure on the bobber.

The bobber disappeared with the same intensity. This time I set the hook. The rod instantly went into a full bend and the reel started whining with the fish stripping line without effort.

After that first bite, I started thinking an under sized walleye and finding the hook pretty much cleaned, the opportunity to switch from my ultralight panfish pole to a walleye pole existed. But I didn’t take that opportunity. I could now see the seven foot medium heavy with extra fast action and a 2500 Shimano Sidestab sitting next to me.

I dipped a hand in the water and used that hand to add drag to the line stopping the line stripping. Then I turned the drag all the way up and the fish rolled on the surface about 25 yards away for the first time. This fish had some size to it and most likely exceeded the line tensile strength. I still didn’t know what kind of fish, but I knew that it didn’t seem to tire.

I released my hand drag and the fish started taking a bit of line so I hand dragged the line again for a half minute or so. The fish rolled again on the surface but too far out to clearly identify it.

The second time I let the line go the small reel handled the pressure for the most part and the rod didn’t look like the fish might snap it in half. The fish made three more runs but only took a small length of line. The fight continued on and when my set up managed to drag the fish into about ten yards I saw a nice catfish roll across the surface.

The next challenge: landing the fish. I didn’t bring a net. I settled for the old bring it in close, about a yard or so, and grab the line and simply walk backwards pulling it up onto shore – it worked.

I carried the fish up into the campsite and to the boat and the fish greatly exceeded the 24 inch tape stuck on the side of the boat. That and the size of the filet board tells me the fish probably was 26 – 28 inches. On an ultralight rod. By far the best and most enjoyable fish to catch in the last couple of years.

If you’re sitting on the fence about getting a good ultralight rod for panfish I’m here to tell you to get one. They make fishing panfish so much fun. They make hooking a keeper walleye or bass on them an absolute hoot. But this catfish on that set up – unbelievable.

I sat contemplating that fish and events of our last big camping trip of the summer on a cool August morning while sipping my coffee beside the morning campfire. The plan the previous afternoon didn’t involve bank fishing for catfish. I don’t even know why I took the poles down to the water. I just planned to sit along the shore sipping something golden colored in the shade and listening to a podcast waiting for the evening to launch the boat for some walleye and crappie action.

I guess the point of this story is there is never a bad time to go fishing. Most of the biggest fish in my life hooked up midday or in the afternoon. I never really fish for catfish, just catch them every so many years on a jig. After this fish, I think I just might start. Get out and fish. Tight lines everyone.

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CHUCK K OLAR LOCAL OUTDOORSMAN