Big Cat Hopefully

if there is no snags in the pond then you should be fine but if there is he might be able to run you into a snag before you tire him out.

I'd let him take it for a few sec, def use a blue gill, that big he may take a live one too, plus you may hook a lunker bass on a live one. They defiantly know where the snags are and how to use em. But it worth a shot right? Hope ya get him good luck!

you DO look like you're set for quite the adventure!

trying to bring him through some little opening in the cattails might be interesting. On merely 12# test I would make sure your line is absolutely flawless, no knicks or abrasions. Make sure all the weeds around you are 'flexible', I lost a nice fish from morraine cuz of that.

also helpful with a big fish on light line, is to try to maintain a certain level of tauntness. Any slack and when bring to bear all their wieght and brawn to the line- its goodbye fish. A long rod also helps keep the tension even.

With catfish, you're going to have to discourage that kind of roll they do; give a little but maintain tauntness. hopefully if the only bearable way to handle the pressure of the line is through the cattails- your cat will make its OWN path through the shoreline weed bank... Good LUCK!

PS. I've had my own sad broken line story recently... ONE heck of a fish it made the reel just sing and had lots of weight. So from experience, you just can't be too careful with line strength (getting rid of small abrasion knicks ) and the drag.

ORIGINAL: SevenMileShowcase

Ya. I had a huge channel cat out at Moraine break 25 lb braid.

Adjust your drag.............

Never touch braid with tension on it always grab the spool of the reel when freeing a snag. But I guess u know that now huh? I'm gonna start wearing gloves while casting when I bank fish the river cuz last time I sliced my index finger pretty deep casting a big sunfish and 3oz

Grab the fish not the line, . I think channels get those big fat swollen heads around spawn time.

I give em the death grip keeping my fingers on either side of the spines works well for me took a lil practice and a few stabbings but I no longer have problems maybe u need a net huh? Channels and bullheads bite real hard flatheads not so much.

ORIGINAL: FishinGuy

Never touch braid with tension on it always grab the spool of the reel when freeing a snag. But I guess u know that now huh? I'm gonna start wearing gloves while casting when I bank fish the river cuz last time I sliced my index finger pretty deep casting a big sunfish and 3oz

look up ...."breakaway cannon" there for casting with braid on spinners. been use them for some years now and love them!!! there know in surf fishing.... good luck sevenmile take a pic if you get him, agre with the live gill, he'll eat it up for sure.