All these new record

[Channelcat]

catfish!!! Are the fishermen getting better or is the resource getting better? This has been a great year for big catfish.

[Hawkeye]

I don't know the answer, but I'd take a guess at it by suggesting that more people are fishing for big cats than ever before... better equipment (fishfinders, etc.) might make it a little easier, and Blues have been introduced into a lot of places where they never existed before... all making for more opportunities to catch big fish...

[NightTrain]

catfish!!! Are the fishermen getting better or is the resource getting better? This has been a great year for big catfish.Might I suggest CPR OF A FAST GROWING RESOURCE.Also,the fact that most people are ''meat"fishermen and are out there with bass/crappie rods and 5 gal. buckets.To catch a hawg ya gotta be fishin' for a hawg.Think about how many times in your lifetime,somethin' came by,took your lunchmoney,and left ya scratchin' yo head,"Wut wuz dat?''Most people simply aren't prepared...so,on they GROW!!:) My .o2 worth...

[mudd_catt]

[QUOTE= Think about how many times in your lifetime,somethin' came by,took your lunchmoney,and left ya scratchin' yo head,"Wut wuz dat?''Most people simply aren't prepared.. QUOTE]

Been Der DONE DAT. Strech boing snap. I asked myself that question many many many times while fishing for crappie on Pickwick in deep water. If you were lucky that snap was NOT your rod. I can speak from experience that a 30# blue on a 14 ft B&M crappie pole will make toothpicks out of it.

Another is that the continued efforts of people like ours on this board for spreading CPR has been helping. I know some people don't beleive it but it does make a difference.

[NightTrain]

I just thought about.Arkansas Bluecats were introduced into Kerr/Gaston Lakes back about 1972-73.That in itself is a reason (around here).They've only been around in our lifetime.30 yrs or so...sooo,nobody's fished for them but us,and now is when the first coupla stockings are comin' to "fruition"(becoming record size).I believe the James River and Santee-Cooper Lakes also had a deal with Arkansas(Blues for Land-locked Stripers)earlier,like in the 1960's.Ya'll correct me if I'm wrong.The new record fish must be a fingerling from the initial stocking(32yrs.x3lbs. per yr.growth rate=96lbs.-3 or 4lbs.(spawn)=90some lb.Bluecat.)I think dis fish'll be on the books a good while.

[MUDHOLE KID]

Hey Train, I'm Not Correcting You, But, I Don't Think A Catfish Life Span Is That Long.on Average A Cat May Gain 3lbs Per Year But At First The Fish My Not Gain 3 Lbs Per Year,then As An Adult Fish At 20lbs Or So That Fish May Gain More Than 3 Per Year.i Hope I Didnt Confuse You.ask Trophy Cats I Know He's On Top Of It.i Useto Think That About Flatheads But I Later Found Out That Thier Life Span Isn't Quite That Long.again I'm Not Saying There's Not A 30 Or 40 Year Old Catfish Out There .

[alston4252]

Another thing that should be considered is the ease that we can presently share our photos and experiences with others---via digital images and the internet. But the main contributor to this trend of larger fish is the specific targeting of these monsters by fishermen, and the availability of weigh in stations and authentification availability for official record books.
Our fathers and grandfathers probably just took pictures and shared with family and friends---maybe the folks at the coffee or bait shop. Those pictures eventually got lost and turned yellow. They are probably sitting in one of those old dusty books on that shelf that no one touches until you have to move.

Could also be the eutrophication of reserviors and waterways. This increased nutient content caused mainly by agricultural runoff lowers the oxygen levels esp. in inlets or other spawning areas. The cats can tolerate lower oxygen levels than "game species." This would give them (and species like gar) an advantage under these new conditions. Less competition and the fact that large cats are at the top of the food chain could be a factor as well.

I am no expert and this is just the things that came to my mind when I read this post. Just things to consider.

alston4252