| It was a very effective means of fishing for the big catfish. Once the trot line had a big fish on it the horizontal line would be pulled down into the water as the fish tried to swim away in escape. Most times these were fish of some size, usually as long as a human’s arms. They are basically one solid piece of muscle. When they are fighting to get away they are quite intimidating. Obviously they are fighting for their very lives and you can imagine they put all into it that any wild animal would do when caught or cornered. It is quite a battle getting one into the boat. The animal goes into something similar to the death roll used by crocodiles. They have very sharp, painful fins on their sides and on their dorsal fins. Any fish is capable of finning someone who isn’t paying attention when they are near. Catfish are especially armed for such tactics. The smaller cats can be heard splashing the top of the water in an attempt to escape their situation. The big ones have already swam down taking the trot lines with them as far as the lines with allow. Usually the line can be seen where it is tied off going up and down with the weight and struggle of the big fish that is somewhere ahead on the trot line. You follow it to where it is tied off on the other end to a tree branch or sometimes a jug can be used. The closer you get to the big fish the more erratic the line becomes as they can sense you are approaching. next page |  |