The Biggest Fish Ever!!!

Do you remember the first really big fish you ever caught? Sure you do….

As a young boy, I grew up living right beside the Big Coal River. Swimming and fishing, during the summer, were my two favorite hobbies. I especially enjoyed fishing and was gone with my bait and tackle, and my best friend, nearly every day.

This is Peachtree Hole located on the Big Coal River. To the far right of this photo just off picture is where Peachtree Creek drains into the river. This used to be one of the best places around for catfish.

The small area just this side of the three big rocks was where we always fished. We were maybe ten or eleven. We had caught a lot of small catfish and even panicked over a few caught turtles before the “big catch”.

We had fished here the whole day using up the bait we had on chubs and other pesky fish of that type. Usually when we would go all day fishing, we would bring ourselves a lunch. My lunch that day was a half of a peanut butter sandwich.

After the bait ran out, and not ready to quit fishing, I decided to make my first ever dough ball with the sandwich and just see what bites. Maybe I could get the chubs mouths stuck closed with the peanut butter…

At any rate, I cast out not really expecting a bite but closely watching my line none the less. It started moving out very slowly within five minutes of casting. Something was actually taking the peanut butter bait. I had never caught a real big fish before and was unprepared for this one. My hand on the rod I waited for just the right moment. The line was taught and starting to bend the end of the rod as the fish headed upstream. Jerk, Snap! Just that fast the fish was gone, and so was the bait.

Not ones to give up, and very excited, we ran 1/4 of a mile to a nice old ladies house who fixed us another peanut butter sandwich. Telling her our story she also showed us the proper way to make a dough ball. We went straight back to Peachtree Hole to try out our new bait.

We didn’t have to wait long, these fish apparently loved peanut butter. At the time we had no idea what type of fish it was. We had been back maybe a half an hour when my line started a repeat of it’s earlier performance. Oh no you don’t, not this time my friend. I held the rod in hand as the fish made a more aggressive run upstream with my bait.

If you notice in the photo, at the top where the river just comes into view, the white water there is the result of the river just coming through about 25 yards of shallow rocky bottom. In other words, the fish was going no further than that, upstream. So with pole in hand, and my friend bouncing excitedly ahead of me, we allowed this fish to run. I wanted him to swallow the bait. My friend was afraid I was going to let it get away as we both clamored over the three rocks. I didn’t know to much about setting drag back then so the fish was leading me up the river, literally. The entire time, I was gaining on him. I had to stop on each rock, reel him in a bit and go to the next rock. My friend was so excited I thought he was going to pee his pants.

We were on the third rock, the fish was about ten feet out and getting tired. My friend wanted to help reel him in, Hell No, this was my fish. Even if we were best friends. Anyway I was getting him closer to the rock, my friend on his knees reaching into the water. We could see it now as it rolled over from being tired. It was a Carp and it was huge. My friend lost his balance and fell head first into the water. We were both good swimmers and the water was only about three feet deep. I laughed so hard I nearly lost the fish anyway, but my friend was having none of that. Not caring that he fell in or that I was laughing, he wrestled the Carp out of the water and onto the rock.

I was past the point of caring about the fish, watching my drenched buddy toss that fish out of the water was the funniest damn thing I had ever saw. It was with tears in my eyes from laughing that I put my nylon stringer through the gill proclaiming my victory over this old fish. We ended up taking him to the nice old ladies house to show her our catch. I was holding him as high as I could and about 3 to 4 inches of his tail was dragging on the ground. He was 27 inches long. At the old womans coaxing, we ended up letting him go in front of her house back into Big Coal River. It was actually the spot where I caught my smallest fish ever.

I will have to tell that story soon. But never fear, it’s a “short” story.

Have A Great Day!!!