The official lake-record flathead stands at 97.5 pounds. Otis Pleasant of Texas caught it on May 24, 1991, while running a trotline. Another Texan, Pamela Gray, landed a 68.5-pound blue cat on June 12, 1999, also with a trotline. Doug Skinner landed a 67.65-pound blue cat in April 1995.

Not everyone can venture onto big waters such as Toledo Bend, but bank-anglers can also find plenty places in which to fish. The state stocks fish in many small ponds and lakes in populated areas so people can catch good fish. In 2007, the LDWF stocked more than 745,000 channel catfish and 6.7 million bluegills in 36 urban lakes across Louisiana.

“I like to call them ‘backyard lakes,’” Wood said. “We like to stock channel catfish annually in urban areas because we want a lot of kids and beginning anglers to catch fish. We have to get these kids fishing.”

Some smaller waters that offer good catfish action, especially for bank-anglers, include Turner’s Pond in Minden, Lincoln Parish Park Lake near Ruston, Cheniere Lake in Monroe, Buhlow Lake in Pineville, the Red River Barrow Pits within the Red River Wildlife Management Area, Alligator Lake near Lake Charles, Jennings City Lake, ponds in Moore Park, Veteran’s Park, Girard Park and Beaver Park in Lafayette, University Lake in Baton Rouge and City Park in New Orleans. Many other waters, big or small, across the Sportsman’s Paradise can also provide awesome line-pulling action this summer.