Sallisaw Man Reels In 52-Pound Catfish

It took a Sallisaw fisherman David Long about 45 minutes to reel in a 52-pound catfish on Monday, April 2, 2012 on a lake in rural Sequoyah County.

Long says he was fishing for crappie at Brushy Lake when he thought he had snagged his line on brush pile.

When it started moving, he first thought it was a turtle, then when it went for deeper water, he didn't know what he had until it finally surfaced.

Long says he was using a 12 pound test line and a crappie jig for bait.

After battling the catfish for 45 minutes he hauled it into his small boat, nearly tipping it over.

Long says he has been fishing for 50 years and this was the biggest fish he has ever caught. He says reeling the big fish in wore him out and he is still sore from the experience.

As for the catfish, Long says he is now in his freezer. He says he cleaned him and cut him up into a number of freezer bags, some of which Long shared with family and friends.

Long expects to be back fishing by this weekend.