What was THIS? Not even the experts can agree

[zmerchant7]

Sounds like a Carp or Catfish, could have been any number of things with that description though. Could have also been a big Trout too since the state stocked 50 breeders in there this Spring, however doesn't really sound like your typical Trout fight to me.

[HerringKing]

Originally Posted by phil

theres only one person who can settle this once and for all

LIVE ACTION YIYIYYIIYIYIYIYIYY

You read my mind!!

[catfishonthelake]

I think you can pretty much take pickerel and snapping turtle out the equation. I do a lot of pond fishing for carp and have tussled with my share of huge snapping turtles. They put up one hell of a fight, but the don't move nearly as fast as a fish and leave a distinctive bubble trail. You will also feel them clawing at the line. I know there's some big channel cats in there, but I'd bet it was a carp. The have a habit of eating power bait.

[bigboy5522]

My guess is a foul hooked carp. I fouled one and it fought just the way you described it.

[Adrenalinerush]

Going with snapping turtle, I have hooked fairly large ones in the 15 pounds range on a bass rod and they are hard to turn or move. If you hooked a turtle in the 30-40 pound range it could definitely do what you described

[Dave B.]

Acting as you describe, in Amwell, i'm going with big cat. Caught more than my share in there over the years, usually on chicken guts using heavier tackle, right after a storm.

[tedmarx38]

Originally Posted by dakota560

Don't know what it was but your story is one of the many reason fishing is so addictive. For anyone who has ever hooked a HUGE mystery fish and lost it without ever seeing it, the mystery and mystique will create a life time memory! The beauty of it all is it can be whatever you want it to be every time you retell the story. If you had a dollar for every time you retell it, you'll be a millionaire!

My guess, big channel cat or snapping turtle. You'd be amazed how fast those fellas can get going when they feel threatened. Don't think a carp would have made a 300 yard bee line as you described and I don't think it would have remained stationery at the culvert when it got there. Just going to have to go back and do it all over again to find out for certain what it was!

Dakota

xx

[tedmarx38]

OP here. I'm going with it having been a catfish only because NJDEP says they stocked some big ones at Amwell. I'll never know. A couple of other details - I had the rig configured so that the powerbait floated About three feet above the sinkers. Also this thing "felt" like a mammal. Can't describe it other than it seemed like a bear cub or some other four-legged creature was on the hook. Thanks all for your input.