40-pound catfish highlights Concord experience
The Norwood resident, who fishes frequently in Fort Loudoun Lake waters around Concord Park, caught a 40-pound catfish on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29.
The haul was so large, two young men assisted in the eventual catch.
“I fish in the Concord Park area all the time,” Freeman said. “This particular night, I was at the Concord fishing pier nearest to the kayak launch. I wasn’t on the pier because people (were) there when I arrived.
“Time was going by quickly. Finally after a couple hours I get my first catch. A striped bass. It was small — too small to even take a picture of,”
he added, noting his model is “Catch, pose and release.”
Then his second catch came and it was a skipjack — from which he used the head for bait.
Then, just as Freeman least expected it, the big fish came along.
“When it hit, the drag on the pole took off,” he recalled. “(Two) young men heard it all the way on the pier. One of them hollered ‘You got a big one.’ Before I knew it, I had a growing audience.
“For five to seven minutes, it pulled me and I pulled it.”
The young men came to his aid as he wrangled the fish and brought it up out of the water.
“I have to say, this catch was indeed my biggest yet,” Freeman said. “Forty pounds, and had those two young men not been there I don’t know how I would of gotten that fish in. But, thanks to them, an amazing show was put on.
“Memories that will last a lifetime happen while fishing,” he continued. “Those two young men face-timed their dad and friends to show them this big cat. We all took turns taking pictures of it, then released it back into the water.
“A grandfather and his granddaughter(s) were even present. The grandfather asked me about the bait that I used to catch it with, and I told him it was skip jack. And that’s when he told me who he was with, trying to make memories.
“So, since I was leaving, I gave him the rest of the minnows I had left and exchanged a few pleasantries with him and continued packing up.”
Freeman said he makes the 20-minute trip to Concord Park frequently.
It also serves as a welcome respite, as his daughter, Aleina, 3, has been battling cancer at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
“She’s in remission now — shout out to the wonderful staff at Children’s Hospital,” he said. “My Aleina is a soldier. And spoiled rotten.
“A lot of times I’d leave from the hospital and go to Concord Boat launch area,” he added. “Most times, I’d fish; but sometimes I’d just sit out there listening to the water and watching the stars and clouds. My first large catfish, I caught here after a hospital visit.
“Fishing helps me maintain my sanity and work on my patience. I recommend everyone try it. Especially if life has you cornered.”
