New Record? San Angelo Angler Hooks Monster Catfish

SAN ANGELO, TX — For San Angelo angler Logan Lloyd, hooking the largest catfish he can is what he does for relaxation. Thursday, in Twin Buttes Reservoir southwest of San Angelo, Lloyd hooked a gigantic 77-pound Flathead Catfish. The fish measures 56-inches long.

Lloyd said he caught the monster on a 20-pound fishing line on a 12-foot pole. He was baiting the line with cut shad, about 5-8 inches.

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“I’ve been hunting these fish for years,” Lloyd said. “I only fish for big catfish. I'd say this one is pretty rare. This is the biggest one I've ever caught.”

The record size for Flathead Catfish in the state of Texas, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, is 98.50 pounds and 53 inches, It was caught on Dec. 2, 1998 in Lake Palestine by James Laster using minnows and a crappie hook, according to the TPWD.

Lloyd wonders if his catch sets a record for Twin Buttes. He is going to find out Monday.

[[{"fid":"39712","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Logan Lloyd's 77-pound Flathead Catfish caught in Twin Buttes Reservoir on March 29, 2918. (Contributed/Logan Lloyd)","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Logan Lloyd's 77-pound Flathead Catfish caught in Twin Buttes Reservoir on March 29, 2918. (Contributed/Logan Lloyd)"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"2":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Logan Lloyd's 77-pound Flathead Catfish caught in Twin Buttes Reservoir on March 29, 2918. (Contributed/Logan Lloyd)","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Logan Lloyd's 77-pound Flathead Catfish caught in Twin Buttes Reservoir on March 29, 2918. (Contributed/Logan Lloyd)"}},"attributes":{"alt":"Logan Lloyd's 77-pound Flathead Catfish caught in Twin Buttes Reservoir on March 29, 2918. (Contributed/Logan Lloyd)","title":"Logan Lloyd's 77-pound Flathead Catfish caught in Twin Buttes Reservoir on March 29, 2918. (Contributed/Logan Lloyd)","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"2"}}]]
Above: Logan Lloyd's 77-pound Flathead Catfish caught in Twin Buttes Reservoir on March 29, 2018. (Contributed/Logan Lloyd)

In the meantime, the 77-pound catfish is being kept in a small pool with an air pump to keep the water circulating. Lloyd said he feeds it if it’s hungry. He’s feeding it live 2-5-inch Perch.

Lloyd said the fish is so big that he cannot find a scale in town to weigh it properly. “I stood on a bathroom scale holding it and subtracted my weight,” he said, “I sure have lost some weight since I caught it.”

UPDATE 4 p.m.

Jaime Burch at KTXS in Abilene researched the record size of Flathead Catfish ever caught in Twin Buttes. He discovered the current record was made on April 20, 2014 by Roy L. Martin. His catch weighed 73.35 pounds and was 53 inches long. If Lloyd gets his fish officially weighed by the TPWD, and his bathroom scale is close to being correct, he will hold the new record.