Ferret
Helllll yeah. I fish a lot, I'll go with ya.
I live about 5 miles from where the (once) world record blue catfish was caught (it was 130 lbs, record since broken) on Ft. Loudoun lake. I caught a 52-pound blue cat out of Loudon in 2002 myself, I'll try to find that picture & scan/ post it. But 70-80 pound blue cats are regularly caught out of Loudoun, literally at my back doorstep.
I also caught a 20-lb flathead on a crankbait & 10lb test, 2 years ago while bass fishing. (lol, I thought I had a world record largemouth at first).
Your post makes me want to put away the bass rods & get the heavy equipment back out. I might just get me some fresh 50lb braided line and go do that again. It's be fun to see my 45 pound 6 yr old son reeling in a fish heavier than him. (He can reel some, but I think I'LL hold the rod)
Hell ya I'd love to share a boat with ya Buddy...My best blue so far is twenty five lbs...My best flat head was a 65lb monster...Both caught out of the Arkansas River...The Blue was caught below the dam at Ozark, Ar. and the flathead was caught below the dam at Muldrow, Ok...