[simage=2445,400,y,center]

Nine year old Nate Kissinger, a student at Madison Elementary in Pella, reeled in a 45 inch, 45 pound catfish below the Red Rock dam Thursday night. Nate and his father Matt went fishing around 6:30 pm. According to Matt, he baited a treble hook with a worm for Nate, and added a bobber to avoid snags. The current kept driving the line back into the rocks, but the boy kept recasting. Nate told his dad that he thought he had caught a snag, but Matt thought it odd he was reeling in line. Finally, a huge tail slapped the water, and Nate said “Dad, I think I have something,” as the fish began running, almost pulling Nate into the water. Nate was using an 8ft surf rod with 50lb test, and the father and son were able to bring the fish to shore after about an 11 minute struggle.

[simage=2446,400,y,center]