100-Pound Blue Catfish Doomed in Trophy Pay Lake: A Tragic Practice Exposed

In this podcast episode, I’m discussing a concerning practice that’s all too common in the world of trophy pay lakes. Just before Labor Day, a massive 100-pound Blue Catfish was placed into a tiny trophy pay pond, a pond so small you could practically throw a baseball across it. These giant catfish are incredibly rare in the wild, and unfortunately, this one is likely to die within just a few months in such a confined space.

This practice is far from an isolated incident. Trophy pay lakes are dumping thousands of pounds of catfish, ranging from 20 to 90 pounds, into these ponds every week. This isn’t sustainable, and we see the impact on our public lakes, where the presence of big fish is dwindling. These trophy pay lakes are not only exploiting these majestic creatures but also damaging our natural fisheries. It's a serious issue that needs more attention.