One of Those "Oh Crap" Moments

Yes, a big one that got away story.
I went out today to do some  various small pond stuffs. I first targeted big bluegills and spawning bass, getting one of each.

One of the most stunningly colored bluegills I have ever caught!

The second order of business was drumming up weedy bass with poppers. The only ones I got were dinks.

Finally: bullheads. Using the same method of a clouser with a worm trailer drummed up some cool looking bottom feeders.

Then the unbeleievable happened. I set into what I was sure was a turtle. It wasn't. It was an enormous channel catfish, well over 30 inches. It put a monumental bend in my fly rod. Though channels had been stocked here once, about six years ago, this pond drained one year and I didn't think any had made it. Apparently one had and is now the king of his domain. I stood there, rod doubled over, the fish digging down on the bottom. I could barely move it. Then the unthinkable happened. It went under the grass on the bank. I scared it back out by stomping around, but in a few minutes It repeated and I was unable to remove it. The 4x tippet snapped and so did my will to live. It isn't every day I nail into a monster catfish, on the fly no less. Damn.