Quoted:
Now that I have had a night to sleep on it I think I lost a huge channel cat but when the adrenaline was going I was convinced it was a Musky.  Maybe 20-30 pounds.  I think that is because I wanted it to be a Musky and I have never caught one so hooking a huge one would be cool.  I was also cranked up because in 1+ hour I had caught 7 smallies between 3 and 4lbs, most closer to 4 than 3 and I was flat out on a roll.  I had also lost a smallish Musky and caught a couple 3-5lb Pike.

I was using what I call a redneck fly, a fluke rig with a double tail Yamamoto grub.  Basically heavy test line with a single hook, some bucktail and a small spinner, then jam  the plastic grub on the hook.  It is heavy enough to cast with some accuracy but light enough to float in and out of wood and work in shallow water.  It is not snagging as much as when I use a wire leader.

So I make one more cast in a spot that is really deep for the stretch I am fishing, 6-7 feet deep.  It was shady and slow moving water as well.  I cast out let it sink, reel in and bam, I am snagged big time on a log.  I work my way over to it, I am in a small 9' kayak. The log takes off.  This fish had just inhaled the lure while sitting on the bottom and then sat there.  It made multiple runs, burning up my drag, I only have 8 or 10lb test on that reel but no problem, the fluke rig is heavy.  The fish never really surfaced, never jumped and now after a few minutes of fighting in circles and up and down stream on 4 or 5 runs it is on a straight run up stream pulling me with it.  I thought about dropping my drag anchor but hell I am in control now, I will play this out. I am new to kayak fishing and have no experience with big fish in one.  I was so impressed by the strength of the fish I did a brain fart and forgot about a sunken tree top.  Typical Wisconsin, the wind hand changed direction and was also pushing me upstream.  Now suddenly I realize the fish is heading for the blown down.  The fish and I are on opposite sides of a log, wind continues to push me upstream and I am trying to play it and yup line snaps after about a minute of that shit in the tree.

There are big cats in this stretch of the river.  The fish just inhaled the bait while on bottom.  It never surfaced or even came close to making a jump which seems odd for only being in 6-7 feet.  I have never played a huge catfish but this one acted just like the smaller ones I have caught on light tackle, hug the bottom, run and pull like a monster.  Do Musky ever behave this way.

I also think if I hook a Musky in the kayak I am dropping anchor then at some point I am getting out of the kayak to deal with the fish.  I am not ready for what comes next with a big fish in a kayak.