Catfishing for Dug: A Catfish Tale Like No Other

(Also something no other tennis official has done—ever.)

Authors note: PLEASE remember this is a CATFISH STORY - Leni (my Wife) wanted me to warn you - you could be doing something else!

I never imagined that my “next chapter” after semi-retiring from tennis officiating would involve floating across Lake Waco in a 14-foot, 1984 custom made catfishing boat named the USS Sassy (named after THE first TightLine Catfishing Dog), chasing a mythical fish named Dug with a grumpy, storytelling, rodeo-loving buddy and a genius goldendoodle who could out-sniff most law enforcement dogs.

But there I was... A lifelong tennis official, used to calling foot faults and making overrules, now out here trying to outwit something with spaghetti like whiskers and gills.

Beside me:

• Rick, my lifelong friend and living embodiment of “rough around the edges.”
• And Dazy, my four-legged catfishing prodigy. Half goldendoodle, half wizard, 100% reliable when it came to sniffing out catfish —and leftover beef jerky.

“Kevin, toss me an adult beverage,” Rick grunted, adjusting his baseball cap for the fourth time. It never fit right. It looked like it was always trying to escape the moment the wind hit 5 mph.

Dazy suddenly let out a deep, cryptic "woof"—the kind of sound that makes you wonder if she just cracked a top-secret catfishing code or accidentally binge-watched way too much late-night “River Monster” shows.  

Whatever - that was our cue.
She smelled him.
Dug.

We followed her lead and headed toward the Whisker Whale...

Not just a catfish. THE catfish.

The Loch Waco Ness Monster.

The slick, hulking legend—so feared by locals. Named and revered by my grandkids (Addy, Harper, Owen, Wilder, Maisie, and Charli)— the Catfish once stole a jet ski, sank a canoe, and possibly moonlit as a blackjack dealer on a riverboat. Rick told me it once challenged him to an arm-wrestling match. Others claim it can file taxes. All I know is… I’ve never seen it lose a staring contest and it has an ongoing feud with: 

Lake Waco’s Carp Captain the great Honorable Bobbert Cervicko.

We were TightLine Catfishing now. And things were getting seriously real. So, I cranked the radio.

 

yes, “Eye of the Tiger.”

Game on.

Lines baited. Lines dropped. Tension high. Lots of waiting and waiting and waiting...

Rick leaned back and opined – that the only thing biting today he said, was his arthritis, he also said that before we do more with artificial intelligence –we should fix natural stupidity, and finally he reminded me that he likes catfishing and three people.

I stared into the water like it owed me answers.

Then—BOOM.

Dug's bent my rod in half like a government budget—bending in ways that defy logic.

“KEVIN! REEL!” Rick shouted, knocking over his own drink in the chaos.

Dazy barked furiously—either cheering me on or arguing with a nearby lake gull.

The USS Sassy rocked like it was in a Texas-sized washing machine. I gritted my teeth. I hadn’t worked this hard since that five-hour epic Big 12 Championship match between Baylor and Texas A&M back in 2002. 

(BU won 4–2. You’re welcome.)

Then, he rose.

Dug.

He was… enormous.
This wasn’t a fish. This was a floating couch with whiskers - an aquatic deity.

And then… he did something wild.
He slowly and methodically surfaced, calmly. Looked me right in the eyes.

And gradually extended a fin the size of Red Ball tennis racket.

I didn’t hesitate.
Years of match-ending etiquette kicked in.
I leaned down and shook his fin.

“Good match,” I panted.

He gave a subtle nod.
And with that, Dug sank back into the depths—vanishing like a greasy, majestic submarine.

The 14 foot catfish yacht was silent.  The lake was still.

I turned to Rick, blinking. “Rick… I just shook hands with a catfish.”

He cracked yet another can. "Yeah, well... retirement does strange things to people. Even stranger things to already strange people."

And that, my friends, is how I became the only tennis official in recorded history to get a sportsmanlike handshake from a 75+ pound Catfish – Named Dug. 

Love to my grandkids: Addelyn, Harper, Owen, Wilder, Maisie, and Charli!

It doesn't matter if the rod is or isn't bent... time spent catfishing is time well spent!

This is my nephew Constantine Tsialos, we call him CoCo. 

His lovely family is from Zakynthos Greece (look it up on the map - it is beautiful). CoCo wanted to experience a TightLine Catfishing trip while in Texas.  

So, we set sail on the 13.5 foot - USS Sassy!               

                                   This is a secret spot near Ridgewood Country club - in a cove.                                            Very calm waters. We are using the Super Secret bait - hotdogs and shrimp!

We started out VERY slow - it was almost as if we were trying to catch the allusive Devils Hole pupfish (rarest fish in the world).  But, then the story changed and...

CoCo's positive attitude never waivered - we searched out other honey holes and caught some big catfish smiles. CoCo is a natural catfisherman!

TightLine Catfishing is patience and faith - awaiting a nibble! 

Total caught on this day - 12 Cats (Channel and Blue) for 23 lbs. 

Mastery and TightLine  

Mastery catching catfish (like anything else) is a wonderful goal because it can’t be bought, rushed, inherited, or taken from anyone. 

It’s all about hard work, dedication...

and Prayer,

We have a weapon - DazyDoodleDug.

I don't know how, but just like Sassy before her, she can sniff out a bed of Catfish!

This week we sniffed out 75 cats over two days...  ave wt. 1.7 lbs.

Lake Waco water temp was 49 degrees and we catfished in 8-9 feet of water...

We do not max out every time - but, come close - practice, practice, practice

 

These Beach Chickens (lake gulls) LOVE flying around Dazy and are always a welcome sight...

 

One, of many things my parents have taught me:

Happiness isn’t something you can travel to or own, earn, wear, or consume. It’s all about how we experience life in each moment, filled with love, grace, and gratitude. Enjoying the little things and cherishing what we have is where true happiness lies!

This is a picture of my Dad and Sassy inspecting a Blue Cat

I am so thankful for my Dad and the journey he has lead me on... lots of love!

 

The USS Sassy Catfishing vessel has been host to 1000's of Cats and millions of memories.

We have been blessed with plenty of calm waters FULL OF CATFISH!

This is definitely not one of our Cerviko fish, as we release any that weigh over 15 pounds. However, this particular catfish was happily smiling because Rick gave it a kiss before releasing it back into the water to grow a bit more!

Its like my great aunt Ella once (almost) said:

For life is a Catfishing poem to leisurely read, 

and the joy of a TightLine Catfishing trip lies not in its speed.

Give us a call in 2025 for a catering or charter!

TIGHTLINE CATFISHING and TENNIS COMBO!!!!

As you may know, this TIGHTLINE CATFISHING BLOG weaves together the strange combination of Catfishing and Tennis. So let me take a minute, on the "tennis side" of the blog, to thank all the incredible friends and family who have commented on the Hall of Fame Induction.

I was (and still am) shocked by the TX Tennis Hall of Fame induction. It is unimaginable to do something you love for 50+ years and then be recognized for it. When I was told this, my first thought was that my family should be inducted with me! They have sacrificed a lot, and I am forever grateful.

Here is the family at the induction: son Harry, niece Kelsey, sister Kim, daughter Alex, wife Leni, son-in-law Wil, daughter Ashley, son-in-law Nick, granddaughters Addelyn and Harper, grandsons Wilder and Owen, and my mom, Genny. 

Here is my son-in-law Nick and my Mom and Dad!

Here are some of my Hall of Fame friends - 

WOW! It's still so incredible to be a part of this group!

DAZY

 Not sure if the quote is exactly correct or not - Uncle CS wrote:

"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can (change the catfish bait) start where you are and change the ending!"

God, Family, Friends

CHURCH UNDER THE BRIDGE!

It's one of the best TightLine Catfish Frying events of the year!

We estimated that about 100 people were served catfish this past Sunday morning.

This is Jimmy Dorrell. He and his wife Janet started Church Under the Bridge over 32 years ago! It started with just a handful of people (six!) —primarily folks living meal to meal on the streets—but grew to include a large and diverse group of Central Texas citizens.  

I became friends with Jimmy over thirty years ago through Tennis! 

It is a unique experience serving under the bridge...  CUB is visited by 100+ people every Sunday!

Black, White, Brown, Rich and Poor, educated in the streets or the University, all serving the same God, who makes us ONE!  

Visit the website when you can: https://www.churchunderthebridge.org/

Addelyn, Harper, Owen, and Wilder - four of our five incredible Grandkids!

Here is our daughter Ashley and granddaughter Harpy serving it up!

Between fry's, I get to hold our granddaughter Maisie with Addie and Ash looking on!

Here is Cindy (our son-in-law's Mom and grandma to Harper and Wilder). 

Cindy and her husband Carl are a big part of the process and help make it successful!

Here's another picture of the serving line...

Here is Odessey (a good friend and one of our Management Team Members at Little Caesars) helping Ashley, Harper, Addie, Jimmy, and Cindy serve up the folks.

Owen and Wilder are getting in a bit of cousin time, with a super secret catfish handshake.

Catfish Fry with Co-captain Rick!

There is no telling how many Catfish we have caught and fried up - without a doubt - 1000's!

Bob Cervenka in Catfish action

One of the ONLY rules we have at TightLine Fishing is named after him—the 15-lb. max rule!

If we catch a catfish fish that weighs more than 15 lbs - we have to release the Catfish 

it's called the Cervicko Rule.  There have been MANY released!!!!

Here is Carl Boen - fantastic family, Jack of all Trades, and friend! 

Here are two of our granddaughters... Harpy and Addie enjoy Church Service after helping serve the congregation.

This TightLine blog is only complete with a little Tennis mix. This is my little sister from another set of parents, Cindy Benzon, my lovely wife, Leni, and our son Harry!  

Cindy heads up the Adaptive Tennis Programs for Texas and is a member of the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame! She has been a solid inspiration to me, our family, and many others for many years. We are blessed to help her and our Adaptive Tennis Families across Texas.

Cindy is THE definition of a family friend!