Fri Aug 22, 2:51 AM ET ELKIN, N.C. - David Hayes' granddaughter just asked him to hold her Barbie rod and reel while she went to the bathroom. He did. And seconds later he landed the state record channel catfish at 21 pounds, 1 ounce. Alyssa's father had bought the pink Barbie fishing rod for Christmas and she had caught a few bluegill before her grandfather hauled in the catfish.
The Winston-Salem Journal reported the catch Aug. 5 in eastern Wilkes County has been certified as a record by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Hayes and his granddaughter have been fishing in the pond behind his house since she was big enough to hold a pole. Hayes said his granddaughter worried he would break her rod. He landed the 21-pound fish on a 6-pound test line. It was 32inches long, 2 inches longer than the rod.
Yesterday, I was thinking about evangelism and remembering with much disappointment that I've never shared the Gospel with any success. Or at least, no one I've talked to about Jesus has decided to accept him. I've concluded that I will never be much of a fisher of men, since it appears that I'm using pretty poor equipment. However, this story reminded me that while Jesus said he would make his followers fishers of men, he did not say he would give us all the same fishing pole. Maybe I should keep talking to people, keep praying for them, and see what God might do with my version of the Barbie fishing rod. Here's a video about the famous catch:
