I Caught the TOUGHEST fish in the Midwest!! (Change my mind)

For real, these fish are freakin' beasts. I'm ashamed of myself and the lack of times I've fished for them this year, but dang did I get lucky in this video. He kicked my butt! They are the toughest fish pound-for-pound I've ever came across in freshwater and I'll argue that all day, any day. Especially for what I have available to catch in Iowa. Freakin' beasts!
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[@flatheadcatfishriver]

Man I love your videos so much I am a fisherman trying to start my KZbin I am only 13 years old but I’ve been having a blast keep up the good work dude

[@klobnakk1632]

I'm also trying to start my own channel good luck with yours

[@flatheadcatfishriver]

KZbin I will subscribe to you to help you out a little bit Good luck fishing

[@edbrown3047]

@@flatheadcatfishriver i just subbed to your channel guy

[@RiverCertified]

I'm really glad you like them! I'm cheering you on!

[@ElkinsEric]

Beardless fishin you’ve got a good name for your channel...definitely catchy! And I sub’d

[@shawnt9256]

Another fine River Certified production 😊

[@RiverCertified]

You're digging back in the archives. I'm glad you're enjoying them!

[@EmberMcLain23]

Big skipjack fight good but they make awesome catfish bait

[@RiverCertified]

Can't argue with that. Thanks for watching!

[@BPinney]

Watching your videos has me needing to come down to Red Rock. Planning it in the next couple weeks.

[@RiverCertified]

Good luck when you get out there!

[@sensualtiger5561]

Raystown lake in central PA, huge stripers

[@RiverCertified]

I appreciate that sir!

[@klobnakk1632]

Your videos help a lot I live 45 minutes from red rock and it's cool to see what you catch and how you catch it

[@RiverCertified]

I'm glad they help man! Thanks for watching!

[@hookedonbassncats]

Im a catfisherman threw and threw. But i got to say the wiper is the toughest fighting fresh water fish pound for pound. And those were some dandies.

[@RiverCertified]

Thank you sir! I gotta agree. It would be scary if they got 50 lbs.

[@hookedonbassncats]

@@RiverCertified sure would

[@shawngriffin3248]

Nice fish my man. Looks like alot fun. Keep them coming Spencer

[@RiverCertified]

They're a definite blast! I'm doing my best. The flatheads are finally starting to cooperate a little bit more.

[@rickshearer6359]

Man that's hybrid size!

[@Flarexxxx]

I had to learn to reel right handed because all baitcasters in my area without ordering online are all right hand retrieve, im use to casting with the right and controlling the rod with the right not left, still cant cast left handed lol

[@billshepard1275]

Excellent video SPENCER! Nice wipers also.

[@RiverCertified]

Thanks Bill! I had a ton of fun making this one.

[@ericorange441]

ABSOLUTELY Toad Strippers!!

[@RiverCertified]

Thanks dude. Hopefully they start biting soon!

[@briansimpson2997]

Man ur fishin videos are amazin keep fishin bro

[@RiverCertified]

Really glad you like em Brian! I'm gonna keep fishing no worries

[@CrazyQuady]

Caught my first wiper a couple weeks ago, great fighting fish for sure

[@RiverCertified]

They're addicting for sure! Good luck out there!

[@ron2893]

Wicked Wiper there

[@RiverCertified]

Thanks man

[@IALiferOutdoors]

Wipers are so fun to target. I got a few top water wiper videos too, one of my favorites. Nice video sir!

[@RiverCertified]

I haven't got on a good topwater bite for a loooonnnnggg time. Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@christianeshelman8195]

Love the video. From Ohio here, and we have steelhead rainbow trout in the Lake Erie tributaries. It’s a real bucket list species. Thanks for the god content!

[@RiverCertified]

Glad you enjoy the videos man! I need to get a steelhead. Only ever got little rainbows. Heard steelhead fight like mad. Thanks for watching!

[@shawnt9256]

Must be northern Ohio cause im down in Cincinnati and have fished just about every creek and water way and have never even seen or heard of anything wild caught,maybe I will put together a road trip in early spring

[@sistaslab3159]

Awesome video

[@RiverCertified]

Thank you!

[@shawnt9256]

Starting a campaign here, Save the madtom,mad Tom, him in the aquarium. S Start him up a KZbin channel.. What was his fate spence?

[@RiverCertified]

I like that idea. I currently have a baby flathead living in an aquarium. I'll have some feeding videos of him this winter.

[@teamflanneloutdoors5631]

Enjoying the multi species content. Them things pull like a runaway freight train! They're pretty good at breaking me off in the rocks too.

[@RiverCertified]

Glad you enjoy the different kinds of fishing. That's just kik kinda how i do things. You ain't kidding about the wiper being jerks by the rocks 🤣🤣🤣

[@mattyoung589]

A fresh 32" steel head might change your mind, great vid man! Always look forward to watching!

[@RiverCertified]

That's a fish that is pretty high up on my list! Milwaukee isn't that far. I might have to make a drive. Thanks for watching!

[@mattyoung589]

@@RiverCertified you won't be disappointed, but you might get another addiction lol

[@gsnicholas8522]

If the steelhead doesn’t change his mind a 45 inch musky will.

[@RiverCertified]

@@gsnicholas8522 got a 49.5 last fall. Fought like a turd. Was kinda bummed actually. There's a video of it on here.

[@gsnicholas8522]

@@RiverCertified that's unusual. They normally fight like mad. It's very explosive and powerful. It sucks that you got a dud.

[@larrytischler570]

Never hold a mad tom in your hand. Those little fins are much worse than bullheads when they stick you. It is a painful experience.

[@RiverCertified]

I've never had a problem with it. I prefer to learn things the hard way though haha

[@joeb5619]

Nice fish man!!! Those baby's always put a fight regardless of size.

[@RiverCertified]

Thanks Joe! I love those stupid mean fish.

[@hollow33zy]

The beat at the end is so good

[@RiverCertified]

I like it too. Thanks for watching!

[@RyanMOutdoors]

I agree wipers being the toughest fish of the Midwest! Found a wiper hole in the river.

[@RiverCertified]

That's awesome man! Hope you get some slobs!

[@dumpthangtruck]

Even the small ones fight like tanks. So fun!

[@RiverCertified]

Little missiles! A blast! Thanks for watching!

[@sunfishassassin5963]

Great video

[@RiverCertified]

Glad ya enjoyed it dude!

[@sunfishassassin5963]

@@RiverCertified so I will say it here..lmao. Since I started communicating with you...Facebook put me in contact or a friend suggestions with my middle school science teacher...I would not lie...I always remembered him. Lmao

[@RiverCertified]

@@sunfishassassin5963 the internet is weird man

[@sunfishassassin5963]

@@RiverCertified he likes to fish

[@sunfishassassin5963]

@@RiverCertified I. Going fishing in the am

[@RiverbendlongbowsOutdoors]

Yep, they are fighters for sure👍

[@RiverCertified]

Yessir!

[@xaiyang8668]

Nicely done! My biggest of this yr was 12lbs. I thought it was a carp/cat until it surfaced. It kept torpedoing down like a tuna.

[@RiverCertified]

Thats a tank! Torpedoing is a great verb to describe the way they fight haha

[@mattcrofoot8715]

They do put up a fun fight, i dont know if you ever caught a bowfin but they put up a crazy fight

[@RiverCertified]

I want to kinda bad! We don't have them in central Iowa. Thanks for watching!

[@survivingwith812catfishing]

They are super fun to catch. I've caught a few this year myself.

[@RiverCertified]

Hell yeah! And make great blue cat bait.

[@mathewritchison6396]

One of my favorite wiper lures is a 1/2 oz chrome with black back rat-l-trap

[@WebTVRebel]

You're killin' it.

[@RiverCertified]

I've had a good season so far! I can only hope it keeps up. Thank you for watching!

[@WebTVRebel]

@@RiverCertified, man you don't know. I wait for your videos. I can't go fishing much at the moment so your videos help keep me on the water.

[@patriotcatfishersofamerica7985]

Great video my friend, we have a local lake that is a deep water source lake. It is stocked every year with the wipers. That is a hard fighting fish for sure. We catch them on salted chicken livers. They love chicken livers for some reason. We were channel cat fishing and was catching the wipers like crazy. I do love when they are feeding topwater, I throw a Zara spook. Fun, fun, fun. Thanks for sharing my friend.🇺🇸

[@RiverCertified]

They are a really unique fish no doubt. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@riverrat988]

Wow Magnum wiper. Might try bottom fishing for them. Always threw curly tail jigs

[@RiverCertified]

If they're going hard, I will throw lures, but when its slow I like live bait. Thanks for watching!

[@wilhelm682]

Those wipers look like a lot of fun. I've caught fresh water and salt waste stripers but never a wiper.

[@edbrown3047]

Nice wiper!!

[@RiverCertified]

Thanks Ed! I got lucky!

[@f.ventura8602]

Good stuff

[@RiverCertified]

Thank you very much!

[@NorthWashOutdoors]

Great stuff, really loving your channel and content. Those Wipers are real similar to the Stripers we have out here at Lake Powell. Soo much fun to catch and you can have really good days where you catch 30+ (so I guess not as hard to catch as your Wipers are). Wondering what kind of light you are using to film with when you are at night and in the dark. It lights you up really well?

[@RiverCertified]

At times wipers go crazy. Sure is fun when the day. Those true stripers fight like crazy. I've only caught a few. I use a cheapo version of the lume cube. I got it off amazon. Thanks for watching!

[@NorthWashOutdoors]

@@RiverCertified Awesome. Thanks for the reply :)

[@stephenhair5501]

Wipers are a pulling Beast!! Nice fish.

[@RiverCertified]

Thanks Stephen! I cant get enough of them to be honest

[@chadheydt7149]

If not the white... Has to be the smallies... Lb for lb anyway😇

[@RiverCertified]

Gotta stick with the wiper still. Smallies do jump tho, just don't have the long powerful runs. Thank you for watching!

[@FishingKit]

Yeeeeesss wipers are the best, I tried going for some yesterday but got a big skunko!

[@RiverCertified]

Dude I love those stupid fish. I'll be after em again next weekend I hope.

[@FishingKit]

@@RiverCertified I'll probably end up at every body's favorite secret fishing spot more frequently in the next coming weeks.

[@pureblood3127]

Dogfish/bowfin are pretty tuff dude .

[@RiverCertified]

I've heard that. I need to try and catch one! Thanks for watching!

[@nickleback3695]

more like very tough

[@SchmidtFishing]

Now that’s a biggun!!

[@RiverCertified]

I was pretty happy about him! Thanks for watching all my videos man!

[@benlane1259]

That is a beast! I see you throwing those pancakes with the net brother, you really need to come to OK brother, I told ya about that beast blue from the kayak at Sooner last week, well this weekend I caught my pb 57lb flatty north of Kaw on the river. They are biting down here right now.

[@RiverCertified]

Wish I had the time and money to make it happen right now. Hopefully in the future I can make it happen. Thank you for the invitation!

[@lifeisbestlivedfishing.jer3692]

those sir are some nice wipers!

[@RiverCertified]

Thank you very much! They are almost too much fun!

[@clintpride1103]

Straight up pound for pound it is hard to beat a pissed off smallie!!

[@RiverCertified]

True, but I still think wipers fight harder. They just don't jump like a smallie does. Thanks for watching!

[@larrywuzhere3866]

It appears there are 15 students that received poor grades on their last science exams...... seriously who thumbs down a great day of fishing?

[@RiverCertified]

Hahaha they'll get over it. I definitely have😁

[@seroogyw6238]

Bro great video!! Sorry about your CUBS!! My Brewers are just too strong maybe next year you’ll beat us!!! 😂😂😂! Just picking on you!! Can’t wait to see your next video!! 🙏🙏🙏

[@RiverCertified]

I'm not holding my breathe on that one🤣🤣🤣 just glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for watching!

[@clintpride1103]

GO CARDS!!!!!!

[@RiverCertified]

Too soon haha

[@chamblen4]

pound for pound, small mouth take the top spot 100% i've caught em all, no way can anyone change my mind on that! If we're going overall, and still limited to the mid west, then it's flathead

[@RiverCertified]

Its funny you bring that up. I got on some smallmouth last weekend. Smallmouth don't make the long sustained runs wipers do, but probably go more berserk when you're trying to land them and they jump. I'll take either. Thanks for watching Donnie!

[@chamblen4]

@@RiverCertified love the vids! i feel like wipers advantage is their height allowing them to take better advantage of the current and put up a really good fight especially in heavy current. That being said, if i ever got lucky enough to hook into a ten pound smallmouth i feel like it would take a miracle to get him in on the same tackle you brought in those wipers with. Speaking of a fish going berserk, we have a junk fish down here in Indiana, called bowfin and they go absolutely berserk. They would definitely make my top 5 list for pound for pound in the midwest. Not trying to give you a hard time, haha. My money is still on the smallie. If you wanna bring your kayak down next summer to shoot a vid, i'll be more than happy to introduce you to some line ripping smallmouth

[@chamblen4]

around here a 3 pound small mouth strips off 12 pound line in the current. I do feel like those wipers turn sideways on me in the current, making them a great fight as well

[@RiverCertified]

@@chamblen4 I enjoy the debate. Other people not agreeing with me has never bothered me😁 I really appreciate the invitation!

[@chamblen4]

@@RiverCertified I on the other hand know i am always right! and trying to educate less knowledgeable people gets very frustrating! just kidding.

[@JozietheTexasLegend]

Spencer your the boss.

[@RiverCertified]

Nah, just fortunate and lucky. Thanks for watching though!

[@theeditor897]

Hay if you want to get rid of that left hand reel then let me know how much you want for it lol

[@robbyorr122]

As always enjoyed the video. Great job Maybe one day I’ll be half as good. Or even lucky. I will take what I can get. Lol

[@RiverCertified]

I dont show the videos of bad trips very often😁 good luck fishing man!

[@chriscooper6206]

River certified. I will pay you too take me out on the river for some flathead catfishing. This Indiana paylake fishing is horrible, not uncommon to go 24 hrs with out a bite, using everything from live bluegill, crappie, to cut skipjack. Most of the nothing hits, and you drop a $100 to do it. Let me know if your up to do something like that.

[@RiverCertified]

I've thought about doing guided trips, but as of right now I'm not planning on it. If anything changes though, you can bet I'll pass it along on here!

[@thecatdaddyexperience1222]

Wipers are a beast!!

[@RiverCertified]

Agreed. Way tougher than I'll ever be haha. Thanks for watching it man!

[@6old_YT]

We catch Wipers all the time at Lake Keystone in Oklahoma

[@RiverCertified]

Heard good things man! Thanks for watching!

[@jamestownvirginia8463]

Lb for lb tougher than smallmouth? I need to try it.

[@RiverCertified]

I think so. The only thing a hybrid is missing is it doesn't jump.

[@justinbandy2610]

Hardest fighting fish I've ever caught was a 20lb grass carp.

[@RiverCertified]

I could see that.

[@davehendricks4824]

What did you do? Stop at ‘shakey’s’ before you went fishing?😏

[@RiverCertified]

Been like that my whole life unfortunately

[@smartwulf918]

I love these fish!!

[@RiverCertified]

Hell yes!

[@danteshaffer5112]

Stripers fight harder

[@RiverCertified]

Agreed. We just don't have them in iowa. Thanks for watching!

[@stuffnthingsb.c4043]

What was that splashing sound? It almost sounded like waves but it was too frequent

[@EASTSIDERIDER707]

I caught a 24lb striper er 2 months ago on a live minnow. Fishing again today with no success. Our river is way down with low dam release.

[@RiverCertified]

I bet that was an awesome fight! Hopefully the fishing picks up. Thanks for watching!

[@thecatdaddyexperience1222]

So are you saying if you hook a chub don’t throw it in the bait tank?

[@RiverCertified]

I don't. Seems like I get more fungal infections in my bait when I do.

[@stevencroon]

My spinning reels all have the handles on the left, and so do my fly rods, so why would I want my casting reels to wind from the right side? Cast with your right hand and then switch to your left to reel with your right. While your switching hands you are missing every one of those strikes you get the instant your bait hits the water. Of course that is just my take.

[@RiverCertified]

Because I can't fight a fish as well. Thanks for watching!

[@Scott.Farkus]

Those are some nice Hybrid Strippers(errmm Stripers)!

[@RiverCertified]

Thanks Ken! Not sure I've ever seen a hybrid stripper tho😁 sounds like a crazy night.

[@Scott.Farkus]

@@RiverCertified Lol, yeah you have to watch out for Hybrid Strippers.

[@Curtis856]

Love white bass fishing hell yeah bud beautiful catch

[@RiverCertified]

Oh yes. I love any fish with stripes! Thanks for watching all my videos!

[@ryanharrod1155]

I caught one on a minnow one time at the dam and threw him in a fryin pan. He was delicious. I think mine was a hybrid tho maybe idk. It was short and fat. Definitely not that big tho like a pound or two. Anyway. Nice fishs. Thought u were gonna throw dude in the water when u seen ur tackle box open again. 😂

[@RiverCertified]

They make a wonderful fish taco. Wipers and hybrids are the same thing haha. Me and Sam go way back. I'll forgive him haha.

[@shawnt9256]

Kinda all over the place with my comment, Meant to say,put him in the aquarium

[@trev_fishing749]

Biggin!

[@RiverCertified]

Thanks man! I got your message from the order. I really appreciate you supporting me and my channel. It's really cool that you'll be repping the RC gear all the way down in Texas. Thank you! You're the man!

[@seavervang7541]

Where can I get a casting net like that?

[@RiverCertified]

Johnston bait and tackle has em

[@firstlightangler6049]

Ever caught steelhead or king salmon in Lake Michigan? I can’t decide between hybrid stripers and steelhead/king salmon which are the toughest hardest fighting.

[@RiverCertified]

I haven't but want to bad. I'm considering heading to Wisconsin this winter to give it a try. Thanks for watching!

[@davidbalderston2751]

Why aren't you guys using circle hooks?

[@RiverCertified]

Never been a fan in this situation. Thanks for watching

[@huckfinn489]

Saw you a few weeks ago at the booneville bridge, I was with that drunk girl haha

[@RiverCertified]

Small world. Nothing wrong with a girl having a good time haha

[@huckfu5557]

I grew up being called Huck

[@mikehassell3752]

Wipers are fun but if u ever hook into a dogfish it will change ur mind fo sho. Just don’t reach down and try to lip one, you’ll instantly regret it.

[@RiverCertified]

A bunch of people are saying that. I'm gonna have to make a trip for them. Thank for sharing Mike!

[@catfishhunter6547]

Imagine if small mouth bass were the same size as wipers.

[@RiverCertified]

Somewhere they get big. Just not Iowa hahs

[@nickleback3695]

i've caught 5 smallies smallies between 5-7 pounds and they didn't fight as well as even a 4 pound wiper.

[@RiverCertified]

Gotta agree Nick

[@funkyjunk98]

looks like its gunna be a goodn

[@RiverCertified]

Definitely a great day! Thanks for watching!

[@aaronmyers7826]

👍

[@ledraps22]

Nice fish spenc, but what was that sound coming from the right the throughout the video? Something heavy slapping water

[@RiverCertified]

Thank you! I've been sworn to secrecy, so I have to keep that close to the chest. Woody says hi.

[@ledraps22]

@@RiverCertified I see, it'll give away the spot. Thanks for the greetings say hi back.

[@andrew4806]

That a abu 4601????

[@RiverCertified]

Good eye

[@andrew4806]

If you want to off load it, let me know. Lol

[@edwardcarter1190]

" toughest fish in the Midwest " You guys not have salmon or sturgeon?

[@RiverCertified]

Unfortunately not down in my area. There's a few sturgeon, but very few. I wanna catch a salmon pretty bad. Thanks for watching Edward!

[@MrScottyAwesome]

Epic day bud

[@RiverCertified]

It was definitely a good time man! Thanks for watching!

[@millersbaits8819]

Cool

[@RiverCertified]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@koncretemang5049]

What was the name of that fish you got from the snake? I’ve never heard of them. I replayed it a few times but I couldn’t catch what you called it

[@RiverCertified]

Madtom. They're cool little catfish basically

[@koncretemang5049]

@@RiverCertified just finished the video of three day truck camping. Nice blues and that Asian carp didn’t taste bad? A big head carp?

[@illinoisangling1677]

What state?

[@Flaime69]

have you ever fished for sturgeon?

[@RiverCertified]

I have actually

[@Flaime69]

@@RiverCertified did you make a video of it? if so can you link it?

[@klobnakk1632]

Do you have fishbrain if so what is your name if not you should get it is a fun app

[@RiverCertified]

I do. Its River Certified. Thanks for watching!

[@klobnakk1632]

Thanks

[@spudsmccatfish]

Sturgeon!

[@RiverCertified]

Thatd be sweet!

[@taylordeloach312]

Is yt ur side job

[@RiverCertified]

Definitely

[@blntmanreptiles8800]

What type of go pro do you use I'm thinking of starting my own chanle

[@RiverCertified]

I use a gopro 5. I really like them. Thanks for watching!

[@blntmanreptiles8800]

@@RiverCertified thank you for making amazing content catchem all fishing has been saying next year he wants to do some big flathead fishing asked people to suggest a chanle to partner up with I sed ur the best and you are in my opinion

[@RiverCertified]

That's really thoughtful! Thank you very much! I'd be pretty stoked if he reached out!

[@RyanMOutdoors]

I use a hero session 5.

[@speciesspecialist2789]

Fatty's...Noice...

[@RiverCertified]

Thanks Larry!

[@speciesspecialist2789]

@@RiverCertified Your welcome,Brother.Excellent vid...

[@nickleback3695]

bowfin is the toughest fish in the midwest imo.

[@RiverCertified]

I've never caught one, but need to. Thanks for watching Nick!

[@nickleback3695]

@@RiverCertified They make powerful runs, not quite as long of rubs as wipers do, but they headshake deathroll and jump as well.

[@burnham187]

Pound for pound freshwater would for sure be a carp. If you have never hooked into a 20+ pound carp, when you do you will see what I am talking about. You had better be ready for the fight cause they will surely give you one.

[@monsterhuntingunslingers33]

I accidentally snagged a 12 pound carp on light bass tackle and my arm was sore after the fight. Those dudes are pure muscle

[@RiverCertified]

Carp fight like crazy and the runs are powerful, but I've caught some big carp and I'd have to say they still don't match up pound for pound. Thank you for watching!

[@ledraps22]

Pound for pound? a 3lb carp does not fight anywhere close to a 2 lb smb, wiper, etc. I think you mistake the phrase "pound for pound" pound of the fish vs the pound of the fight it pulls. Big carp do give an amazing fight, but that's not due to them being amazingly fighting fish, they're just heavy as heck on average and swim where they want.

[@HookFaced]

Always a blowhard

[@burnham187]

ledraps22 your kidding right? A 2 pound carp easily out fights a 4 pound bass anyday. I know the meaning of pound for pound. I have caught many carp and bass of equal size and well there is no comparison how much stronger the carp is. In fact just today I caught both a 2 pound carp and a 2 pound bass and well the bass took mere seconds to land while the carp fought to the end. So no my friend you are mistaken.