My husband's cousin was out fishing one day in the Ohio River about an hour down from Cincy near the DP&L powerstation and a barge came by and churned up the water. They looked down at what they thought was a log about the length of their boat drifting by when it suddenly moved and dove under the water. They got out of there immediately.
I have always heard tales of catfish as big as VW bugs too. I wish they'd catch one once.
They had time to drink a six pack on the trip.
After a while the movement stopped and it was clear the fish had tangled the line on some debris on the bottom. Not wanting to cut the line and lose a prize fish were it still hooked, the Missourian told the Illini to swim down and see if he could find out if the fish was still theirs for the taking or not.
The Illini dropped in and followed the line down.
After a while he resurfaced. "Yup, he's still on the line, and he's huge."
"Well, untangle the line and pull him up," responded the Missourian.
"...OK," so down the second man went to yank the fish out of its hiding place.
Quite some time passed and the Missourian began to get nervous. He peered down into the darkness though there was no hope of spotting anything in the murky water. He gave the line another tug but it wouldn't budge.
Just as he was about to get all emotional over his buddy's loss, the Illini splashed up out of the water gasping for air.
"Well, what's the problem?" asked the Missourian.
The Illini shouted back, "I can't reach him, he swam into an old car. What do I do?"
"Well, go in after him!" shouted the Missourian.
The Illini looked doubtful but dove back down, only to resurface a short time later, cussing and spitting.
"Well?" asked the irritated Missourian. "didn't you go in after him?"
The Illini replied "How could I? Darn fish rolled up the window!"