Illinois teen catches 80-pound catfish in Mississippi River

[Skunk]

Illinois teen catches 80-pound catfish in Mississippi River

by The Kansas City Star

Dec. 21, 2009



ALTON, Ill. - The beast would have been enough for a feast. But 19-year-old angler Dustin McEwen says he’s just happy to have had the experience of wrestling the 80-pound catfish to shore.

The East Alton teenager muscled in the massive fish over 45 minutes while fishing the Mississippi River near Alton, using shad on his hook.

McEwen says he knew the fish was huge, and he didn’t want to lose it. His mission was to simply wear out the fish he later dubbed “Old Faithful” enough to reel it in.

McEwen snapped photos of his large catch and contacted his wife, who hustled to the river with McEwen’s 2-year-old daughter to see the catch.

But the fish caught a break. McEwen released it back into the water to fight another day.

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/outdoors/story/1642739.html

EDIT: Thanks for finding the picture, ILPineCone.

[GRIMJIM]

Too bad there's no picture. I'd like to see that.

[Skunk]

Yeah, that is a shame. The story even says they got pictures of it. You'd think the family would have thrown in at least one. I'll be on the look-out for some pics.

[ILPinecone]

Here's a link with a partial picture of the fish...   Has a big ol' head, doesn't it?

http://www.prairiestateoutdoors.com/index.php?/pso/article/big_fish_stories_miss._river_catfish/

[Skunk]

Here's a link with a partial picture of the fish...   Has a big ol' head, doesn't it?

http://www.prairiestateoutdoors.com/index.php?/pso/article/big_fish_stories_miss._river_catfish/

Well thanks for finding that picture ILPineCone!

I'll post a picture of it above.